July 1, 2025 • 28 mins
Welcome to another empowering episode of Inspirations for Your Life Podcast! I’m your host, John C. Morley — Serial Entrepreneur, Podcast Coach, and passionate advocate for resilience through reflection. Today’s message is one we all need in challenging times: “Challenges are temporary; resilience grows through reflection.” No matter what obstacles you’re facing, remember that hard times don’t last forever — but the strength you build by looking back and learning will serve you for a lifetime. Together, let’s unpack how reflection transforms struggle into growth and resilience into a powerful force for your future. 🌟
1️⃣ Challenges feel overwhelming in the moment, but they pass with time. ⏳ We’ve all faced moments that felt endless — where the weight of a challenge seemed too much to bear. But when we step back, we realize that no storm lasts forever. I’ve experienced setbacks that once felt all-consuming, only to look back and see how they passed, leaving me stronger and wiser. Reflection reminds us that difficult seasons are just that — seasons. They come, they test us, and then they move on.
2️⃣ Reflection helps us see the lessons hidden in hardship. 🔍 When we pause to reflect, we uncover valuable insights that challenges alone don’t always reveal. I remember journaling after a business failure and realizing the patterns I had missed in the moment. That reflection turned regret into wisdom. Every hardship holds a lesson — but we have to take the time to look for it.
3️⃣ Resilience strengthens when we look back and recognize how far we’ve come. 💪 Looking back at your journey reminds you of the strength you’ve already shown. I often review old notes, emails, or photos from tough times and see the growth I couldn’t see back then. This fuels resilience because it proves we’ve endured and evolved before — and can do it again.
4️⃣ Every struggle leaves behind wisdom we can apply to the future. 🧠 Struggles aren’t just trials; they’re teachers. When I faced early challenges as an entrepreneur, I didn’t realize that each one was shaping my ability to navigate future complexities. That wisdom didn’t appear instantly — it emerged through thoughtful reflection, and it’s served me in every chapter since.
5️⃣ Taking time to reflect turns pain into growth. 🌱 Pain without reflection can feel like a waste; pain with reflection becomes fuel for growth. I’ve seen this in my own life and in those I’ve mentored. Reflection transforms raw experience into purposeful progress, helping us rise stronger instead of staying stuck in hurt.
6️⃣ Challenges shape us, but reflection defines how we use that experience. 🛠️ Challenges alone don’t build character — it’s how we process them that does. I’ve faced difficulties that could have made me bitter, but through reflection, I chose to let them make me better. Reflection gives us the power to shape our story, instead of letting the challenge define it.
7️⃣ Temporary difficulties can build lasting inner strength if we choose to learn from them. 🔑 The key is choice — choosing to learn, choosing to grow. When I reflect on my hardest moments, I see that the strength I gained came not from the challenge itself, but from how I chose to respond. That inner strength stays with us long after the difficulty fades.
8️⃣ Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back — it’s about looking back with purpose. 🧭 True resilience isn’t only about recovery — it’s about intentional reflection. When we look back purposefully, we turn setbacks into stepping stones. This reflection gives direction, clarity, and renewed strength for what lies ahead.
🌐 Connect with Us: 📱 Instagram: JohnCMorleySerialEntrepreneur 💻 Website: http://believemeachieve.com 🎧 Listen now: https://podcastscj.podbean.com
#ElevateYourLife #PodcastWisdom #MindsetMatters #InspirationalStories #JohnCMorley
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
Well, hey guys, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur, and it is great
to be with you.
It's July 1st, in case you didn't know,
and yes, that means it's Tuesday, July 1st,
2025, and just a couple of days away
until they start with the fireworks or the
(00:39):
drone displays in the sky.
So that is coming up, all right, our
country's birthday, basically.
Welcome everyone to the show, our master topic
for the week, in case you didn't catch
it the other day, walking forward with purpose,
and the granular topic for today is challenges
(01:02):
are temporary, resilience grows through reflection, and that's
series four, show 27, episode number four.
Welcome, everyone.
Hey, if you're thirsty, hey, why not go
get yourself something delicious or a water like
I have right here.
You can get that from the kitchen or
wherever.
It could be something sweet, something salty, something
(01:26):
tart or not, healthy or not, that's totally
up to you guys.
So feel free to do that and come
on back.
Of course, after the show, be sure to
check out believemeachy.com for more of my
amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
All right, guys, let's just dive right in
because I've got a lot to share with
you, but I do want to welcome all
(01:47):
those of you that are new here to
Inspirations for Your Life, and if you're coming
back, well, I would like to extend a
warm welcome back to you.
It's always great to have friends, colleagues, and
associates back on the show.
All right, everyone, so welcome to another empowering
episode of, yes, the ever-popular Inspirations for
Your Life podcast.
(02:08):
I am not only your host and also
a podcast coach, serial entrepreneur, video producer, engineer,
and much more, I'm John C.
Morley and I'm a passionate advocate for resilience
through reflection.
Today's message is one we all need in
challenging times, and that is challenges, guys, are
(02:29):
temporary.
Resilience grows through reflection.
No matter what obstacles you're facing, remember that
hard times don't last forever, but the strength
you build by looking back and learning will
serve you for a lifetime.
Together, let's unpack how reflection transforms struggle into
(02:52):
growth and resilience into a powerful force for
your future.
Are you ready, everyone?
I know I am.
Number one, challenges feel overwhelming in the moment,
but they pass with time.
They really do.
They pass with time, but I know it's
like they kind of get us all, like,
you know, flustered, you know, because they like,
(03:13):
they drain us, right?
We've all faced these moments that have felt
endless, where the weight of a challenge seemed
too much to bear, but when we just
step back, we take a breath, we realize
that no storm lasts forever.
I've experienced setbacks that once felt all-consuming
(03:34):
in so many ways, only to look back
and to see how they passed, leaving me
stronger and, of course, wiser.
Reflection reminds us that difficult seasons are just
that, they're seasons, right?
They come, they test us, and then they
move on.
Number two, reflection helps us to see the
(03:57):
lessons hidden in hardship.
When we pause to reflect, we uncover valuable
insights that challenge alone don't always reveal.
I remember journaling after a business failure and
realizing the patterns I had missed in the
moment, that reflection turned regret into wisdom.
(04:20):
Every hardship holds a lesson, but we have
to take the time to look for it.
I think that's the magic here tonight.
Number three, resilience strengthens when we look back
and recognize how far we've come.
Looking back at your journey reminds you of
the strength you've already shown.
(04:41):
I've often reviewed old notes, emails, or photos
from tough times and been able to see
the growth I couldn't see back then.
See, this fuels resilience because it proves we've
endured and evolved before and can do it
again and again.
Every struggle leaves behind wisdom we can apply
(05:04):
for the future.
Struggles, guys, aren't just trials, they're teachers.
When I faced early challenges as an entrepreneur,
I didn't realize that each one was shaping
my ability to cultivate and form me and
navigate my future complexities.
That wisdom didn't appear instantly.
(05:26):
It emerged, well, over time through thoughtful reflection,
and it's served me in every chapter since
and continues to.
Number five, taking time to reflect turns pain
into growth.
And I don't want to say pain, I
really want to say discomfort because none of
(05:47):
us are in pain, but we are in
discomfort.
So I think that's important to understand, okay?
All right.
So pain or discomfort without reflection can feel
like, well, a waste.
Pain with reflection becomes fuel for growth.
(06:08):
I've seen this in my own life and
in those I've mentored.
Reflection transforms raw experience into purposeful progress, helping
us rise higher and stronger instead of staying
stuck in that hurt or in that muck
that we don't like.
That's the messy middle.
(06:29):
Number six, challenges shape us.
But reflection defines how we use that experience.
The challenges alone don't build character.
It's how we process them that does.
I've faced difficulties that could have made me
(06:49):
bitter, but through reflection, I've chosen to let
them make me better, not bitter, but better.
Reflection gives us the power to shape our
story.
Instead of letting the challenge define us, which
some people do, we have the choice and
free will to actually allow it to expand
(07:10):
us and let us grow.
Number seven, temporary difficulties can build lasting inner
strength if we choose to learn from them.
The key is choice.
Choosing to learn, choosing to grow.
When I reflect on my hardest moments, I
see that the strength I've gained came not
(07:32):
from challenges themselves, but from how I chose
to respond.
And I've said this before, guys.
It's not whether you're going to get good,
medium, or bad cards.
It's how you choose to play them and
respond with them.
That inner strength stays with us long after
the difficulty fades.
And this is what other people keep playing
(07:52):
in their head, not just you.
And that can affect whether good opportunities are
going to be coming your way soon or
whether there won't be.
Because when people see how you handle a
situation, they're like, oh, well, look how he
handled that.
That's not so bad.
But when you make this huge debauchery over
(08:13):
it, it's like, oh, I don't want to
be around him.
I don't want to be around her.
Like, oh, my gosh.
It's like the person's a nightmare.
I mean, I even had professors like this
where one minute they're a Jekyll, another minute
they're a Hyde.
And it's like, really?
And yes, I've even experienced this at the
(08:34):
graduate level, which is kind of scary.
But it happens in all walks of life.
Number eight, guys.
Resilience isn't just about bouncing back like the
tennis ball.
It's about looking back with purpose.
See, true resilience isn't only about recovery.
(08:55):
It's about intentional reflection.
When we look back purposefully or with purpose,
we turn these setbacks into stepping stones.
This reflection gives direction, clarity, and renewed strength
for what lies ahead.
(09:17):
But a lot of people just focus on
what they have now.
And they don't understand that where they are
now is because of what they were thinking
of yesterday and the days before.
Here's the part of the show that I
love the whole show.
But here's one of my favorite parts of
the show.
I'm now going to give you basically a
(09:37):
personal, let's say, a lesson or story for
each point today.
And it's my hope that it will solidify,
that it will help you reflect, OK?
(09:57):
And in so doing, it's going to get
you to, well, thoughtfully make a positive change
in your life.
Not because you have to, right?
But because you want to.
And see, when want becomes more important than
(10:21):
have to, the quality is there.
The experience is better.
So number one is challenges feel overwhelming in
the moment.
But they pass with time, right?
I think that's important, right?
Maybe you're saying to me, John, I don't
(10:41):
get why this is that way.
And I understand.
But I want to tell you that you
have a choice, OK?
You have a choice.
And that choice, guys, is something that a
lot of people, well, they don't really recognize
(11:03):
it until, let's say, they have to.
That's right.
I said until they have to.
So if you know that something is a
certain way and you reflect on it, it
can help you grow and learn from that
experience.
So I remember a time early in my
(11:23):
career when a major contract fell through.
Unexpectedly, that was.
At that moment, it felt like, well, my
entire world was just crumbling or crashing down
around me.
I questioned my choices, my abilities, and even
my future.
I was so caught up in the immediate
loss that it felt as if, well, the
hardship would last forever.
(11:44):
But slowly, with each passing day, I began
to see options I hadn't noticed before.
New clients, new opportunities, and new ways to
move forward.
See, looking back at that experience, I know
that it taught me that no matter how
heavy or endless a challenge feels, in the
(12:06):
moment, it will always pass.
The emotions that seem overwhelming fade, and what
remains is what you choose to learn from
it.
Time as a way of providing, well, a
kind of perspective and reflection.
It helps us see that the storms we
thought would break us actually cleared the way
(12:26):
for something new and much, much better.
Number two, guys, reflection helps us see the
lesson hidden in hardship.
After one of my early businesses challenges, I
was filled with disappointment and self-doubt.
I could have easily moved on without looking
back, but instead, I made myself sit down
(12:47):
and write about what happened.
How could I make this business better?
Through journaling, I saw mistakes in my planning,
communication gaps, and even small wins that I
had overlooked in the chaos.
That process didn't erase the pain of the
failure that I had started to experience, but
it turned it into a positive teaching lesson
(13:10):
plan for the future.
Without that period of reflecting, I would have
repeated the same mistakes and steps over and
over again in my next ventures.
Reflection helps us uncover what hardship alone can't
reveal.
It shines a light on the deeper reasons
things happen, and as they did, it turns
(13:31):
more regret into resolve and confusion into clarity,
setting the stage for, well, a much wiser
decision ahead.
Number three, guys, resilience strengthens when we look
back and recognize how far we've come.
I've often revisited my notes and journals I've
(13:52):
kept during some of my toughest times, and
when I started my first company, when I
hit some financial roadblocks, that was, or when
I doubted my path, what's powerful about those
reflections is that they reminded me of how
far I had come.
In the moment, I didn't see my own
(14:13):
strength, but looking back, I see the persistence,
the courage, and the problem solving that carried
me through that and will carry me through
many other things.
This act of looking back builds, well, a
kind of resilience because it reinforces the truth.
We've conquered before, so we can do it
again, and when we celebrate that, we're like,
(14:36):
hey, look what I just did.
I definitely can achieve this, and I can
achieve more.
Each time I've been tempted to feel overwhelmed
by a new challenge, I remind myself of
the person who overcame the past ones.
Who?
Me.
That reminder fuels my belief in my ability
to face whatever comes at me or gets
(14:56):
thrown at me.
Every struggle leaves behind wisdom that we can
apply to the future of our lives.
When I reflect on the struggles I've had,
from losing some key people in my life
to facing unexpected personnel challenges, I see that
each one left behind something, well, pretty precious
(15:17):
and valuable.
For example, an early business loss taught me
to be more discerning in who I trusted
as collaborators.
That wisdom saved me years, guys, later when
I faced similar situations and knew how to
handle it.
Wisdom from struggle doesn't always announce itself in
the moment.
It reveals itself when we pause, think, and
(15:39):
ask.
What was this trying to teach me?
Well, the more we reflect, the more those
lessons become tools we can use.
See, tools that prevent, well, repeat mistakes and
prepare us for greater success, kind of like
(16:00):
a springboard.
Number five, taking time to reflect turns pain,
or what I like to call discomfort many
times, into growth.
After a major personal disappointment, I felt stuck
in my emotions.
The pain or discomfort seemed pointless.
(16:23):
It just hurt without any meaning.
But when I started reflecting, writing about it,
and talking it through with some trusted friends,
the pain began to subside and transform.
I saw areas where, well, I could grow
and where I could improve my communication and
(16:43):
where I could set better boundaries.
See, that process didn't erase the hurt, guys,
but it gave it purpose and meaning.
Reflection gave me a way to channel my
pain into something, well, pretty positive and into
(17:04):
growth that I would carry with me even
today.
Without reflection, pain can trap us.
With it, pain propels us.
Let me say that again.
Without reflection, pain can trap us.
(17:26):
With it, it propels us.
Have you ever thought about a situation and
be like, oh my gosh, I can't believe
what happened?
But if you really look back at it
and said, not the good or the bad,
but what did you learn from that?
I think that's probably the hardest thing for
a lot of people to realize is that
(17:47):
when something didn't go the way they want,
that there is a nugget in there.
There is a positive lesson that can really,
well, catapult us to our next success.
But again, it's not always comfortable.
I always said you have to practice getting
uncomfortable.
And when you do that, and when you
(18:09):
get comfortable being uncomfortable, magic happens.
Number six, challenges shape us.
But reflection defines us and how we use
that experience.
I've faced challenges just like many people have
that could have made me bitter.
Moments where I felt wrong, misunderstood, or let
(18:32):
down.
At first, I probably felt a little angry,
but through some reflection, I chose not to
let those moments define me in a negative
way.
I asked myself, what could I learn from
this?
What could I take away from this experience
to improve and not harden myself?
(18:53):
Not an easy thing to do.
Reflection gave me the power, guys, to turn
the hurt into hope.
It allowed me to see the bigger picture,
to process my emotions, and to find meaning
in the struggle.
That's how challenges shape us.
They give us raw material, but reflection determines
(19:14):
what we build with it.
A friend of mine, I should say many
years ago, we're not friends anymore, unfortunately.
And this person, well, basically had a lot
of growing up to do, but I wasn't
here to judge.
And when he couldn't deal with certain things,
(19:40):
he tried to blame me.
And in the beginning, I kind of took
the bait and I absorbed it.
And I was like, wait a minute.
It wasn't until years later that I realized
I don't need to be a doormat.
I don't need to do this.
(20:03):
This is that person projecting their own insecurities
by pushing them on me.
Unfortunately, that friendship didn't last.
It lasted for a few years, but then
it kind of sizzled out.
I felt really bad that that friendship ended.
(20:28):
I didn't know what to say.
And to this day, I've gotten closure in
the sense that I've forgiven the person and
all that.
But deep inside, I guess I wish that
we'd be able to sit down for a
slice of pizza or a cup of coffee
(20:48):
or something and just say, hey, I think
that would be a neat thing.
But I realized that that may not happen.
Because that person was probably, well, acting more
of their shoe size than their actual age.
(21:09):
And as I think about this and I
ponder about it, I know this person probably
feels really bad.
But if they were to come back, not
to be friends, but just to, let's say,
just kind of like say, I'm sorry, I
don't know if they know where to start.
(21:31):
And I also don't know if they would
go back into a tailspin, doing what they
did again because of their insecurities.
And maybe that's the reason why the person
stays away.
Their insecurities are still there.
(21:52):
And they have no desire to fix them.
Because as long as certain people aren't in
their life, then those insecurities to them don't
exist.
But that's wrong.
I realized that this person who I thought
(22:13):
was great was just someone that pretty much
put people in boxes.
What do I mean by that?
Well, so he had told me about his
story that every six months he would flip
a job.
Not because he had to, but because he
wanted to and he wanted to get more
pay.
(22:34):
I remember him telling me that other interns
were working from, he was an intern at
one time, but other interns were working from
him.
I remember him telling me that he would
go to give a presentation.
And when he got a presentation from the
intern and the presentation was great, the boss
would say, gee, that was amazing.
(22:55):
You did a great job.
And he came back and said, well, of
course I did.
I did graduate from Fordham at the top
of my class.
A little bit of a cocky answer.
But then I said to him, what would
you do if the intern messed up?
(23:16):
And your boss said, you know, that's a
lousy presentation.
Where was your head?
And he said to me, I would have
told him the intern did it.
And that's what you get.
When you don't use somebody who's a professional
(23:39):
and has graduated from Fordham at the top
of his class.
And I was like, you hypocrite.
I'm saying to myself, you don't give the
kid credit when he does something good.
But when he does something bad, you throw
him under the bus.
So you try to take his good credit.
(23:59):
I think that's wrong.
Maybe this is why we might've broke away.
Maybe because our core values were on different
ends.
And I didn't know that yet.
But the more that I reflect on him,
I started to realize that he would do
whatever he needed to do to win, even
(24:19):
if it would hurt you or me.
Now, I don't mean physically hurt, but he'd
step on people along the way to get
ahead.
And I get that you got to be
competitive, but it doesn't mean you have to
be rude.
It doesn't mean you got to put people
down.
Very interesting, very emotional situation, especially when you
(24:45):
build a friendship with somebody you trust, and
then bam, it's like they're not there anymore.
Number seven, temporary difficulties can build lasting inner
strength if we choose to learn from them.
There was a time when I thought a
specific setback, losing a big client would crush
my confidence permanently.
(25:06):
But as I reflected, I saw how I'd
handled the situation with professionalism, how I'd adapted,
and how I found new opportunities.
That reflection showed me that my strength didn't
come from avoiding difficulty, guys, but from learning
through it.
Just like with this friend, I learned that
(25:26):
I probably was too vulnerable in the beginning,
and I shouldn't have been so trusting.
Choosing to learn from difficulties is what turns
them into sources of strength.
It's not automatic.
We have to be intentional about everything we
do.
And when we reflect, we take ownership of
our growth, and that strength stays with us
(25:49):
long after the challenge is gone.
Number eight, guys, resilience isn't just about bouncing
back like that tennis ball.
It's about looking back for purpose.
I used to think resilience was just about
how fast I could recover from setbacks.
But over the years, I've learned that true
resilience comes from looking back on challenges with
(26:09):
purpose.
When I reflect intentionally, I find the meaning
in the strength, the lessons I might have
missed, the opportunities to improve, that purposeful reflection
that I turn to, looking at those setbacks
and turning them into stepping stones.
(26:32):
It gives me clarity.
It helps me move forward in a smarter,
powerful, resilient way, and assures that I'm not
just bouncing back.
I'm rising to the occasion higher, stronger than
ever before.
So reflection is what gives resilience its real
(26:53):
power.
Too many people, though, are afraid to reflect,
because if they reflect, like, wait a minute,
I did something wrong.
That means I'm not perfect.
Yeah, Jack, that's right.
You're not perfect.
And I'm just using that name, but that
wasn't anybody.
You're not perfect.
I think when we start to understand that
we're not perfect and we get humble, this
(27:19):
causes us to make connections that we didn't
even think were possible.
This friend I was talking about that I
had was definitely not humble.
I remember him telling me something.
He said, John, he says, you know, people
are a waste of my time unless they're
(27:42):
making me money.
And I said, well, I guess I'm wasting
your time.
He said, well, no, you're different.
And that's just a horrible thing when people
think that other people are a waste of
their time.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
(28:02):
Worley, serial entrepreneur.
It's always a privilege, pleasure, and honor to
be with you guys on the amazing inspirations
of your life.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll see you real soon.
And remember, everyone, it's important to reflect so
you can rise to the occasion.
Well, hey guys, it is John C.
Morley here, serial entrepreneur, and it is great
to be with you.
It's July 1st, in case you didn't know,
and yes, that means it's Tuesday, July 1st,
2025, and just a couple of days away
until they start with the fireworks or the
(00:39):
drone displays in the sky.
So that is coming up, all right, our
country's birthday, basically.
Welcome everyone to the show, our master topic
for the week, in case you didn't catch
it the other day, walking forward with purpose,
and the granular topic for today is challenges
(01:02):
are temporary, resilience grows through reflection, and that's
series four, show 27, episode number four.
Welcome, everyone.
Hey, if you're thirsty, hey, why not go
get yourself something delicious or a water like
I have right here.
You can get that from the kitchen or
wherever.
It could be something sweet, something salty, something
(01:26):
tart or not, healthy or not, that's totally
up to you guys.
So feel free to do that and come
on back.
Of course, after the show, be sure to
check out believemeachy.com for more of my
amazing, of course, inspiring creations.
All right, guys, let's just dive right in
because I've got a lot to share with
you, but I do want to welcome all
(01:47):
those of you that are new here to
Inspirations for Your Life, and if you're coming
back, well, I would like to extend a
warm welcome back to you.
It's always great to have friends, colleagues, and
associates back on the show.
All right, everyone, so welcome to another empowering
episode of, yes, the ever-popular Inspirations for
Your Life podcast.
(02:08):
I am not only your host and also
a podcast coach, serial entrepreneur, video producer, engineer,
and much more, I'm John C.
Morley and I'm a passionate advocate for resilience
through reflection.
Today's message is one we all need in
challenging times, and that is challenges, guys, are
(02:29):
temporary.
Resilience grows through reflection.
No matter what obstacles you're facing, remember that
hard times don't last forever, but the strength
you build by looking back and learning will
serve you for a lifetime.
Together, let's unpack how reflection transforms struggle into
(02:52):
growth and resilience into a powerful force for
your future.
Are you ready, everyone?
I know I am.
Number one, challenges feel overwhelming in the moment,
but they pass with time.
They really do.
They pass with time, but I know it's
like they kind of get us all, like,
you know, flustered, you know, because they like,
(03:13):
they drain us, right?
We've all faced these moments that have felt
endless, where the weight of a challenge seemed
too much to bear, but when we just
step back, we take a breath, we realize
that no storm lasts forever.
I've experienced setbacks that once felt all-consuming
(03:34):
in so many ways, only to look back
and to see how they passed, leaving me
stronger and, of course, wiser.
Reflection reminds us that difficult seasons are just
that, they're seasons, right?
They come, they test us, and then they
move on.
Number two, reflection helps us to see the
(03:57):
lessons hidden in hardship.
When we pause to reflect, we uncover valuable
insights that challenge alone don't always reveal.
I remember journaling after a business failure and
realizing the patterns I had missed in the
moment, that reflection turned regret into wisdom.
(04:20):
Every hardship holds a lesson, but we have
to take the time to look for it.
I think that's the magic here tonight.
Number three, resilience strengthens when we look back
and recognize how far we've come.
Looking back at your journey reminds you of
the strength you've already shown.
(04:41):
I've often reviewed old notes, emails, or photos
from tough times and been able to see
the growth I couldn't see back then.
See, this fuels resilience because it proves we've
endured and evolved before and can do it
again and again.
Every struggle leaves behind wisdom we can apply
(05:04):
for the future.
Struggles, guys, aren't just trials, they're teachers.
When I faced early challenges as an entrepreneur,
I didn't realize that each one was shaping
my ability to cultivate and form me and
navigate my future complexities.
That wisdom didn't appear instantly.
(05:26):
It emerged, well, over time through thoughtful reflection,
and it's served me in every chapter since
and continues to.
Number five, taking time to reflect turns pain
into growth.
And I don't want to say pain, I
really want to say discomfort because none of
(05:47):
us are in pain, but we are in
discomfort.
So I think that's important to understand, okay?
All right.
So pain or discomfort without reflection can feel
like, well, a waste.
Pain with reflection becomes fuel for growth.
(06:08):
I've seen this in my own life and
in those I've mentored.
Reflection transforms raw experience into purposeful progress, helping
us rise higher and stronger instead of staying
stuck in that hurt or in that muck
that we don't like.
That's the messy middle.
(06:29):
Number six, challenges shape us.
But reflection defines how we use that experience.
The challenges alone don't build character.
It's how we process them that does.
I've faced difficulties that could have made me
(06:49):
bitter, but through reflection, I've chosen to let
them make me better, not bitter, but better.
Reflection gives us the power to shape our
story.
Instead of letting the challenge define us, which
some people do, we have the choice and
free will to actually allow it to expand
(07:10):
us and let us grow.
Number seven, temporary difficulties can build lasting inner
strength if we choose to learn from them.
The key is choice.
Choosing to learn, choosing to grow.
When I reflect on my hardest moments, I
see that the strength I've gained came not
(07:32):
from challenges themselves, but from how I chose
to respond.
And I've said this before, guys.
It's not whether you're going to get good,
medium, or bad cards.
It's how you choose to play them and
respond with them.
That inner strength stays with us long after
the difficulty fades.
And this is what other people keep playing
(07:52):
in their head, not just you.
And that can affect whether good opportunities are
going to be coming your way soon or
whether there won't be.
Because when people see how you handle a
situation, they're like, oh, well, look how he
handled that.
That's not so bad.
But when you make this huge debauchery over
(08:13):
it, it's like, oh, I don't want to
be around him.
I don't want to be around her.
Like, oh, my gosh.
It's like the person's a nightmare.
I mean, I even had professors like this
where one minute they're a Jekyll, another minute
they're a Hyde.
And it's like, really?
And yes, I've even experienced this at the
(08:34):
graduate level, which is kind of scary.
But it happens in all walks of life.
Number eight, guys.
Resilience isn't just about bouncing back like the
tennis ball.
It's about looking back with purpose.
See, true resilience isn't only about recovery.
(08:55):
It's about intentional reflection.
When we look back purposefully or with purpose,
we turn these setbacks into stepping stones.
This reflection gives direction, clarity, and renewed strength
for what lies ahead.
(09:17):
But a lot of people just focus on
what they have now.
And they don't understand that where they are
now is because of what they were thinking
of yesterday and the days before.
Here's the part of the show that I
love the whole show.
But here's one of my favorite parts of
the show.
I'm now going to give you basically a
(09:37):
personal, let's say, a lesson or story for
each point today.
And it's my hope that it will solidify,
that it will help you reflect, OK?
(09:57):
And in so doing, it's going to get
you to, well, thoughtfully make a positive change
in your life.
Not because you have to, right?
But because you want to.
And see, when want becomes more important than
(10:21):
have to, the quality is there.
The experience is better.
So number one is challenges feel overwhelming in
the moment.
But they pass with time, right?
I think that's important, right?
Maybe you're saying to me, John, I don't
(10:41):
get why this is that way.
And I understand.
But I want to tell you that you
have a choice, OK?
You have a choice.
And that choice, guys, is something that a
lot of people, well, they don't really recognize
(11:03):
it until, let's say, they have to.
That's right.
I said until they have to.
So if you know that something is a
certain way and you reflect on it, it
can help you grow and learn from that
experience.
So I remember a time early in my
(11:23):
career when a major contract fell through.
Unexpectedly, that was.
At that moment, it felt like, well, my
entire world was just crumbling or crashing down
around me.
I questioned my choices, my abilities, and even
my future.
I was so caught up in the immediate
loss that it felt as if, well, the
hardship would last forever.
(11:44):
But slowly, with each passing day, I began
to see options I hadn't noticed before.
New clients, new opportunities, and new ways to
move forward.
See, looking back at that experience, I know
that it taught me that no matter how
heavy or endless a challenge feels, in the
(12:06):
moment, it will always pass.
The emotions that seem overwhelming fade, and what
remains is what you choose to learn from
it.
Time as a way of providing, well, a
kind of perspective and reflection.
It helps us see that the storms we
thought would break us actually cleared the way
(12:26):
for something new and much, much better.
Number two, guys, reflection helps us see the
lesson hidden in hardship.
After one of my early businesses challenges, I
was filled with disappointment and self-doubt.
I could have easily moved on without looking
back, but instead, I made myself sit down
(12:47):
and write about what happened.
How could I make this business better?
Through journaling, I saw mistakes in my planning,
communication gaps, and even small wins that I
had overlooked in the chaos.
That process didn't erase the pain of the
failure that I had started to experience, but
it turned it into a positive teaching lesson
(13:10):
plan for the future.
Without that period of reflecting, I would have
repeated the same mistakes and steps over and
over again in my next ventures.
Reflection helps us uncover what hardship alone can't
reveal.
It shines a light on the deeper reasons
things happen, and as they did, it turns
(13:31):
more regret into resolve and confusion into clarity,
setting the stage for, well, a much wiser
decision ahead.
Number three, guys, resilience strengthens when we look
back and recognize how far we've come.
I've often revisited my notes and journals I've
(13:52):
kept during some of my toughest times, and
when I started my first company, when I
hit some financial roadblocks, that was, or when
I doubted my path, what's powerful about those
reflections is that they reminded me of how
far I had come.
In the moment, I didn't see my own
(14:13):
strength, but looking back, I see the persistence,
the courage, and the problem solving that carried
me through that and will carry me through
many other things.
This act of looking back builds, well, a
kind of resilience because it reinforces the truth.
We've conquered before, so we can do it
again, and when we celebrate that, we're like,
(14:36):
hey, look what I just did.
I definitely can achieve this, and I can
achieve more.
Each time I've been tempted to feel overwhelmed
by a new challenge, I remind myself of
the person who overcame the past ones.
Who?
Me.
That reminder fuels my belief in my ability
to face whatever comes at me or gets
(14:56):
thrown at me.
Every struggle leaves behind wisdom that we can
apply to the future of our lives.
When I reflect on the struggles I've had,
from losing some key people in my life
to facing unexpected personnel challenges, I see that
each one left behind something, well, pretty precious
(15:17):
and valuable.
For example, an early business loss taught me
to be more discerning in who I trusted
as collaborators.
That wisdom saved me years, guys, later when
I faced similar situations and knew how to
handle it.
Wisdom from struggle doesn't always announce itself in
the moment.
It reveals itself when we pause, think, and
(15:39):
ask.
What was this trying to teach me?
Well, the more we reflect, the more those
lessons become tools we can use.
See, tools that prevent, well, repeat mistakes and
prepare us for greater success, kind of like
(16:00):
a springboard.
Number five, taking time to reflect turns pain,
or what I like to call discomfort many
times, into growth.
After a major personal disappointment, I felt stuck
in my emotions.
The pain or discomfort seemed pointless.
(16:23):
It just hurt without any meaning.
But when I started reflecting, writing about it,
and talking it through with some trusted friends,
the pain began to subside and transform.
I saw areas where, well, I could grow
and where I could improve my communication and
(16:43):
where I could set better boundaries.
See, that process didn't erase the hurt, guys,
but it gave it purpose and meaning.
Reflection gave me a way to channel my
pain into something, well, pretty positive and into
(17:04):
growth that I would carry with me even
today.
Without reflection, pain can trap us.
With it, pain propels us.
Let me say that again.
Without reflection, pain can trap us.
(17:26):
With it, it propels us.
Have you ever thought about a situation and
be like, oh my gosh, I can't believe
what happened?
But if you really look back at it
and said, not the good or the bad,
but what did you learn from that?
I think that's probably the hardest thing for
a lot of people to realize is that
(17:47):
when something didn't go the way they want,
that there is a nugget in there.
There is a positive lesson that can really,
well, catapult us to our next success.
But again, it's not always comfortable.
I always said you have to practice getting
uncomfortable.
And when you do that, and when you
(18:09):
get comfortable being uncomfortable, magic happens.
Number six, challenges shape us.
But reflection defines us and how we use
that experience.
I've faced challenges just like many people have
that could have made me bitter.
Moments where I felt wrong, misunderstood, or let
(18:32):
down.
At first, I probably felt a little angry,
but through some reflection, I chose not to
let those moments define me in a negative
way.
I asked myself, what could I learn from
this?
What could I take away from this experience
to improve and not harden myself?
(18:53):
Not an easy thing to do.
Reflection gave me the power, guys, to turn
the hurt into hope.
It allowed me to see the bigger picture,
to process my emotions, and to find meaning
in the struggle.
That's how challenges shape us.
They give us raw material, but reflection determines
(19:14):
what we build with it.
A friend of mine, I should say many
years ago, we're not friends anymore, unfortunately.
And this person, well, basically had a lot
of growing up to do, but I wasn't
here to judge.
And when he couldn't deal with certain things,
(19:40):
he tried to blame me.
And in the beginning, I kind of took
the bait and I absorbed it.
And I was like, wait a minute.
It wasn't until years later that I realized
I don't need to be a doormat.
I don't need to do this.
(20:03):
This is that person projecting their own insecurities
by pushing them on me.
Unfortunately, that friendship didn't last.
It lasted for a few years, but then
it kind of sizzled out.
I felt really bad that that friendship ended.
(20:28):
I didn't know what to say.
And to this day, I've gotten closure in
the sense that I've forgiven the person and
all that.
But deep inside, I guess I wish that
we'd be able to sit down for a
slice of pizza or a cup of coffee
(20:48):
or something and just say, hey, I think
that would be a neat thing.
But I realized that that may not happen.
Because that person was probably, well, acting more
of their shoe size than their actual age.
(21:09):
And as I think about this and I
ponder about it, I know this person probably
feels really bad.
But if they were to come back, not
to be friends, but just to, let's say,
just kind of like say, I'm sorry, I
don't know if they know where to start.
(21:31):
And I also don't know if they would
go back into a tailspin, doing what they
did again because of their insecurities.
And maybe that's the reason why the person
stays away.
Their insecurities are still there.
(21:52):
And they have no desire to fix them.
Because as long as certain people aren't in
their life, then those insecurities to them don't
exist.
But that's wrong.
I realized that this person who I thought
(22:13):
was great was just someone that pretty much
put people in boxes.
What do I mean by that?
Well, so he had told me about his
story that every six months he would flip
a job.
Not because he had to, but because he
wanted to and he wanted to get more
pay.
(22:34):
I remember him telling me that other interns
were working from, he was an intern at
one time, but other interns were working from
him.
I remember him telling me that he would
go to give a presentation.
And when he got a presentation from the
intern and the presentation was great, the boss
would say, gee, that was amazing.
(22:55):
You did a great job.
And he came back and said, well, of
course I did.
I did graduate from Fordham at the top
of my class.
A little bit of a cocky answer.
But then I said to him, what would
you do if the intern messed up?
(23:16):
And your boss said, you know, that's a
lousy presentation.
Where was your head?
And he said to me, I would have
told him the intern did it.
And that's what you get.
When you don't use somebody who's a professional
(23:39):
and has graduated from Fordham at the top
of his class.
And I was like, you hypocrite.
I'm saying to myself, you don't give the
kid credit when he does something good.
But when he does something bad, you throw
him under the bus.
So you try to take his good credit.
(23:59):
I think that's wrong.
Maybe this is why we might've broke away.
Maybe because our core values were on different
ends.
And I didn't know that yet.
But the more that I reflect on him,
I started to realize that he would do
whatever he needed to do to win, even
(24:19):
if it would hurt you or me.
Now, I don't mean physically hurt, but he'd
step on people along the way to get
ahead.
And I get that you got to be
competitive, but it doesn't mean you have to
be rude.
It doesn't mean you got to put people
down.
Very interesting, very emotional situation, especially when you
(24:45):
build a friendship with somebody you trust, and
then bam, it's like they're not there anymore.
Number seven, temporary difficulties can build lasting inner
strength if we choose to learn from them.
There was a time when I thought a
specific setback, losing a big client would crush
my confidence permanently.
(25:06):
But as I reflected, I saw how I'd
handled the situation with professionalism, how I'd adapted,
and how I found new opportunities.
That reflection showed me that my strength didn't
come from avoiding difficulty, guys, but from learning
through it.
Just like with this friend, I learned that
(25:26):
I probably was too vulnerable in the beginning,
and I shouldn't have been so trusting.
Choosing to learn from difficulties is what turns
them into sources of strength.
It's not automatic.
We have to be intentional about everything we
do.
And when we reflect, we take ownership of
our growth, and that strength stays with us
(25:49):
long after the challenge is gone.
Number eight, guys, resilience isn't just about bouncing
back like that tennis ball.
It's about looking back for purpose.
I used to think resilience was just about
how fast I could recover from setbacks.
But over the years, I've learned that true
resilience comes from looking back on challenges with
(26:09):
purpose.
When I reflect intentionally, I find the meaning
in the strength, the lessons I might have
missed, the opportunities to improve, that purposeful reflection
that I turn to, looking at those setbacks
and turning them into stepping stones.
(26:32):
It gives me clarity.
It helps me move forward in a smarter,
powerful, resilient way, and assures that I'm not
just bouncing back.
I'm rising to the occasion higher, stronger than
ever before.
So reflection is what gives resilience its real
(26:53):
power.
Too many people, though, are afraid to reflect,
because if they reflect, like, wait a minute,
I did something wrong.
That means I'm not perfect.
Yeah, Jack, that's right.
You're not perfect.
And I'm just using that name, but that
wasn't anybody.
You're not perfect.
I think when we start to understand that
we're not perfect and we get humble, this
(27:19):
causes us to make connections that we didn't
even think were possible.
This friend I was talking about that I
had was definitely not humble.
I remember him telling me something.
He said, John, he says, you know, people
are a waste of my time unless they're
(27:42):
making me money.
And I said, well, I guess I'm wasting
your time.
He said, well, no, you're different.
And that's just a horrible thing when people
think that other people are a waste of
their time.
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
(28:02):
Worley, serial entrepreneur.
It's always a privilege, pleasure, and honor to
be with you guys on the amazing inspirations
of your life.
Do check out BelieveMeAchieve.com for more of
my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll see you real soon.
And remember, everyone, it's important to reflect so
you can rise to the occasion.
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