While working through a challenge toward a goal, do you mention to friends about how hard it is? If you admire Rambo, probably not. Some thoughts on why, maybe, you should try it.
“Rambo” refers to someone who demonstrates toughness, fearlessness, and unstoppability while confronting obstacles. I strive to channel Rambo-ish traits when confronting a challenge, from overcoming illness to writing articles and books. But I’m not silent about it.
Lucky for me, I have people in my life who understand that when I tell them, “This is really hard,” what I usually need is to feel heard and validated: “Yep! What you are doing IS hard.”
Now my fatigue, frustration, anxiety, and disappointment don’t feel like weakness but, rather, like the natural consequences of tackling something difficult.
For me, I’m usually not asking for sympathy. Nor am I looking for them to cheer me on with exhortations like, “You can do it!”
You might be wondering why I don’t just say to myself, “This is hard!” I do! But there’s something healing about witnessing. The human interaction helps me build my confidence and manage my expectations, both of which help me gear up for further struggle and hardship on the path to the desired outcome.
At times, the path to Healthy Survivorship may include saying, “This is hard!”
