There are some definite ‘facts’ you need to know about struggling: 1- you don’t just experience it once and never again – the issue may change but not the experience, 2- everyone goes through (multiple) times of struggle, 3- everyone has their own method of exit. Not particularly helpful information? Probably not.
Another reality is that struggling is a war. But sometimes you really don’t know who/what the enemy is… which is frustrating. I believe that what we fail to learn from history/our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat so I try and always take the learner’s approach. For me it is the fastest way out. Obviously this is my recommended approach I take to exit a struggle.
It is logical but typically not the first action one takes to extricate oneself, but if you can stop struggling long enough to begin analyzing what’s happening you probably will discover your first clue to exit. The little known fact about struggles is that they can also be extremely beneficial (depending on your definition) because if you take a learners approach, you can make significant discoveries.
Swinging wildly at anything/anyone close is rarely effective. What you can do is to discover the reason for the struggle. Then you look at the issue’s relationship to you because not all struggles are necessary and not all are related directly to you. Next you look at or determine your options, choose your next step and move on. Imminently logical? Yes. But possible?
Unfortunately this does not address the ‘type’ of struggle, which is undoubtedly the most important consideration. How you respond to an emotional struggle is different than an intellectual one. But when the struggle is both emotional and intellectual – it is far from a simple, becoming complicated and requiring energy and time. Struggles don’t just go away… they can’t be ignored, you have to deal with them.
