LOH #206: Embrace the Struggle: There is no Easy Way

Today, I want to share one of my answers to the questions in the Ladies of Hive Community Contest, initiated by @priyanarc.

Can you share a time when you turned a difficult situation into a valuable life lesson?

In recent years, I've been through several difficult situations that have taught me valuable lessons.

But there is one thing that has traumatized me for a long time, and I'd like to share it with you today so that it can be a lesson for everyone.

Because I am the breadwinner, I am constantly struggling with finances. I've always wanted a comfortable life in which I could help my parents and family. I'm always looking for businesses to help me cover my expenses and become wealthy as soon as possible.

Eventually, I ran into some of my college roommates one day, and I noticed that one of them had posted something online about a quick and simple way to get money that would help me pay off my debt and deal with my money issues at the same time.

After seeing it, I was determined to learn more about it, and the phrase "easy way" piqued my interest. So I enquired, "HOW"?

We were peers, so I wondered if I could trust her. Then, I asked even more after seeing what she had posted online.

The day finally arrives when I see her in person with her so-called "mentors." Their conversational skills are so impressive that I can't help but believe everything they say—it's as though they've mesmerized me.
They say they helped me with my finances and encouraged me to invest money since they know how eager I am to find that simple solution to pay off my debt.

I said "yes," and for many years, that yes has caused me to be miserable. I made an investment of 80,000 pesos, or $1,400. It was all a lie to believe that my life would improve.

To cut a long story short, I was scammed.

I learned right away from this difficult situation that there are no shortcuts to success and financial gain.

In one way or another, I am all for making a quick buck, but it can sometimes be complicated. Even those of you who are currently highly wealthy had to start somewhere. It did not materialize out of thin air.

It's "Hard Earned Money."

We may occasionally think that life is hard and that making money is challenging. Yes, it is more complicated. Nobody informed me that it would be simple. Why do you want it to be simple in the end, anyway? In most cases, learning something new in an accessible space won't teach you much or get you very far.

Although this is indeed a fundamental truth and one of the master keys to success, the idea that taking the easiest route is human nature is also valid. People frequently act in this way at their peril.

Regardless of the path you take, getting there will demand effort and perseverance. The problem is that "shortcut" is too often confused with "easy." "That y way" doesn't exist, at least not for important tasks.

All of this should instill in you the importance of making sure your choices and actions are grounded in reality and the impossibility of achieving real, meaningful success through purchases. Only those who are willing to take on the challenge will be able to succeed with accuracy and significance.