The Struggle is Real...So Are You

It was early in my life I was made aware of a simple but profound fact, sugarcoating and blissful ignorance do nothing for the majority. I can remember it clearly, that moment of epiphany.

We had been asked to create and build a project that would not only provoke a thoughtful reflection in the audience and/or reader but one in ourselves as well. I was in my second year of high school and in my Honor English/American Literature class going through the motions like so many of us do in situations like that. We were gifted the opportunity to dive deep into timeless questions that matter and the growth that was sure to stem from the project. My first thought, of course, what is the greatest question I can address with ease and ensure an excellent grade. After all, it's about polishing that GPA right?

To help give us some guidance, our teacher decided to give us a few examples of the more successful projects over the years. As we sat there avidly listening and comparing the thoughts of our minds, I was not quite ready for the moment that came next.

She held up an image of Kermit the Frog and an essay-style story imagined in the perspective of the puppet meeting its maker, Jim Henson. The catch....this was after the creator had passed on. The essay was well written and went on to visualize an exchanging of questions and contempt from Kermit to his long passed father figure now out of reach. Kermit lamented his broken persona, the missing pieces of his relationship and asked directly how his creator could be so crass as to never teach him how to cry....

This hit me with more weight than I had been prepared for, not just in the sorrow that was felt in this amazingly well versed narrative, nor the immediate longing to meet this amazing author who created such an extraordinary visual at such a young age. It was in that moment, that I realize the personal injustice curated by denying others the opportunity to learn through grief, sorrow, trials and tribulations. Here it was a lament for the children seeing nothing but happiness and cheer, completely void of sadness. But, what about our communities? Without the low moments, can we truly appreciate, let alone experience, the highs?

To be amazed, we must first find a contrast, right?

And yet, it was so much more than that for me, in that moment. I realized just how wrong it was to paint images of perfection and success without the experience and stories that stem from the scars of battles won. We were always told not to brag growing up, but no one really tells you to share the moments that made you. The moments when you had doubt, when you hit a stumbling block, when you nearly quit it all...

Today, the world is painted in risque and humorous visuals across social media platforms, ripe with commentary and nay-sayers. Extremes on both ends leveraging fake it til you make it mentality and living beyond means in an effort to conform or compete. It saddens me and calls up the memory cast by young Kermit in personal reflection with the ghost of his creator.

Yet, in the midst of it all, we find little nooks of humanity and community. Stories, experience, friendship and cares are shared, bonding those with pure intentions to others with like-mind and motives. These are the missing pieces, these are the moments that so many long for, and it is in these moments I attempt to create thoughtful awareness as I listen, learn and grow from others. Life is a story, filled with characters that will either build you up or tear down your narrative. Even in business we need to be careful whom we share it with. Choosing to share the struggles amongst the growth is more influential, more powerful than simply boasting of success. It is up to each of us to determine where we fall in this story, that is after all why it is called having character.

We are here, together, now and forever. Listen, love, learn and grow. #OwnItLoveIt

Adam Griggs is CEO and Co-Founder of CLARAfi, a communication platform for small business owners to build and leverage trust PROACTIVELY with their advisors through simplified and powerful tools.

To learn more about how you can help elevate business and create moments that matter, head over to https://CLARAfi.Coach