The challenging times were the result of some shortcoming of knowledge or skills. I now see troublesome times in a new light, and welcome the hidden knowledge that they hold. In every pain, disappointment or failure there exists some new insight that can ease the present and better equip you for the future. If we only enter circumstances for which we are already prepared we will have a safer journey, but we risk not being challenged, and thereby lose the opportunity to grow. It is not the nature of easy times to bring growth.
Growth is achieved through the resolution of discordance.
Without discordance we could not come to this new light. We should strive to rejoice in our hardships as they hold gifts of insight and wisdom. This is not to lessen those glorious moments when all seems right with the world. I finally stopped struggling against my sled and repacked it, thrilled at the improvement. As I stashed my skins away and reached for the wax someone stopped to offer some helpful suggestions on future skin care.