Life is Tough, and so are You!

You are stronger than you think!

You CAN get through any struggle or trial you may face. I believe we aren’t given anything we can’t handle. It may push us to the limits, but we CAN get through it, and it will make us stronger because of it.

Life is meant to be enjoyed! We are meant to have JOY in the journey.

Sometimes, it’s hard to find the JOY when the struggle is SO BIG, right?

I remember feeling consumed by our struggles when we moved from Utah to Arizona. My husband and I both quit our jobs to move there, and our savings went quickly. We didn’t find a job right away. I faced one of my biggest fears… Not having enough money to pay our bills!

My husband and I started arguing in our little apartment. It was a really stressful time.

So I made an appointment to talk to the leader of our church about our situation. I thought we might need to go to marriage counseling.

I told this man my story, and even shed some tears. He looked at me and said, “I’m glad you’re going through this right now.” I looked up in shock and thought, “Seriously?!! I’m NOT glad!”

He said kindly, “I’m glad you’re going through this because it will make your marriage stronger. Couples who go through hard things are stronger because of it. I don’t think you need counseling. I think you need to start praying together more and reading your scriptures.”

At the time I wasn’t very happy with his words. I couldn’t believe he said that!

As the years have gone by, I understand more about why he said that. It IS TRUE! I’m glad we’ve gone through hard times because it has made our marriage stronger.

I’m grateful for the tough times because it makes me even MORE grateful for the good times!

We CAN get through difficult challenges, and the best part is we are NOT alone! God is with is every step of the way. He knows the big picture. As we rely on Him to guide us, he will help us gain strength and courage to overcome any challenge that comes our way!

We’ve got this! Take it one step at a time, and keep learning through our challenges along the way!

Shannon Golladay is a former competitive gymnast. She was also a dancer, runner, and a cheerleader who wanted her body back after she had kids. She found herself tired, overweight and wishing she had her body back after her first baby was born. She found a way to not just lose the weight, but also gain energy, and get toned by doing workouts and following simple meal plans at home. In December 2011, she decided to pay it forward and help other former athletes get their bodies back. She loves helping women live life with energy, purpose and drive again!