Photo by SHVETS production

In Sparrows of Senegambia, Charles Sampson’s book on rising above life circumstances, he details the uphill climb and many challenges of life he had to overcome.

For one to face the challenges of life head-on without fear and apprehension, one needs to bear a resilient spirit. It is only when a person goes through crises that they can grow and become a better version of themselves. Of course, overcoming a crisis does not only mean achieving successive triumphs. Sometimes, winning just means surviving. Sometimes, this just means bouncing back from what life throws at you and learning from the experience, never to be caught off guard once something similar happens again. This is the trick: learning from your mistakes. People who never manage to look at things from another perspective are forever destined to fail because they not only have the resiliency to stand back up but the courage and confidence to learn from things. 

An Uphill Climb

Life is an uphill climb. When you talk about it like that, then the challenges of life are simply rocks and slopes that you have to learn how to get over. Adversity is an ever-present part of life, and while people can run away from it—because it is seldom resolved that way, nor does it leave you alone. Whether you are suffering from a financial setback, a health crisis, a sour relationship, or you’ve discovered that there are some things you were never meant to do, there is no way but forward.

You have to face the challenges of life and finish that uphill climb, regardless if the journey is overwhelming or too challenging. It is the only way to come out stronger than before and overcome things. Have you ever heard of someone who grew stronger because they DID NOT face their fears? If so, everyone would want to know.

Rising Up from the Challenges of Life

Now that you’ve accepted that going forward is the only way. Here are some steps to overcoming the myriad challenges of life:

1. Accepting the Situation. What does this mean? Does this mean that you accept the inevitability of things and simply give up? For the love of God, no. While it is natural to feel, at the outset, frustrated and perhaps even resentful when facing the challenges of life, it only becomes terrible when you resign yourself.
2. Reframing Your Perspective. While you might have accepted the situation and found some hope in overcoming it, there can sometimes be feelings of frustration left over. This can quickly become detrimental and affect your overall mindset. Resist whatever negative emotions fill your head and turn them into something positive and motivational.
3. Seeking Others’ Support. Although life is an uphill climb, it is not something that has to be done alone. Reach out and ask for help from others. Do not be ashamed that you are asking for help, and don’t be afraid that you will be rejected. It is okay to be afraid, and sometimes you will be rejected. What matters most is understanding that you are not alone in this fight.
4. Practicing Self-Care. Facing adversity and looking out for ways to overcome them is stressful and draining. The mind and the body are not invincible, nor can they remain pristine forever. The challenges of life can wear everything down, given enough time. So, learn to love yourself and manifest that love into self-care, which could mean either indulging oneself or simply taking a break.

Sparrows of Senegambia

In Sparrows of Senegambia, Charles Sampson’s book on rising above life circumstances, he details the uphill climb and many challenges of life he had to overcome. There is an intimate account of his travels across West Africa and other Third-World countries, learning from the trials there and growing more and more as a person through the adversity he faced.