With all the focus on success it’s easy to overlook the valuable lessons we can learn from the more difficult parts of our journey. Below, you’ll find some very interesting insights from some of the most fascinating members of the community.
Jaclyn Matikas
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. When life fell apart, I had to face myself and decide who I wanted to become. From 2009 to 2018, I worked alongside my (now) ex-husband and father of two of my girls. Near the end, things weren’t great — personally or professionally — but I was scared to start over. Read More>>
Chelsie Kliese
Suffering is the greatest teacher I will ever have. Pretty early on in my entrepreneurial journey I realized that there is no success without failure. Every memoir, every biography, every interview, every path to a goal includes stories of failure and suffering. Now that I understand that, I can comfortably treat those moments and outcomes as part of the plan rather than a setback. Read More>>
Melissa Panszi Riebe
Suffering feels like such a harsh word, but I’d say dealing with challenges taught me how to pivot. In the moment when something goes wrong, it absolutely feels like suffering. But when I’m able to reflect, I see it was exactly what needed to happen – to move forward, let go of what was holding me back, or heal something that needed forgiveness. Read More>>
David Mathis
I continue to learn the difference between owning a business and being an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur knows that no one will save you. You have to find a way through. I’ve seen statistics that say that 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years. I believe it because the struggle is real. Read More>>
Leanna Truong
Growing up, I was one of the few Asian kids in a mostly white private school. My family wasn’t wealthy — my parents just worked incredibly hard to give us a good education and keep us in a safe environment. What we didn’t realize was that being in that world came with its own challenges. Read More>>
Monica Johnson
Suffering taught me that pain is temporary even when it doesn’t feel that way. It builds resilience, grit, and the courage to face challenges head-on. You learn to how to become determined to succeed instead of surrendering to circumstance. If success had been handed to me on a silver platter, I would never have developed the skill set or tools to navigate life’s storms. Read More>>
Rachel Porter
Suffering through life’s difficulties and challenges—the fires of life—teaches valuable lessons. This is true whether the hardship is mild or extreme. The pain remains. Suffering stripped away everything that no longer served me. It led me to moments of self-reflection, refinement, and clarity regarding myself and the external circumstances. Just like in the refiner’s fire, impurities are brought to the surface and wiped away. Read More>>
JoDo
Suffering has showed me that people are only around for the prizes. Everybody wants to be a part of your success story but they never mention any part of being there through the heartaches, financial loss, death and it can go on and on and on. Read More>>
Sarah Iaione
Failure is the engine behind my growth. The truth is the difference between me and a lot of people my age is simple: I’ve failed more. You’d expect that to hold me back, but it does the opposite. Every failure has become fuel — it makes my next move smarter, bolder, and more strategic. Read More>>
Jia Jia
Working with clay parallels this lesson perfectly. When a piece collapses or cracks, it reveals truths that perfection can’t — about tension, gravity, and human fragility. Suffering, like a broken vessel, shows the limits of control and the beauty of endurance. It reminds me that transformation often begins in failure. Read More>>
Jurgita Stahlecker
Suffering taught me depth. It stripped away everything that looked perfect from the outside and showed me what actually matters. Success can make you feel proud, but pain makes you humble. It teaches you compassion — for yourself and for others — and it reminds you that beauty can still exist in the middle of brokenness. Read More>>
The Walking Flame
To be humble. When you suffer, you start to see life in a different light. A lot of situations that people seem to get upset about; I just don’t worry about them. I’m worried about beating my mind everyday; I’m not worried about that car who cut me off. Like when you face deep battles, life almost moves in slow motion. Read More>>
Vyolet Blyck
Suffering taught me how to create safety in my mind and body. How to change my mindset to surrender to the present moment and find solutions instead of choosing to stay stuck in a state of feeling powerless and complaining. Read More>>
