What’s a chapter of your life you’d title “The Hard Years” — and what got you through it?
The Hard Years: When Life Gave the Toughest Test — What Helped Me Survive?
📑Table of Contents
1. Attention – Are You Also Going Through That Phase?
2. Reason – Why Should You Read This Article?
3. Benefits – What Will You Gain From This Article?
4. That Time When Everything Felt Dark – Identifying The Hard Years
5. When Struggles Came at the Cost of Dreams – A Real Story
6. The 5 Things That Pulled Me Out of That Difficult Phase – Survival Kit
7. The Mindset Shift – The Biggest Weapon
8. The People Who Stood By Me – Power of Support System
9. Celebrating Small Wins
10. What I Call That Phase Today – Lessons From The Hard Years
11. Conclusion – You Can Do It Too
12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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1. Attention – Are You Also Going Through That Phase?
Have you ever felt that life has given you its toughest exam? When waking up every morning feels difficult? When your dreams seem shattered? When do all paths look blocked? And when loneliness becomes your biggest companion?
If yes, then this article is just for you. Because today I’m going to tell you about that phase of my life which I call “The Hard Years.” These were the years when I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. When there was no money. When no path seemed visible. And when every day brought a new challenge.
But here’s the most surprising thing – today I consider that same phase as my life’s most precious gift. Why? Because those difficult years taught me lessons that no book could teach. Those years gave me the strength that today is my biggest asset.
So let me share the story of that tough phase of my journey, and also tell you what helped me come out of that darkness.
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2. Reason – Why Should You Read This Article?
This is not just a story – it’s a roadmap.
If you:
· Feel stuck in your career
· Are struggling with money problems
· Feel disappointed in relationships
· Have a dream but keep failing to achieve it
· Simply can’t find any direction to move forward
Then this article could change your life. Because today I’m not just going to tell you about struggles, but also how to overcome them.
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3. Benefits – What Will You Gain From This Article?
After reading this article, you will:
✅ Learn how to identify tough years and how to deal with them
✅ Discover the 5 things that helped me survive the most difficult phase
✅ Understand how a small mindset shift can make a big difference
✅ Know which people to keep around during difficult times
✅ Get practical steps you can apply in your life right now
✅ Realize that you are not alone – everyone goes through tough phases
✅ Find new hope and energy to move forward
✅ Understand how The Hard Years can become your biggest strength
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4. That Time When Everything Felt Dark – Identifying The Hard Years
The year was 2016. I didn’t have anything significant professionally. I had a small job that I absolutely hated. Every day was the same – wake up, go to office, work, come back, sleep. No passion, no direction.
Deep inside, I had a burning desire to do something else. But every time, fear held me back – “What if I fail? What if I run out of money? What if everyone thinks I’m a failure?”
And then came that day when I lost my job. Suddenly. Without any warning. Like someone pulled the ground from under my feet.
Money started running out. I didn’t have the courage to tell my family. I stopped meeting friends – because I was embarrassed about what to tell them. Many nights I slept hungry because there wasn’t enough money for food.
These were my “Hard Years” – three years when:
· I gave interviews in over 30 companies and got rejected everywhere
· My bank account never had more than 5000 rupees
· I had to lie to my family that everything was fine
· Every morning I looked in the mirror and asked – “What are you doing with your life?”
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5. When Struggles Came at the Cost of Dreams – A Real Story
One day, I made a decision – “Enough is enough.”
I realized I had only two paths – either drown, or learn to swim. I chose to learn how to swim.
I bought a diary. In it, I wrote – “What are my problems and how can I solve them?”
I wrote:
1. No money → Learn a new skill, find online work
2. No confidence → Read 10 pages of a book daily
3. No network → Meet people, ask for help
4. Fear → Take one small step every day
And then I started working. One by one. Slowly.
In the first week, I spent 10 hours learning a new skill (content writing). In the first month, I read 5 books. In the second month, I emailed 15 clients – only 2 responded.
But 2 responded!
That’s all I needed – a little hope, a little chance.
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6. The 5 Things That Pulled Me Out of That Difficult Phase
(1) Waking Up at 5 AM
I decided to sleep by 10 PM and wake up at 5 AM. These 2 hours were just for me – for reading, writing, and thinking. This habit changed my life.
(2) Journaling – Putting Thoughts on Paper
I started writing 5 things daily:
· What am I grateful for today?
· What did I learn today?
· What was my biggest challenge today?
· What did I do well today?
· What will I do better tomorrow?
(3) Choosing the Right People
I started distancing myself from negative people who always said ‘no’ to every idea. I began spending time with people who inspired me, who believed in me.
(4) Taking Care of Physical Health
I started exercising for 30 minutes daily. Believe me, when your body is healthy, your mind stays clear too. A healthy body and healthy mind give you the strength to face any challenge.
(5) Small Goals, Big Wins
I broke down my big goals into smaller ones. Instead of ‘I will earn millions in a year’, I started with ‘Today I need to write 1000 words’. This small shift gave me the feeling of winning every single day.
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7. The Mindset Shift – The Biggest Weapon
One thing I learned during those tough years – difficulties will keep coming and going, but your thinking determines whether you see them as problems or opportunities.
I started telling myself:
· “These struggles are making me stronger.”
· “Every failure is teaching me something new.”
· “The darker the night, the closer the dawn.”
· “I am the hero of my story, and heroes know how to fight through difficulties.”
These things sound easy to say, but when you’re actually in that situation, it’s very hard to follow them. But it is possible. I did it, and you can too.
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8. The People Who Stood By Me
Some people left me during those tough times, but there were also those who stood by me no matter what.
My mother never asked me – “Why aren’t you earning?” She simply said – “Do whatever you want, I believe in you.”
A friend of mine, when he saw me struggling, transferred 5000 rupees without me even asking. He said – “Pay me back when you have money, just take this for now.”
A support system – people who stand by you – there’s no bigger strength than that. If you don’t have such people around, be your own support system. Look in the mirror and tell yourself – “You can do this, just fight one more day.”
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9. Celebrating Small Wins
When you’re going through a tough phase, you shouldn’t wait for big successes. You should celebrate every small victory.
I celebrated:
· When I got my first freelance project (worth just 500 rupees)
· When I finished reading my first complete book
· When I woke up at 5 AM for 7 consecutive days
· When someone appreciated my work
· When I earned my first 1000 rupees
These small wins kept reminding me that I was moving forward, even if slowly.
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10. What I Call That Phase Today
Today when I think about that phase, I smile. Because if those 3 difficult years hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
Those hard years taught me:
· Real success comes from within, not from others
· Failure is just a ladder – the higher you want to climb, the more steps you have to take
· Being alone isn’t loneliness, it’s time to know yourself
· Money is important, but peace and contentment matter more
· After every difficulty, a new opportunity definitely comes – you just have to see it
Today I’m a successful content writer, several of my books have been published, and I help thousands of people achieve their dreams. But the biggest thing – today I believe in myself. That trust which broke during those tough years is now stronger than ever.
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11. Conclusion – You Can Do It Too
So my friend, if you’re going through ‘The Hard Years’ today, know this:
You are not alone.
Everyone goes through some difficult phases at some point in their life. The only difference is that some people give up, while others get up and fight again.
You can fight too. You just need to:
· Take control of your mornings
· Change your thinking
· Keep the right people around you
· Set small goals and win every day
· And most importantly – believe in yourself
Remember: Dawn always comes after the darkest night. And dawn only comes for those who keep walking even through the darkness.
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12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1 – What are The Hard Years?
The Hard Years are that phase of your life when you face difficulties everywhere – no money, career stagnation, broken relationships, and feelings of loneliness.
Q2 – Does everyone go through Hard Years in life?
Most people go through difficult phases at some point in their lives. But they may not be the same for everyone – for some it could be financial, for others emotional or physical.
Q3 – How to get out of a difficult phase?
First, change your thinking. Then create a routine, set small goals, stay with the right people, and celebrate every small win. Slowly but surely, you will move forward.
Q4 – Do difficult years make us stronger?
Absolutely! Difficult years teach us lessons that no book can teach. They build our patience, endurance, and self-confidence.
Q5 – What to do when it feels like hope is lost?
Just do one thing – fight for one more day. Deal with tomorrow when it comes. One day, one small win. That’s how you’ll slowly come out of it.
Q6 – Does life become better after The Hard Years?
Yes, provided you learn something from that phase and improve your mindset and habits. Difficulties don’t disappear, but you definitely become stronger to face them.
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Final Words:
Life isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible either. All you need is belief – in your dreams, in your strength, and in the hope that one day everything will be fine.
Because difficulties come and go, but the person who doesn’t give up writes their own story of victory even during The Hard Years.
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READ MORE: Mindfulness morning routine
🙏Thank You!💕