Tough times are life’s most powerful training grounds. They visit everyone—across all walks of life. Yet we often perceive them as injustice by others, a streak of misfortune, or even punishment from the Creator. And while those interpretations may carry emotional truth, there’s one perspective that gives us power: Every hardship is a hidden lesson.

Tough times stretch us beyond our current capacity—that’s what makes them tough. But if we choose to see them as moments that reveal our limits, we can begin to address those very gaps. In doing so, we not only get through the crisis—we grow stronger in areas we once struggled with.

Of course, some challenges go far beyond anything we can “fix”—like the loss of a loved one. These are like a tree losing its trunk: no amount of effort brings back what’s gone. But even then, we’re not helpless. In such times, it’s not about capacity-building—it’s about adaptation and embracing alternatives.

In the end, life keeps moving forward not just through strength, but through our willingness to adapt, accept, and begin again.