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.
Arturo Hoyos
In the youth soccer world, I see this firsthand. Players may experience suffering on different scales: something major like being cut from a team or dealing with a significant injury, or something smaller like losing a starting spot. But in every case, suffering becomes a mirror. Does the player quit? Do they lash out at the coach or the club? Read more>>
Kayvon Homayoun
Living with cystic fibrosis has taught me lessons that no amount of success ever could. I’ve faced major health setbacks, and I’ve come close to losing my life twice. Those experiences forced me to confront struggle head-on, and they gave me a perspective that shapes everything I do. Suffering taught me resilience, discipline, and gratitude. Read more>>
William K
The value of easy. Easy things often go by in life with out people being thankful. It often takes a situation of being denied that easy thing to make you realize the value of it. Read more>>
Jordan Brown
Suffering taught me something success never could—it became the seed that grew into everything I’ve built with Mindcheer. Out of heartbreak came the inspiration for A Mind of Cheer and Elly the Deer Loves to Cheer. Those difficult seasons showed me that true cheer isn’t about being happy all the time, it’s about finding resilience, encouragement, and hope when life feels heavy. Read more>>
Ethan Williams
That sometimes you just have to go for it. Suffering often forces you to confront your fears and push beyond your comfort zone because you have no other choice besides just staying the same. Read more>>
Julie Taing
Suffering taught me presence. It stripped away the noise and made me pay attention to what truly matters—health, love, purpose, and the people who show up when things get hard. It taught me resilience in a way success never could. Success can be validating, but it doesn’t challenge you to rebuild yourself from the inside out. Read more>>
Chef Matty Mcfleen
Suffering and hardship in a chef’s life—when things go wrong, run long shifts, or faces shortages—teach lessons that success alone often can’t. Here are some key ones and how they apply in the kitchen: Resilience and grit You learn to keep going after a tough service, a broken sauce, or a failing station. Read more>>
Jaime Allen
What did suffering teach you? Last year tested me in ways I could never have prepared for. Within months, I faced two major knee replacement surgeries and the devastating loss of my mother. Each on its own would have been enough to tear me down and dismantle the version of myself I thought was unshakable. Read more>>
Bria “Slim” Miller
Suffering has taught me grace. Everyone may not wear what they’re going through so extend grace. To yourself and to others. To suffer a great deal of pain, only means there will be an immense amount of joy to follow after. Nothing is done for nothing. Read more>>
Lisa Nicholson
This is really a tough one. I grew up being taught that failure simply wasn’t an option, and I took that to heart in a big way. In my 40’s, I dusted off my bicycle and gradually got obsessed. I started with 20 mile rides, but that quickly became 50, and then multi-day cross-state vacations, 100 mile rides, 200 mile rides, and more. Read more>>
