This is a guest post by Joseph Lalonde. He is a youth leader and leadership blogger at JMLalonde.com. Joseph shares leadership tools and encourages you to become a better leader. Follow him on Twitter or at his blog.

Hurt Runs Deep

We’ve all experienced pain in our life. Most of the time we’ve brushed it off and continued on our path. Yet there’s some hurts that run deep. They cut into our souls and leave us scarred.

I’ve had those hurts.
A bad breakup. A bad work situation. Trouble at home.

How The Hurt Starts

The hurt starts off shallow. It feels like it’s just below the surface.
Eventually it began to carve itself into my psyche. Little by little.
Similar to how the Grand Canyon was carved out. The deep pain didn’t happen in one day.
It happened over time.

Photo credit to Joao Vicente http://www.flickr.com/photos/jvc/

The Affects Of The Hurt

Some of these hurts have cut me to the core. Leaving me with the feeling that I couldn’t go on.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case and I was able to pick myself up and push forward.
But the truth of the matter is that there are days the hurt comes back with a vengeance. They’re still with me months and years later.
A little offense or bad communication can set it off and remind me of my failures. Leaving me longing to curl into the fetal position and wish it all away.
Have you ever been there?

Coping With The Hurt

I know I said the hurt creeps in now and again. Sometimes I think it always will have a grip on my life.
The hurt has gone deep. It’s left a permanent scar.
Learning this is half the battle. Knowing there will be good days and bad days keeps me vigilant.
It’s also helped me realize that the hurt is only temporary. The waves of emotions may come but they also subside.
When the hurt has subsided, it’s also been beneficial to replace the emptiness left with some sort of joy.
Discovering new adventures. Finding a love that endures. Or discovering a new hobby.
Find something that will get your mind going in the right direction. And away from the past. Begin focusing on the future and what’s in store for you.
Hurt runs deep. It leaves its scars. It rears its ugly head ever so often.
But don’t let it rule your life. Recognize it. Use it. And push forward.

Question: How have you overcome the hurt in your life? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.