The Bittersweet Secret to Success

Christ turned the world upside-down when he established the Church. His message turned off people in 30 AD, as it still does today.  (You may have noticed that the Catholic view on suffering continues to effectively repel  many onlookers.)

Catholics don’t buy the prosperity gospel, where believing always leads to fulfilling your hearts desire— material wealth, comfort, love, romance—with minimal personal discomfort. As good as that sounds, you’re probably aware of the multitude of martyrs—white and red—that handily disprove that theory.

You may not be surprised, like many mature Catholic mompreneurs, when you get the unpleasant awakening that life, and your business is not a bowl of cherries.  Perhaps you’ve experienced:

• A difficult marriage
• A shameful personal problem
• Embarrassing financial difficulties
• Life’s low point like depression and lack of meaning
• Struggles getting all of the moving parts to work right in your business

As a Catholic, embracing your suffering is part of your success journey.  It’s your mini Calvary.

But did you know your pain and suffering is likely the root of your business success?

What?

Your pain fuels success in these ways:

• Your business mission is  typically rooted in  your painful life experiences.
• You probably personally overcome these challenges, and are passionate about helping others do the same.
• Virtue growth, and spiritual and emotional strength, bubbled in you from persistence in working through the problem, and having a deeper dependence on God.
• You have a deep empathy for your clients, and are best suited to guide them from where they are to where they want to be.

You see, no one really wants a mentor who has it completely together. They want someone who, a) understands their problem, and b) know how to help them resolve it…someone just like you!

So, in the season of gratitude, make sure you thank God for the pain and suffering that made you exactly who you are today.

You will learn to appreciate the  “bitter”  in the “bittersweet” success God gives you.

 The Catholic Mompreneur’s  Biz and Life Tip:  Spend some time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, asking what experiences have shaped who you are today and how you can use your pain to serve God and others.