THE STRUGGLE WITHIN

“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us.” John Steinbeck

Yes, Mr. Steinbeck… therein lies the quiet truth of our existence. The harder we struggle, the farther we drift from the very purpose we came here to remember. When our eyes are fixed only on what lies ahead—the climb, the effort, the mountain we believe we must conquer—we miss the sacredness of the step we are standing on right now. In those moments, we hand our power over to fear and limitation, measuring ourselves by what we think we can or cannot do. Today, the word struggle echoed everywhere—through conversations with others and through the gentle, honest dialogue within my own heart. I even awoke with a song looping through my mind, Struggle Within. And then another truth surfaced, one I now hold close in the words of Emerson, “When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”

I no longer see life as a battlefield. I see it as a golden classroom. Why else would challenges appear so faithfully? They are not punishments; they are teachers. Each one arrives bearing a lesson wrapped in mystery, inviting us to grow rather than to resist. To view life through the lens of victimhood—I must struggle to survive, to overcome—is to cheat ourselves of a far more beautiful experience. When our focus returns to what truly matters, the mountains shrink into molehills, and the path beneath our feet becomes clear again.

So I pause and ask myself:

Is it essential that I be right?

Is it my role to judge or be upset with those I believe are wrong?

And who decides what “wrong” or “right“ entails?

Judgment does not heal; it only hardens. Perhaps there is no absolute right or wrong at all—only perspectives shaped by culture, experience, and belief. Maybe what we call truth lives not at the extremes but in the quiet shades of gray in between. And maybe the journey itself is gently guiding us there.

There is, however, a deeper layer to struggle—one that touches the tender places of the heart. It is the struggle we feel when we witness the mistreatment of others. When we observe injustice, cruelty, indifference, or harm, something inside us aches. The soul knows when love is absent. And this can be one of the most challenging places to stand—between compassion and reaction, between awareness and overwhelm. I have asked myself: What is my responsibility here? Is it to fight? To confront? To carry the weight of fixing what feels broken? The old version of me might have gone straight into battle mode—absorbing anger, taking on sorrow that was never mine to hold, believing that struggle was required in order to care. But I am learning that responsibility does not mean losing our center. It does not mean abandoning peace. There is a profound difference between responding from love and reacting from pain.

When we witness mistreatment, our responsibility is not to judge, shame, or harden ourselves. Nor is it to look away. Our responsibility is to stay awake, stay compassionate, and act when guided—from clarity rather than outrage.

Sometimes responsibility looks like speaking up.

Sometimes it looks like offering help quietly.

Sometimes it looks like holding space, praying, or bearing witness so truth is not erased.

And sometimes it looks like choosing not to engage in energy that would only deepen the wound.

We are not meant to struggle against the world in order to heal it. We are meant to be steady lanterns—illumining without burning out, standing in truth without losing tenderness. When we remember what is important—love, dignity, unity—we become instruments of change without becoming casualties of the pain we see.

Dear Angels, how do we honor our responsibility when we witness the mistreatment of others without becoming consumed by struggle or judgment? If the journey truly takes us, how do we stop struggling and learn to trust where life is leading?

Dear Ones, the moment you release the need to control the road, you will feel the journey carry you. Struggle arises when the mind insists on certainty while the soul is designed for discovery. You were never meant to force your becoming; you were meant to allow it. Each challenge is not an obstacle but a doorway. When you meet it with presence instead of resistance, it opens effortlessly. Trust does not come from knowing the destination—it comes from remembering who walks with you. We are beside you in every step, every pause, every detour that teaches your heart compassion and wisdom. Let go of the need to judge your path or compare it to another’s. No two journeys are alike, and none are mistaken. When you soften into the now, the journey reveals its gifts, and you discover you have been guided all along. Beloved hearts, your awareness is not accidental. When you notice suffering, it is because your soul carries compassion strong enough to hold light there. Yet you are not asked to carry the burden of fixing what you did not create.

Responsibility is born of love, not force. When action is required, it will arise clearly, calmly, and with purpose. When silence is required, it will also be filled with power. Trust that you will know the difference. Stand as witnesses of love. Speak when truth calls. Act when guidance is present. And when neither is required, anchor peace so the frequency of healing may ripple outward through you. Your presence alone shifts more than you can see.

Angels Whisper: Stop wrestling the road, Dear One. The journey knows your name and is carrying you exactly where your soul longs to arrive.

Today, I promise to continue to focus on where I stand in any given moment and experience the journey.

Teri Angel is a Happiness Coach, energy healer, best-selling author, spiritual teacher and mentor, and a motivational speaker. Teri is an International Peace Ambassador and the founder of a nonprofit organization, Angelspeakers Inc., which offers educational workshops and events centered around environmental awareness to include animals and nature, peace advocacy opportunities and ancient wisdom teachings. Teri’s movement “Peas For Peace” involves strengthening our awareness of the oneness of all, unifying mankind through compassion, peace, love and joy. She was named "She Who Blesses the Sacred Land" during the Peace On Earth Tour and embraces that title with loving grace.  www.angelspeakers.com

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