--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ironically, most of my growth has come…" description: "\"“Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle.”\" — Paula Heller Garland" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg" --- # Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle. ![“Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle.” quote by Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg) > ““Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle.”” [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Struggle is the catalyst that fuels personal development and resilience. **In simple terms:** Hardship drives growth. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges as teachers. Themes resilience growth adversity Mood reflective determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career setbacks - health recovery - skill learning Key Concepts psychology self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - What struggles have shaped you? - Can difficulty be transformed into opportunity? A Different Perspective Not all struggle leads to positive change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Come Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/come-struggle-1189934/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth Come](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-come-1720948/) [Ironically Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ironically-growth-4777290/) [Obstacle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacle/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) ## Related quotes > [When you don't come from struggle, gaining appreciation is a quality that's difficult to come by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/when-you-don-t-come-from-struggle-gaining-appreciation-is-a-quality/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [If China don't free up the political side, its economic growth will come to an end - while it is still at a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/if-china-don-t-free-up-the-political-side-its-economic-growth-will/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“Growth can only come when you are insecure, when you don't know it all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sravani-saha-nakhro/growth-can-only-come-when-you-are-insecure-when-you-don-t-know-it-all/) [Sravani Saha Nakhro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sravani-saha-nakhro/) > [We've got to get back to rebuilding the middle class, the families of America. That's where growth will come from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/we-ve-got-to-get-back-to-rebuilding-the-middle-class-the-families-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I think daily life is where the lessons come in - that's where the tests and the growth come in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-think-daily-life-is-where-the-lessons-come-in-that-s-where-the/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Often, the periods of our greatest growth come in response to the times of our greatest challenge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-delosa/often-the-periods-of-our-greatest-growth-come-in-response-to-the/) [Jack Delosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-delosa/) > [You wouldn't wish hardship on anyone, but when it comes, you would be crazy not to see the huge growth that will come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/you-wouldn-t-wish-hardship-on-anyone-but-when-it-comes-you-would-be/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/obstacles-are-necessary-for-success-because-in-selling-as-in-all/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Regardless of where you started, there is always the next level. You need to keep leveling up your skills.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustafa-saifuddin/regardless-of-where-you-started-there-is-always-the-next-level-you/) [Mustafa Saifuddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustafa-saifuddin/) > [I've been able to overcome obstacles that would fold most people over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/i-ve-been-able-to-overcome-obstacles-that-would-fold-most-people-over/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [So I think we need to set up an 'American Ninja Warrior' obstacle course at the border and whoever can make it - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/so-i-think-we-need-to-set-up-an-american-ninja-warrior-obstacle/) [Lisa Kennedy Montgomery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kennedy-montgomery/) > [“A great obstacle to happiness is to expect too much happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-de-fontanelle/a-great-obstacle-to-happiness-is-to-expect-too-much-happiness/) [Bernard de Fontanelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-de-fontanelle/) > [An obstacle is often a stepping stone... Things that appear to be obstacles are often helpful in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/an-obstacle-is-often-a-stepping-stone-things-that-appear-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [It was the roughest time in my life. Connie helped me through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maury-povich/it-was-the-roughest-time-in-my-life-connie-helped-me-through-it/) [Maury Povich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maury-povich/) ## More by Paula Heller Garland > [“I don't know the perfect thing to say when a person is hurting but I do know the last thing they want to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/i-don-t-know-the-perfect-thing-to-say-when-a-person-is-hurting-but-i/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“You must have been the best mother in the world. Have prayed seventeen times a day...just for me. Been the strongest woman on earth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/you-must-have-been-the-best-mother-in-the-world-have-prayed-seventeen/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“Is there anything you have been putting off until another day? How about today?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/is-there-anything-you-have-been-putting-off-until-another-day-how/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“The moment I felt my life return was when I took a breath and said to him, "No thank you. Were I as perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/the-moment-i-felt-my-life-return-was-when-i-took-a-breath-and-said-to/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“I lit the candles and said out loud, “what am I waiting on? Someone to sell them in a garage sale for a quarter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/i-lit-the-candles-and-said-out-loud-what-am-i-waiting-on-someone-to/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“Life became more aligned when I started taking some of the advice I'd been dishing out to my friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/life-became-more-aligned-when-i-started-taking-some-of-the-advice-i-d/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“You can't sweep something broken into a bag and call it whole. It takes repair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/you-can-t-sweep-something-broken-into-a-bag-and-call-it-whole-it/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“If someone in my life could grow with confrontation and feedback, why would I choose to refrain?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/if-someone-in-my-life-could-grow-with-confrontation-and-feedback-why/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“One of the most positive things that has come of that communication is I have been able to see how much I have grown.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/one-of-the-most-positive-things-that-has-come-of-that-communication/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“So often I speak of “out of the box thinking” and living a “conscious life”; however, not regularly do I meet someone who lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/so-often-i-speak-of-out-of-the-box-thinking-and-living-a-conscious/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“What would you change about yourself if you could change anything?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/what-would-you-change-about-yourself-if-you-could-change-anything/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“Taking a break from digging into your own issues doesn't make you unauthentic. It makes you sane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/taking-a-break-from-digging-into-your-own-issues-doesn-t-make-you/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“What if you let go of your excuses?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/what-if-you-let-go-of-your-excuses/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“Change doesn't happen all at one. It's a gradual wearing away of the unconsciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/change-doesn-t-happen-all-at-one-it-s-a-gradual-wearing-away-of-the/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) > [“I had to ask myself why I'm continuing to engage in behavior I knew hurt. What was my payoff? Did it confirm my belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/i-had-to-ask-myself-why-i-m-continuing-to-engage-in-behavior-i-knew/) [Paula Heller Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) [Explore all 39 Paula Heller Garland quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/) ## More Growth quotes > [My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamarcus-aldridge/my-coach-robert-allen-helped-me-a-lot-he-had-more-influence-on-my/) [LaMarcus Aldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamarcus-aldridge/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [“I urge you: don't cut short these thought-trains of yours. Follow them through to their end. Your thoughts and your feelings. Follow them through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-coetzee/i-urge-you-don-t-cut-short-these-thought-trains-of-yours-follow-them/) [J.M. Coetzee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-coetzee/) > [“Economic growth continued by means of a succession of new products which found growing and ultimately massive demand. Some of the new products were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-a-hudson/economic-growth-continued-by-means-of-a-succession-of-new-products/) [Edward A. Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-a-hudson/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [If you learn something that changes you, you've made progress. If you learn something that changes others, you've helped change the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanie-lane/if-you-learn-something-that-changes-you-you-ve-made-progress-if-you/) [Lanie Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanie-lane/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [Friendship, "the wine of life," should, like a well-stocked cellar, be continually renewed; and it is consolatory to think, that although we can seldom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-boswell/friendship-the-wine-of-life-should-like-a-well-stocked-cellar-be/) [James Boswell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-boswell/) > [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“There is no growth without risk. There is always something to be gained from any experience. It is up to us to interpret our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/truth-devour/there-is-no-growth-without-risk-there-is-always-something-to-be/) [Truth Devour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/truth-devour/) > [Create an environment for people to fail, to learn, and to grow. Their creativity and productivity will increase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/create-an-environment-for-people-to-fail-to-learn-and-to-grow-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to improve; that's how you develop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gustafsson/you-have-to-improve-that-s-how-you-develop/) [Alexander Gustafsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gustafsson/) [Browse all 9,113 Growth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Paula Heller Garland" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-through-struggle/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Growth" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-through-struggle/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ca4/paula-heller-garland-16535_growth_ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-th_2191839.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ironically, most of my growth has come through struggle.” — Paula Heller Garland", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Paula Heller Garland", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-heller-garland/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Ironically, most of my growth has...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-through-struggle/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-heller-garland/ironically-most-of-my-growth-has-come-through-struggle/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```