Having a difficult childhood can be traumatic and horrifying. But, sometimes, a difficult childhood can also help you transform into an amazing person.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “childhood”? Tremendous joy, a spark of nostalgia, blissful moments when the world seemed so perfect? Well, that’s how childhood is portrayed or rather that’s how it’s supposed to be.

But not all of us are fortunate enough to have a childhood full of happy memories; We can’t all have a childhood where “pain” was a foreign language. Children are precious. Childhood is a time of growth. It shapes our life. It makes us the person we are. Innocence, tenderness, and similar tender, sweet-smelling qualities are marked by childhood.

Therefore, when someone had a difficult childhood, it becomes difficult to believe them, and it becomes difficult to accept these feelings and accompanied by an outpouring of empathy. Yes, a difficult childhood is indeed something one does not want for their child but there is always a brighter side to everything.

What makes childhood difficult?

It could be anything from parental divorce to frequent changes of places or schools, long-term illness, abuse, or death of parents or siblings. It would seem that these situations may seem very adverse to the development of the child, but it is also true that with each flood, new breeding grounds are formed.

There is a good side to everything. We cannot wish a child a difficult childhood, but if this happens, we cannot avoid it either. It is all about understanding the positive aspects of life and making the most of whatever is to come.

A difficult childhood makes one strong and, amazingly, these strengths make a child a better human being, capable of handling critical situations, who is independent and appreciative of living things and this universe.

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Here are the 6 surprising benefits of surviving a difficult childhood

(1) Gratitude for your current situation.
Have you heard of the story where the teacher told her students to pull out the largest corn from the field with the stipulation that once one gets away from the corn, they cannot go back to it? Remember what happened? The children continued to the end of the field to find the largest corn, eventually ending up in front of the smallest.

This is exactly what life is about and a difficult childhood helps one to understand it. If we keep looking for the next great happiness, we will never be satisfied, we will never have peace because we are not satisfied with ourselves, we are not content with the atom in front of us and we feel that there is a greater atom somewhere else.

When one is going through a hard time, they understand the value of the simplest things in life. Hence, one becomes grateful for his or her current situation and lives in joy and peace.

(2) Strength during crisis.
A difficult childhood makes one strong. A child who has already been through difficult circumstances knows ways to overcome them.

If poverty is a crisis, the child will understand the value of money, and grow up into someone who will never waste money or be a wasteful person. The person will know how to deal with bankruptcy if it occurs and how to overcome the situation.

(3) Creativity flourishes and concentration increases.
A child who had a very difficult childhood is usually lonely. Many hours of spending time alone, escaping into a fantasy land, self-discovery, and honing one’s skills keep the child creative and also keep him focused.

So, as a child grows into an adult, they know their skill set, they become creative people, and they know how important it is to stay focused on something.

(4) Develop the instinct to judge the situation.
Instinct is something that comes with experience. A child who has seen the worst of times understands which situation can lead to what. Therefore, as an adult, they are quite experienced when it comes to understanding a particular situation. They were good observers and good decision-makers as well.

(5) The sentimental nature.
A child who has suffered a lot grows into a caring, understanding, and affectionate adult. After suffering, one can understand the pain and the circumstances that caused it.

This also makes the person very helpful and thus the person becomes a strong support to others in need.

(6) A good father.
A child who has always been troubled with parents or who has lost their parent(s) will do their best to become a good parent to their child.

As an adult, this child will have prior knowledge about matters affecting the child that will help him deal with his child better. Also, they will consider suggestions, and ideas, join groups, and talk to counselors to become a good parent so that the pain and suffering they have gone through will not be repeated to their children.