By Kathryn Barney

In Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life, it says, “all problems -- from a gnawing sense you could be making more to the gut-wrenching pain of staggering debt -- have a purpose (p. 72).”

It’s a principle I’ve always believed, but one I’ve struggled to consistently live.

I’ll be honest—I’ve been known to wallow in misery. I’ve complained, whined, and sought pity. Over the years, I’ve worked hard to rise above that tendency, but it hasn’t always been easy.

Lately, though, I’m really starting to internalize—not just know—that every problem truly has a purpose. And every problem is relative.

When it comes to money, the law of relativity is easy for me to remember. I live in a time and place where my family has a home, two cars, food of any kind we choose at every meal, clothing for every season, and heating or cooling on demand. That alone puts us in the top percentile of people alive today—and in all of history. So when I’m tempted to feel frustrated about unmet financial goals or an insufficient retirement account, I remind myself: we are already living in tremendous abundance.

But with other challenges—especially health—that perspective has been harder to keep. Since I was about 16, I’ve battled autoimmune issues, multiple surgeries, depression, and other ailments. At times, I’ve been deeply discouraged. Working hard to overcome them never seemed to make a difference.

In the past couple of years, though, I made a deliberate shift toward gratitude. Instead of seeing my health as an obstacle, I chose to see it as a stepping stone. (I didn’t always know how it could be one—but I was determined to look at it that way.) I began thanking Heavenly Father for blessing me with these health struggles. And surprisingly, I’ve learned so much from them—lessons that refined my soul and deepened my reliance on Him.

Even health, after all, is relative. I wasn’t confined to bed. Even on days with limited energy, I could still love and care for my family. I had full use of my limbs and all my senses. There was still so much to be grateful for.

As my thinking shifted, so did my life. I had tried dozens of diets, therapies, and healing modalities over the years with no real success. But when I started being thankful for the struggle itself, answers began trickling in.

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”

And appear they did. I found information that completely transformed my health. Today, I am healthier than I’ve ever been—and deeply grateful not only for restored health, but also for the decades of lessons my challenges brought me.

Because all problems—even poor health—have a purpose.