10 New Ways to Think About the Challenges You Face

• Challenge can’t (and shouldn’t) be entirely avoided by careful planning. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t how it works. Without challenge, we miss out on instrumental experiences that are some of our greatest teachers in this life.

• Challenge happens (even) to good people. Bad things happen, even to good people. The key is to learn how to find the opportunities for growth within those challenges. The obstacles do not detract from our development, they are essential elements in our formation, our learning and growth.

• When challenges arise, it doesn’t mean you are on the wrong path. Challenges arise without reason. You may be doing exactly what you were meant to do even when a loss occurs or a storm arrives. Do not think of challenge as a punishment or a signal that you’re going the wrong way.

• The more important the work, often, the greater the challenge. Challenge both readies us for what is to come and is a test, a life checkpoint to see if we’re ready to be granted the next level of responsibility, the new relationship, or the expanded influence we desire. Following our life purpose and calling will inevitably bring challenge as the crucible to see if we’re ready to lead the change we envision.

• Think of challenge as an invitation. Ask yourself: “Is this worth it? Do I want to keep going in this direction?”

• Challenge means it’s this or something better. When you don’t give up, when you are unwavering in the face of difficulties, you will find opportunities to elevate your life.

• Resilience doesn’t prevent challenge; it gives you a toolkit to navigate the inevitable obstacles and setbacks. Resilience gives you the tools to have the confidence to show up amid challenge and effectively address the issues at hand, rather than ignoring them or giving up, generating more strength and wisdom.

• Challenges are rarely unilaterally positive or negative. A tragic loss may be deeply upsetting and unbalancing, but with time, many people can find goodness, even gratitude, that emerges from the tragedy, such as bringing them closer to friends and family, and a deeper appreciation for what it means to be alive.

• Challenge is not something shameful. Blaming ourselves is never productive. Many people think they need a perfect track record, experiences unblemished by challenge, to be worthy. Challenge provides the moments in which we learn just how much we are worth.

• Challenge is the comma, not the period at the end of the sentence. Instead of seeing challenge as the final say, the period at the end of the sentence, view challenge as the comma in the middle of the sentence, asking us how we’d like to write the rest of our story.

Read the complete article available at Thrive Global!

Reflection:

How do you respond to challenges?

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