Are you a person who loves challenges, or hates them? I must admit I've spent most of my life as a person who hates them. I've always thought of challenges as frustrating, maddening obstacles keeping me from where I want to be. I even used to take them personally, feeling like the universe must hate me and like to see me struggle. ;-)
As I grow older and (hopefully) wiser -- I find my competitive nature rising up to meet these challenges, and I'm learning to see them differently. Most of us know that great rewards require great sacrifice and effort. You know the old saying that nothing worthwhile comes easy? In a sense that's true. If everything we wanted was handed to us, we probably wouldn't have alot of appreciation for it. On the other hand, when we work hard for something and then see it manifest before our eyes, we get such a powerful sense of pride and accomplishment. We can point to it and say, "I did that. It was tough, but I did it anyway."
Challenges are truly opportunities. Opportunities to grow and learn, to strengthen ourselves, to test ourselves and our faith. They reveal how badly we want to create the dreams in our hearts, and how hard we're willing to work for them. This is such a blessing. It may not seem that way at first, but with a tiny shift in attitude, we can see that we have been handed an incredible opportunity.
The next time life hands you a challenge, stop and consider for a moment what it means. Is the universe saying "no," or "I want you to try harder?" Don't look at challenges as an end, look at them as a door leading to your heart's desires. That door might be locked, but you have the key. Maybe you forgot where you put the key, or you forgot that you even had it to begin with. It might take some effort and patience to find it again -- or you might even have to create a new one, but believe that you will, even if you're not sure how yet.
I'm learning that it's not important to have all the answers right now. When challenges rise up before us, we may not know how to get around them, or through them. It might seem hopeless at first. Challenges can seem so overwhelming when we don't have a solution. However, life itself is very much like this too. Sometimes life is akin to bumping around in a dark room, trying to find the light switch. It is possible to get through the room without finding the light switch immediately, we just need to step slowly and carefully. Moment to moment, we find our way.
Rather than giving up when obstacles appear in your path, look at them as welcome challenges. The biggest challenge is choosing your own attitude. Will you get flustered and angry, or will you get excited and determined? Will you lay down and cry, or will you roll up your sleeves and get to work? Some of us take on a victim mentality when obstacles arise, and I can see why this happens. It does feel like the universe is picking on us, doesn't it? :-) I think we've all been there!
Why not change your mindset and think of obstacles as a personal challenge? Rather than feeling like the universe is picking on you, challenge yourself to figure out a solution. Say to yourself, "Okay, such and such has happened, now what am I going to do about it?" Put your problem-solving skills to work.
Once we begin to change our attitude about obstacles and challenges, they can actually become fun. Our competitive human nature rises up and gets ready to win, no matter what. We develop a steely determination to NOT be beaten.
In fact, I like to pretend there is a great critic in the sky who laughs mockingly at me and says, "You can't do that." I simply grin wickedly, roll up my sleeves and say, "Watch me!"
Wendy Betterini is an inspirational writer who strives to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your dreams a reality. Visit her website, http://www.wingsfortheheart.com for more positive thoughts to help you on your journey.
post construction cleaning Deerfield ..The Alchemists of old worked over many years, centuries, in... Read More
Do you realize that what we believe about ourselves, affects... Read More
"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't... Read More
Your response (reaction?) to change is conditioned by your entire... Read More
Know your limits. Accept what you can't change and let... Read More
So, do you love yourself?Shouldn't really be a difficult question... Read More
Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so... Read More
INNER CRITIC UNVEILED! Part 2: AFFIRMATIONS TO THE RESCUE!"Almost everybody... Read More
No one likes rejection. And yet it happens. Here's how... Read More
Ten tips to transform your move into a creative life... Read More
How do you explain things to yourself? With positive self... Read More
I heard these words from a client who had been... Read More
The mind absolutely amazes me. It will never be understood,... Read More
How are you? Where do you get a positive attitude... Read More
"At birth, a baby's brain contains 100 billion neurons, roughly... Read More
Problems, disappointments and trouble; the three skunks that sometimes think... Read More
Why do we help others? There is a whole lot... Read More
Did you know that our thoughts may be influencing our... Read More
Before we are able to use the Universal Thought System... Read More
Part 1Recently, in a women's therapy group that I run,... Read More
When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine... Read More
Every emotion, wether we classify it as good or bad,... Read More
This may sound quite aberrant to most of the younger... Read More
In order to learn how to relieve ourselves of self-defeating... Read More
Remember Des'ree? She had a great song out in 1994,... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Bannockburn ..Ever had one of those mothers, or grandmothers, who would... Read More
I need your help. I did a good deed recently,... Read More
Uncle Liam was very kind to me again. He gave... Read More
Why do patients who are given placebo pills report that... Read More
It started out as a windy, rainy day. A tropical... Read More
Music penetrates our mental barriers and influences the deepest areas... Read More
With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it would be especially appropriate... Read More
We all know there are ways to become a better... Read More
One of things that Charismatic people share is an unshakeable... Read More
There is an old joke about a man who is... Read More
Normally I race around multitasking. I am always thinking about... Read More
Heard of a raindance? It is a ritual used by... Read More
From Making the Big Move: how to transform relocation into... Read More
I'm sure most of you remember the children's book about... Read More
? Make a list of all your accomplishments in life... Read More
That strange, gut-wrenching feeling you have is not the sushi... Read More
I had a completely different idea for my main article... Read More
There are times in all of our lives where our... Read More
"The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone... Read More
The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More
Are feelings and attitudes the same thing or different? Does... Read More
The other evening, I was meticulously assembling and painting one... Read More
Never Quitting Equals Success Most people who achieve fortunes in... Read More
Occasionally people will ask me how I keep a positive... Read More
Dear Friends,All human beings have a unique ability right from... Read More
Positive Attitude Tips |