Don’t give up when facing a challenge! Do you feel like you have a challenge right now that is too much for you to handle? Or not worth the effort to work through? Are you about ready to throw in the towel?
WAIT! Don’t give up!
First I want you to imagine if life were always super easy. I’m talking about having no worry in the world about anything. For example, you want that all-new Super Air Nautique G25 Paragon speed boat. So you go to the store and buy it. No biggie. Or you just decide one day, that you are ready for a promotion at work. So you go to your boss and tell him, and he responds with, “Sure, it’s yours. Want to start now or Monday?” What about a last minute decision to take the kids on a European hang gliding expedition? You tell your husband and he says, “Oh honey, I knew you wanted to do that. It’s all set up. We can leave tomorrow.”
Your first thought might be, yes, that sounds amazing! I want that kind of life. But do you? Bear with me and read to the end.
Remember when you were little and you really wanted a Pound Puppy stuffed animal like all your friends had? And your parents told you that if you want it, you have to save your money for it. You were devastated. Maybe you even cried and threw a fit begging your parents. And your parents still said no. But after babysitting for 3 months, you had enough money saved up to get it. Do you remember that feeling of excitement driving in the car to the store? What about that feeling of accomplishment when you paid for it all by yourself at the register? It felt incredible right? Because you worked for it.
You wanted something. But there was a challenge to face. You worked hard and came out on the other end better for it. Proud of what you had been able to do. I know the example of the Pound Puppy might be silly. But it shows how good it can feel to accomplish something and work through the obstacle in front of you.
Maybe you’re in a situation on a larger scale. Like needing a new vehicle, but you know you don’t have the finances to buy one right now, or least not the one you really want. Figuring it out. Planning. Making adjustments. And needing to compromise, in order to save money to purchase this new vehicle. Just think about how much better it will feel to be driving off the lot in the vehicle that you only dreamed off 6 months earlier.
We can also relate this to emotional obstacles. Maybe you constantly fight with your daughter. And then how good it feels to hug and get along after the two of you have worked so hard for months to overcome the issue at hand. What about the pure joy when hearing the doctor say your PET scan is clear. No more cancer! Those feelings of accomplishment after winning the battle placed in front of you makes it all worth it.
I love this quote, “Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” Remember that the next time you come up to an obstacle that seems daunting. Take a breath. Find that confidence in yourself. And get to work!
