Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful ~ Joshua J Marine
Tackling the steps in this image would definitely be a challenging thought for me for example.
Standing at the bottom of those looking up would absolutely make me think twice about the wisdom of climbing them ~ but what a beautiful view I would be missing if I chose not to overcome that wariness or fear.
How do you feel about the challenges that life throws at you? Some people tend to shy away from them and put off dealing with the changes they bring for as long as possible whereas other people seem to seek them out and actively thrive on them.
Where do you sit on that scale? Myself I'm somewhere in the middle ~ not sitting on the fence you know :) ~ just dependant upon which type of challenge I'm facing. I don't have a fear of change, I often find it exciting and refreshing most of the time but there are some challenges that I would gladly avoid if at all possible. Usually the kind of curve balls that happen when the car goes on the blink or the washing machine breaks down, costly ones that usually come at a really bad time, if there can ever be a good one for things like that..
Yep, challenges like those often arrive uninvited, at the most inopportune moments, shaking up our routines and pushing us outside our comfort zones. Yet, hidden within those difficult moments is an opportunity to discover what we’re truly capable of.
Think back to a time you faced a hurdle that felt overwhelming whether emotionally or financially. At the start, it may have seemed impossible to overcome. But step by step, with persistence, resilience, and sometimes a little help from others, you found a way through. That sense of accomplishment, the knowledge that you overcame something tough, that's what is deeply satisfying. It doesn’t just bring relief; it brings meaning.
Overcoming challenges is about more than just “getting past” problems. It’s about transformation. Each difficulty faced teaches us resilience, patience, and courage. These qualities become part of who we are and equip us for the next chapter of life. Without resistance, there can be no strength; without storms, however much we may hate them at the time, we would never appreciate calm seas.
What’s more, challenges often reveal opportunities we might never have considered. For example, something huge like a career setback can spark a new direction. A health scare can inspire healthier choices and a new way of living. Even personal struggles can deepen empathy and strengthen relationships if we take the time to learn from them.
Rather than fearing challenges then, we can begin to see them as teachers. Every hurdle that life throws at us as an invitation to grow, to rise, and to find new meaning in our journey.
So when difficulties appear, instead of asking “Why me?”, perhaps the better question is “What is this here to teach me?”
Because in the end, it’s not the easy moments that define us, but the challenges we overcome that make life truly meaningful.
Don't be afraid to reach out if you are struggling with life's challenges. In my networking time I have made many friends with a variety of skills that can help and as a former psychiatric nurse and someone who chooses to navigate challenges as positively as possible most days, I am always willing to lend a listening ear and try to help you find a new perspective :)