Challenges are a normal part of life. Many people look at challenges and loathe them, but challenges help move us forward. We would stand still without challenges, would never improve ourselves, and would always be the same people we are right now. Indeed, sometimes life can seem dull when we are not faced with something to challenge us!
This knowledge may make challenges somewhat easier to deal with and may even enable you to defeat challenges or obstacles that are standing in your way. So ask yourself: Am I where I want to be in life? If you’re not happy, then it’s time to take charge.
Overcoming Challenges
Overcoming some challenges can be as simple as remembering that nothing lasts forever. Even though this may sound rather simple, it is true. When you are in the midst of a tough situation, you should pause for a moment and remember that this too shall pass. We often get caught up in the drama and the stress of a challenge or obstacle. This blinds us to the reality that this moment is simply a stepping stone to where we are going.
One mom I know takes great comfort in the fact that the Bible often says, “It came to pass…..” In other words, it didn’t come to stay forever.
Another way to overcome challenges is to seek help. We often become islands unto ourselves when we need not be. Ask friends and family for help, or get professional help if the challenge necessitates it. Seeking professional help was the ONLY way I resolved some significant challenges in my life. Teaming up with those who are in our lives often makes a challenge seem smaller and less threatening.
Breaking challenges down into more manageable pieces also may make them easier to overcome. Many of us look only at the big picture, which often can be overwhelming. Look at the challenges you are facing and see if you can’t break up the issues into smaller pieces to make the process less intimidating.
This is the approach I took to two large tasks: Returning to work full-time and organizing my writing/blogging. When I looked at each of these as a whole, I became overwhelmed. When I broke them down into smaller steps, I could make progress by accomplishing things bit by bit.
Positive thought is a great way to overcome challenges. Many people keep a list of affirmations with them – either physically or in their minds – to help them overcome difficulties as challenges arise. Affirmations are simple statements to help you quiet negative thoughts that are in your mind. Many people find that positive thoughts are the key to overcoming both big and small challenges.
You can take positive thoughts one step further and incorporate affirmations into your everyday life. These affirmations may include, “If I can say it, I can do it, and I can be it.” Getting up each day and saying these thoughts out loud reaffirms the positive thought and allows you to live it. Many people repeat the thought each day at the same time, while others use them only in those moments when challenges present themselves and become overwhelming.
Overcoming challenges is difficult, but this is a vital part of learning more about yourself, who you are striving to be, and what your place is in this world. In many situations, you can employ just one of these methods to overcome the challenges in your life, and in other situations you may need to use a combination. Each person finds different methods of dealing with challenges to work for them, but the power of positive thought cannot be overlooked. This power will enable you to see the good in each challenge or obstacle that you encounter throughout your life.
