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Learning To See Challenges As Opportunities
Wendy Betterini
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 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 a lot 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 a freelance writer who strives
to motivate, uplift, and inspire you to make your dreams a
reality. Visit her website, www.WingsForTheHeart.com
for more positive thoughts to help you on your journey.
Article Source: http://www.upublish.info
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