Life doesn’t come with an easy button. 

Shocker, right?

Have you noticed the way we are hit every day with perfectly curated advertisements that sell us the story that life should be easy, and if ours isn’t then something must be wrong?

I sure have. And I am over it.

I don’t appreciate being lied to, and I surely don’t appreciate people I care about being lied to.  Who knows what these kinds of messages are doing to our psyche and mental health.  (Actually, there is a TON of research on this topic, and the results are in: it’s not good.)

I know it doesn’t sell well, but the truth is, every single person in all of human history has had to face challenges.

And the even harder truth is, we all need some challenges.

Check this: The University of Arizona does a ton of research in their Biosphere, but perhaps my favorite finding of theirs was on trees. First, it’s important to understand that the environment in the Biosphere is perfectly controlled. I’m talking, purified air and water, filtered light, perfectly healthy soil… everything you’d think nature would need in order to thrive. Everything seemed to be going great, just as it should, until trees started toppling over. They’d grow so far, then they’d drop like flies. What in the world?! – At a closer look, here is what scientists found: trees need wind.

Without the wind, the trees had no way to grow stronger, deeper roots. So one day, when the trees hit a certain height, they just fell right over. They couldn’t withstand because they didn’t have strong roots that could only come as a result of facing the challenge of the blowing wind.

In the same way, we need challenges to help us get deep, healthy roots so we can actually grow.

3 Reasons You Need A Challenge:

1. Challenges in life help us realize what matters most to us. When faced with difficulty, we channel our mind, energy, and strength to sustaining and protecting the things that matter most to us. Pay attention to what you pay attention to when life gets hard… you’ll start to see more of what truly matters to you.
2. Taking on the challenges of life develops resilience. Every time you rise to the occasion, you’re building character and strength to take on the next thing life throws your way. Like training for a marathon, every mile you run today prepares you better for the race ahead. 
3. When you confront a challenge and decide to face it head-on – not run from it, not hide, not cower in defeat – you come face-to-face with how strong you already are. You have what it takes – not just to survive- but to thrive. And once you honestly admit that, it’s time to celebrate a little! Accept the good, my friend, and watch your confidence take root. 😉

Remember this:

It isn’t supposed to be easy, but you have everything it takes to do the thing that matters to you. Face the wind, take on the challenge, and celebrate the good growth.

In your corner,

Amanda