Monday, March 15, 2010

Overcoming Challenges

I thought I'd do a post on overcoming challenges. I found a website that had great information on this topic. It had some simple strategies to overcoming challenges. I think it sums it up very nicely and is exactly what I believe and have done in my life. If you'd like to visit the website click here.

"Overcoming 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.

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.

Another way to overcome challenges is to seek help. We often become islands unto ourselves when we needn't be. Ask friends and family for help, or get professional help if the challenge necessitates it. 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.

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."

This is a poem I found on overcoming challenges. I really liked what it said and how it flowed.

I thank thee to the stars,
of weariness and wars...
of hopes and fears,
too far, too dear...
I thank thee from the heav'nly home,
where the cherubs and the angels groan
where faceless monsters face
the distant, traceless lace
of enemies for lorn
amongst the stars are borne
a fantasy of willing truth
that once in years shall sooth
these pains and worries
so no longer hurries
in the hedge of wingless birds
doth fly with winning, silent words.

Here I see the most forbidding fires,
where these hearts of our desires
that we now, here, soon shall hope
of small courages and rope
to climb down...a small frown
fixated delightfully upon my face,
a challenge overcomes the praise
and we shall never tarry more
until we hear the final score
of life's unending wants and needs
like Spring's first blooming seeds
that breathe in great successful threads
like vaporous mist that slowly treads
amongst the thistle-down and sourgum trees
and brings all challenges to their knees.
-JJ Whitehead

Jenni

1 comment:

Elizabeth-Plain and Simple said...

Great post. Some of the points you made about overcoming challenges I hope may be helpful for my nephew who has had a difficult time learning to live with his paralysis. I say "live" because at this time he seems to want to escape with prescription drugs, alcohol, or both. We, as a family who loves him very much, are struggling to find a way to help him. Reading your blog, I am in awe of you and while I know life isn't easy for you by any means, I want you to know I think you are an exceptional young woman and your family must be so proud of you. Thank you for sharing your posts.

Blessings,
Elizabeth