Challenges

“Our challenges are gifts. . . Challenges force us to think creatively; they force us to turn to others; they demand that we change.”

Karen Casey

Would I grow and change without having a challenge or difficulty presented to me? I don’t think I would, at least not as much as I do grow. It’s an interesting, thought provoking question. Would I challenge myself if life didn’t challenge me? If life were static and just rolling along? I do it when I am creating something: try a new recipe, try a new art form, use a new sewing technique, step beyond my comfort zone and take on a new job or service position. When I decide to risk failure and learn something new, I present myself with challenges. I move into unknown territory and thus learn something new.

I don’t consciously choose the majority of life’s challenges, especially the big ones. They seem to just happen as I live my life. They may sometimes be the consequence of my actions or inaction but often are not caused by me. They are just a part of living life. It is these challenges that really force me to grow as a human being: the illnesses, physical, emotional, or mental pain, and the pain of loss (whether of things, people, or ideas) that push me to learn something new, to adapt, to change my perspective and to ask for help. They present opportunities for me to develop new skills, to change my attitude, to change my behavior, my perspective and/or my understanding and to discover more about myself and my capabilities and frailties. They teach me the value of acceptance of what is and what isn’t out of my control. They truly are gifts, gifts from my Higher Power. Even those times when the challenge seems so hard it feels like punishment, it is not given as such. They are gifts meant for my benefit, my growth and my usefulness to serve and love others.

Susan B.     (August 21, 2025)

Photo by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash