Last weekend, my husband and I braved the heatwave of triple-digits temperatures in the Bay Area and took on the challenge of walking San Francisco’s historic 49-mile scenic route (with some modifications to suit our needs and preferences.) It was definitely a challenging endeavor but extremely rewarding. In case you are wondering, the Scenic Drive was created by the Downtown Association in 1938 to promote San Francisco as a travel destination. Why 49 miles? It’s the size of the city – 49 square miles. Our challenge started weeks before we actually started walking. It took time and effort to do the research to plan and optimize the route. And then there was the actual walking, trying to stay safe and cool on our hot weather walk. Yes, we hit some rough patches, literally and figuratively over the 3 walking days, but they were quickly forgotten, and what’s left in our memories are the beautiful moments. Overall, it was a great long-weekend excursion that filled me with strength, empowerment, and a great boost of energy and well-being, which is what undertaking a challenge is all about.
I think it’s fair to say that I engage in deliberate practice to look for challenges that test my skills and abilities. I believe that putting big things on my calendar keeps me focused on maintaining consistent growth and development. It’s like working out, when it gets too easy, I stop improving. Growth is the result of pushing through the resistance to come out stronger on the other side. Being driven by challenges allows me to see opportunities rather than obstacles. When I am “hip deep” in the pursuit of a challenge, I get to experience the full range of emotions; some painful but mostly pleasant and productive. The positives outweigh the negatives. Challenges sharpen my grit. They wake me up in a very real way to the world and fuel my energy as I face the complexity of our modern-day lives. With every challenge, I become a better version of myself, more authentically me. I start every day by asking, “what I can do today to make me a little bit stronger and better than yesterday?”
Practice challenging yourself to live your best life in 3 Steps:
Step #1
Find a quiet place and take 20 minutes to reflect on WHO you want to be in the world, HOW you want to show up in your life, and WHAT you wish for yourself. Give yourself permission to be completely unconcerned with what others might think. It’s all about you.
Step #2
Take 10 minutes to write down 10 things that if they were to happen, you will feel very excited as each item would increase your level of wellbeing. Align your list with the vision for yourself you defined in step 1.
Step #3
You have one life to live. Time is a limited resource, and the clock is ticking. Now, make things happen.
Choose 1 thing from your step 2 list to challenge yourself to go and do. Create your “Empowerment Inventory,” the skills you have and the actions you’d need to take to bring this one thing into existence.
Remind yourself of the following 3 truths, saying:
I’m Capable. My capabilities are vast & I can challenge myself to use them fully to turn my dreams into a plan and my plan into my reality.
I’m Creative. I can find a way to use my talents to do anything I put my mind to even when confronting difficulties and frustrating moments.
I conquer Challenges. My strength is greater than setbacks. Challenges shape me to be the highest version of myself.
Facing challenges inevitably means experiencing discomfort. Don’t fear or try to avoid it. Discomfort, physical or mental, is the key that unlocks the way forward. Dive into discomfort and welcome it fully because it is a catalyst for growth. When you see discomfort as a sign of progress, you become more likely to seek challenges as a strategy to promote personal and professional growth. And thus, you wire your brain for “advertunity” – for seeing the opportunity within the adversity.
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