I just finished a coaching session with a client and we talked about the meaning of the word “challenge” as well as the benefits that result from conquering a challenge. From my perspective, a challenge is doing something that’s out of our “comfort zone” and it’s often accompanied by fears, anxieties and judgments. The thrill of victory that comes from mastering a challenge gives us the momentum to tackle another challenge, and then another. With each victory, the quality of our life improves. 

A challenge for me isn't necessarily a challenge for you. I may find it easy to express my feelings, to create a training manual or to channel energy to another person and you may have a challenge doing those things. You may find it easy to do math calculations in your head, to cook a gourmet meal, to do 100 push-ups or to make "cold calls" to gain new clients and I may have a challenge doing those same things.

Our challenges are determined by the unique talents we were born with, by the resources we have available to us, by our prior experiences and also by our attitude towards trying new things. Each time you stretch beyond your “comfort zone” and try something challenging, you grow and become a stronger person. You learn more about yourself and your capabilities and you increase your feelings of accomplishment.

That doesn't mean that you have to meet every one of your challenges head on or that you need to be "working on" multiple challenges each day. What it does mean is that when you're faced with a challenge you need to go within your heart space and ask yourself what's the lesson you'll learn or the gift you'll receive by triumphing over the challenge. Then you need to decide if the benefit is worth the risk.

Oh, by the way, as long as you're alive this is a never ending process. There will always be challenges in one's life. Just look at them as opportunities to become more fully alive and to express the truth of who you really are – that wonderful soul that resides in the center of your heart— and you'll welcome each new challenge.

As the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you strong!” Challenges just feel like life or death propositions but they aren’t. They are just means to strengthen our physical, mental, emotional or spiritual muscles. As long as you are willing to even consider facing a challenge, you’re already on the path to victory.