We all need challenge. It’s how we learn, grow, and develop. Through struggle and by achieving difficult things, you find out who you really are. You unleash your full potential.
Recently, I wrote an article giving you some powerful challenges to try. These were suggestions all from personal experience, that I know can bring you growth. However, they are all very specific and may not appeal to everyone.
This article offers you something different. It inspires YOU to think of your own. I’ve read so many articles listing challenges like make your bed, journal, read a book, go to the gym.
Are these meaningful?
Do you find it helpful to go through a list of 50 challenges to try? Or will you likely feel overwhelmed and not know where to start?
I want you to come up with ones that are meaningful to you. We are all unique after all.
Let’s see what you come up with.
Learn a New Skill
Without any skills, we wouldn’t have made it very far as a species. Being able to Build shelters, hunt, and start a fire were all essential for our survival. Luckily most of us today don’t have to worry about our basic needs met being met.
You still need skills for other proposes though. Using a computer, driving, being a good parent, managing money. But when was the last time you learned a new skill? One that could enhance your life or allow you to do new things.
You could improve your time management. Learn DIY, so you can refurbish your own home. Study a foreign language, or work on yourself. That takes real work and commitment. Meditate. Master your mind. Learn to transform your thoughts. Increase your sleep efficiency.
Do what matters.
Think what steps you can take NOW to acquire a life changing skill. The sense of achievement and accomplishment will be priceless.
Face a Fear
Spiders, heights, flying, social gatherings, failure, what scares you? We all have fears, but they hold us back. It’s what you do with them that counts.
Do you want your fears to get the best of you, or would you rather conquer them? The idea of confronting your fears can seem daunting, but it’s worth it in the end. It may help to try this simple exercise called cost vs benefit.
Let’s say you have a fear of failure. Ask yourself, ‘what’s the cost?’. Most likely you avoid pursing your goals and ambitions. It limits your life and inhibits your growth. Next, ask the question, ‘what’s the benefit?’
By protecting yourself from failure, you could argue that you avoid negative feelings. That’s true, but what’s the cost of that? We all experience difficult emotions from time to time, they’re unavoidable. There’s no point in trying to run away from them, or worse, bottle them up.
Are other there any benefits to fearing failure? I doubt it.
Ask these two questions about any of your fears. It should help to put things into perspective.
Next, take steps to tackle your fears. Little by little. If you’re scared of the monstrous spiders in your basement. You don’t have to go down there and pick one up.
First, watch some videos of spiders on YouTube. Learn about them and appreciate their complexity. Then you could try getting closer to a small one in your garden. Obverse it with curiosity and fascination. Overtime you may start to feel more comfortable with them. Now try heading into your basement.
This is an example, but you get the idea. Apply this strategy to any fear and you’ll be amazed what you can do.
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
— Jack Canfield
Compete in Something
Competing in something adds a unique level pressure and competition. You could compete in a race, tournament, triathlon, debate, or cooking contest. If you really want a challenge, choose something your rubbish at.
Now there is extra pressure to get good at it, and quickly.
You could even do it for a good cause. Raise money for a charity by getting people to sponsor you. Additionally, that will help to provide more motivation and encourage your commitment.
Competing with others is challenging because you know you need to bring your a game. But once you do, you’ll be ecstatic you made the effort. Even if you didn’t win, be proud of yourself for trying. You showed up and gave it your all.
That counts for everything.
Don’t like the idea of competing against others? Try a fun endurance race like Tough Mudder. It has that same buzz but without worrying about which place you’ll come in.
Seek Discomfort
Our minds evolved to seek comfort. Why? Because it means safety, security, less excursion, and avoidance of negative feelings. But if you stay in your comfort zone, you stifle your growth. The solution to this is to seek discomfort.
By doing uncomfortable difficult things you get stronger, more resilient, and confident. You push yourself out of your comfort zone. There is opportunity in discomfort to find out what your true potential is. Plus, all other life stresses become less of a big deal.
Your boss is being hard on you, but last week you took an ice plunge. You had to endure that freezing water, you can get through this meeting. No problem. Maybe you’re stuck in traffic. Big deal. Yesterday you took an hour-long cross fit class. This is nothing in comparison.
See what I mean?
Over time, you learn to be comfortable in discomfort. You’re able to surf the waves of life, rather than them crashing down on you. Before you know it, your comfort zone expands.
If you want to know more about this subject. Check out my article ‘Why Your Mind Seeks Comfort and How to Stop‘.
“You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft, that you will die without ever realizing your true potential.”
— David Goggins
Test Your Mental and Physical Limits
How do you test your mental and physical limits? It could involve learning a new skill, facing a fear, competing, or seeking discomfort. But I wanted to give you this opportunity to think of other ideas.
Do you know what your limits are? Or better yet, do you know what limits your putting on yourself? Quite often it’s your mind that wants to give up before your body does.
I used to limit myself all the time when I was younger. I didn’t think I was intelligent enough to go to university. The idea of running 10km seemed impossible. The thought of moving to another country alone, starting from scratch felt too intimidating.
Guess what? I did all the above and it felt great.
How far can you push yourself? What are your mental and physical limits? The more you test yourself, the more you find out.
Time to Get Started
Now you have some inspiring, thought-provoking challenge ideas. It’s now up to put them to use. Remember, you don’t have to go in guns blazing. Start small.
If you have social anxiety, attend a social gathering. That’s an admirable effort to seek discomfort. Are you a student struggling financially? Learn to cook on a budget. That’s a skill for life. Maybe you broke your ankle running months ago. Now you’ve healed but you’re scared to start again. Go for a gentle 5-minute jog.
There are so many possibilities. Don’t limit yourself.
What challenge will you do next? Let me know in the comments section.
Take care of yourselves,
Chris from Mindful Way to Be
