We each face challenges in our lives, yet at what point are we taught how to overcome our challenges?
The answer in short is; we’re not taught this.
Even if we are, the typical approach that is shared with us is based on someone else’s experience and view of how they overcame a challenge. Is that helpful or is it just another view for us to consider?
The reality for most of us is that we learn how to overcome our challenges through a mixture of planning and failure / learning and how we choose to apply both of those.
Alex Staniforth shared his experience and insight in a recent episode of the Perfect Imbalance Podcast. Twice he planned for and set out to climb Everest and twice he didn’t succeed. He re-tells his own story of being on the mountain when two of the biggest disasters in recent history took place. Through his book Icefall, you quickly realise that the challenge of climbing Everest has in part contributed to him overcoming some of his own personal challenges. He’s continually putting himself outside of his comfort zone and seeking help and support from others, including working with a mentor and being part of the starfish project.
“Adversity is the best teacher in life”
A great quote from Alex which is both empowering and encouraging. When you consider that even the best plans go out of the window at times, the best way to overcome your challenges is to;
- Plan as best as you can at the very start
- View challenges differently (obstacles in the road)
- Take the learning’s and look at how to apply them so that you can get momentum again
- Learn to enjoy the whole process in working towards achieving a goal or objective and not just the outcome
I’d love to hear how you’ve overcome some of your own challenges in life and if you’ve found this helpful, please leave a comment or sign up to receive the latest information from Ignite in your inbox.
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Many thanks
Jeff
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Find out more about and alternative to work-life balance called Perfect Imbalance here
Featured image by Nicolai Traasdahl Tarp