The Stuff Winners are Made of

I recently had the opportunity to find out what I am really made of (although at the time it didn’t feel like an opportunity; I use the word here only because it sounds much better than saying I was forced to take a hard look at myself, wondering if I really had the “stuff” to succeed, if I really had the stomach for the path I had chosen to take). When challenges or obstacles arise in your life, it is easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed. Those challenges may appear insurmountable, and you may feel that you are unable to maneuver your way around the obstacle. But it is important to see the challenge for what it really is–an opportunity for growth. You can’t get to the other side of your greatness without some challenges (and often times those challenges may cause doubts to surface and you may be tempted to retreat). What is important is how you handle those challenges when they arise. Do you resist your challenges (or growth opportunities) and wonder why you chose this seemingly much harder route? Or do you stand or rise to the occasion, understanding full well that this is all a part of the process? With every nuance on the journey come the tests of stamina and endurance. You find out what you’re made of when faced with making the hard decisions. You realize rather quickly whether you are going to walk or run like a winner or head for the hills like a coward. (I know coward seems a bit harsh. But I think you get the picture.) Decide today that you will be a winner in the face of your problems or obstacles. Know that you must go through the refining process of your life in order to reap the greater rewards. If you run from the challenge, if you don’t have the stamina to continue the pace, you will encounter the challenge again until you have mastered it. Personally, I would rather get through the hard stuff now and learn what I am supposed to learn, so that I can move closer to the finish line. Here’s to all the winners out there!