Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.
Bernice Johnson Reagon
There is hardly any person in our lives whose life is devoid of any problems. Let’s face it: whether we like it or not, challenges are as much part and parcel of our lives as, say, cheese pizza.
Jokes aside, the inevitability of difficulties in our lives is not as astounding as the attitude of the majority of people toward them. Let’s face it: most people expect no challenges en route to their dreams, much less be prepared to take them on. However, their lack of preparedness is not out of their inability to understand this simple fact. Humans, by nature, find it hard to come to terms with the fact that there is something they are struggling with. And this is what drives them into a mode of denial and ignorance. This has obvious consequences.
Notwithstanding our acknowledgment of the certitude of difficulties in life, their ‘unexpected’ arrival often paralyzes us. The fear of failure and the burden of expectations – both our own and of our near and dear ones – also play a role in this. However, these challenges are not meant to paralyze us. They are more like a fuel for our perseverance, a test of both our character and resolve.
As much as one might be tempted to settle for a mediocre goal that does not involve treading on such arduous paths, we need to remember that our travails will eventually be worth the pain. In fact, the future disappointment and regret of having given up on your dreams just to avoid that pain will arguably be far more unbearable.
American composer and social activist, Bernice Johnson Reagon, once said: “Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” This quote is also attributed to English author Neil Gaiman.