It's often said that challenges make life interesting. At first, you might resist this idea, and boy, do I get it. When you're in the thick of it, challenges can feel like trudging through cement. But have you ever noticed that, looking back, those challenges often turn out to be the greatest blessings?
Let me share a little personal story.
Back in 2016, I was working at a company called Arch Mortgage Insurance. Things were going pretty darn well for me—I was a VP, had just wrapped up one of the best years of my career, scored big with new clients, and even earned one of the biggest paychecks I'd ever seen. Life was good. Then, out of the blue, a merger was announced, and I got a call on January 3rd that started with, "Bronwyn, HR needs to chat with you today."
Cue the shock, the tears, the anger. "What!?!! Why me?!" I thought.
But you know what? Despite the initial gut punch, that moment turned out to be one of the best things that ever happened to me. After a month of wallowing, I was inspired to follow my heart and start my own coaching company. I had wanted to do this for years but feared leaving my comfort zone.
Fast-forward seven years, and here we are. The truth is, we don't want life to be all rainbows and sunshine. Where's the fun in that? Life is always trying to guide us and grow us so we evolve. This time, it had to smack me to get my attention, and that it did.
Take basketball, for example. Picture yourself sinking shot after shot perfectly, every time, like Caitlin Clark #22 from the Iowa Hawkeyes. She is amazing, but she doesn't hit EVERY shot. Sure, it sounds great at first, but wouldn't it get a tad monotonous after a while? It's those missed shots, those nail-biting moments of tension on the court, that really keep things exciting and the game fun.
Can we appreciate the messy missed shots?
Life is the same way. Challenges are just opportunities for growth. And life is so much more fun if we approach it this way!
So, if you feel trudging through the mud daily, you need to change your perspective. Trust me, peace and harmony can be found even in the messiest situations. I encourage you to look at your messes and embrace them as gifts. This is what we will do in August in the WildLeadership experience. Join us—there are a few spots left.
What challenges are you facing right now? How can you see them as opportunities for growth? Let's chat about how to turn these around and make life a BLAST!