What is the life’s greatest challenge?

I was asked this question several months ago by a client and, frankly, I was stymied for an answer.

Ever since this question has nagged at me and after several long evenings spent in deep thought (it does take me a long time to think) the answer finally came, and it is, I believe, the correct one.

So, when, earlier this week I was asked to speak to a group of newly hired salespeople in a fast-growing networking company, I felt well-prepared when that same question presented itself. What is life’s greatest challenge?

The answer to what is the greatest challenge in life, is for each of us to search for, and discover who we truly can become.

In answering this question, I was reminded of a quote from T.S. Eliot, the legendary British writer, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

I have become convinced that for each of us the sole reason for being here is to challenge ourselves to learn more, grow more, explore more, push ourselves more and, ultimately, be more.

Risking Failure

Reading biographies has long been a passion of mine and while it is difficult to pinpoint one specific trait that is common to all those who have risen to great heights, there seems to be a fire burning inside these folks that defies all attempts at suppression.

In other words, these people continually strive for greater and greater accomplishments, often risking everything, commonly defying the odds and almost always facing the possibility of catastrophe in the event of failure. They do this not to have more, but to be more.

Their self worth is not defined by material measures but rather by the degree to which they have not only pushed the envelope, but frequently shredded it and then destroyed it.

These are people who single-handedly change what is thought to be possible and do what so many others tell them is impossible.

The irony is that what is most striking about most of them, is their ordinariness. They are not extraordinary people, they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. And each of us are all able to achieve something extraordinary.

Your circumstances may influence the size of the challenge, but your mindset and your belief in infinite possibilities will determine how many extraordinary things you are capable of achieving.

Dag Hammarskjöld a renowned Swedish author, economist and diplomat advised us to “Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it is.” Those who agree that life’s greatest challenge is to discover what they truly can become have also experienced how low the mountain really is once they have climbed all the way to the top.

Life’s Greatest Challenge

The difference between those who do and those who don’t is this: those who do push themselves beyond their imagined limits learn that they will never find out where their limits truly are.

As 2018 gets underway I invite you to be brave enough to yearn for new heights. If you sit back and wait for the opportunities to appear, you will be in the exact same space this time next year.

Crave newness for yourself and in doing so your will awaken the realm of possibilities for yourself. A word of caution: this is not for the faint of heart, so dive in with the faith that only you can create the life you desire.

Till we read again.