Sometimes life presents us with interesting challenges. Some of them are straightforward and to the point, while others… not so much. You may have had a family member or friend challenge you to a pushup contest or a foot race. At that moment you are faced with a choice. You must decide whether or not the challenge is worth your time or if you even want to do it.
In most cases, these types of challenges are harmless – whether you accept them or not. Some of them can be fun and sometimes they can just be something to pass the time. But I want to touch on a different type of challenge, the one that we face every day… the challenge to be better than we were yesterday.
We’ve all heard the saying, “you’re only in competition with yourself”. If you think about it, we constantly challenge ourselves. It is completely normal to look in the mirror and have the urge or desire to change something for the better. At that moment we are faced with a challenge, a challenge to do the work to make that change happen, and it doesn’t have to be physical.
Have you ever been in a situation that you didn’t handle nearly as well as you would have liked? Afterward, you probably replayed the situation in your head numerous times and thought about what you wish you would have done.
Has a young lady ever caught your eye and you either A. Didn’t speak to her at all or B. sounded ridiculous when words started spilling out? Afterward, you probably replayed the situation in your head and what you wish you would have said to her.
Lastly, have you ever been in the presence of another guy that seemed to have his shit together? Afterward, or even during that moment, you probably looked at yourself and wondered why you weren’t as far along as him or you began to rack your brain trying to figure out what you needed to do to step your game.
These are just a few examples of situations we face on a daily basis. Each time we encounter a situation that makes us take a closer look at ourselves, see it as a personal challenge to get better.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Often, many of us don’t accept the personal challenge because we get too consumed with what others are doing and where they are in their journey. For example, let’s say you decided to start playing tennis and on your first day you were humiliated by your opponent… that has been playing tennis since he or she was old enough to hold a racquet.
Use that experience as a measuring stick for the improvements you need to make moving forward. If you only look at where you are (on day one) in comparison to your opponent (lifetime tennis player), you can easily become discouraged.
Conclusion
After any type of loss, setback, or internal discernment, that little voice in your head challenges you. That little voice in your head is telling you to unleash your inner beast. It wants you to be the best version of yourself. That little voice doesn’t give a damn about what others are doing, it only cares about helping you make daily improvements.
The next time you hear that little voice in your head, accept the challenge.