[callout]“I wouldn’t trade my experiences or change my journey at all. It’s what has gotten me to where I am and helped shape me into the person I am today.”[/callout]

As I ended the call with a friend and coaching client, I thought about the wisdom of his words. My mind also went back in time to consider the many moments that he had been through, many of which we had navigated together. Moments of trial, triumph, and trust. Many times, we cannot see what is on the other side of a difficult moment. We only see what we are experiencing and want it to end or transition soon to a brighter day.

No one dreams of going through a trial in their life; yet, we know that hard times and occasionally, nightmares, are a part of a person’s journey. Whether you are an athlete who gets behind in a game or match or a person who is currently facing more severe challenges, here are 3 things that can help you with persevering through your challenge:

• Your Journey Shapes You – Every moment shapes you into the person you are and the person you are becoming. If we had our choice, we would cherish the good and chunk the bad. Yet, we must learn to embrace and engage in all of our moments if we want to learn from our past and become a complete person.
• Embracing The Moment Is Key – It is easy to embrace and enjoy incredible moments in our life, but who wants to walk up to a disastrous moment and give it a great big hug? We kick, we scream, and we throw a fist in the air at these types of moments. While I am not asking you to put your arms around a horrible moment and invite it into the living room of your life, I am challenging you to meet it head on. Most elite performers that I interview and coach embrace challenges as a part of life and competition. They gather context, maintain perspective, and then act accordingly to conquer the challenge.
• Character Is Often Developed In Times of Heartache – Helen Keller said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” While I believe that we can grow through times of triumph, many character-building moments can also be experienced through times of trial and suffering. The point is that we have to be active and engaged. We can’t just sit back in a recliner expecting things to happen in our lives. And it is through this activity that moments will occur – both good and bad – that helps us grow in character.

[shareable cite=”Mike Van Hoozer” text=”‘Elite performers gather context, maintain perspective, and then act accordingly to conquer the challenge.'”]”Elite performers embrace challenges as a part of life and competition. They gather context, maintain perspective, and then act accordingly to conquer the challenge.”[/shareable]

Perspective is gained on the other side of the pothole. Looking back often allows us to look forward with renewed confidence and resolve. Embrace the moments in your life knowing that they will shape you into becoming a better person.

[reminder]What about you? Would you trade your experiences or change your journey? How have your experiences shaped you into the person you are today?[/reminder]