Challenge...

Photo taken by me :)




What challenges you?

Have you ever really thought of that question and truly answered it? Why not take a moment and think it over, really think about some of the things that challenge you. (PAUSE) Did you think about it? What answers did you come up with?

I have thought about that question long and hard, that's probably why I am writing about it. I realize I don't give myself enough challenges to follow through with. I also realized, any challenge that I have given myself, I usually give up on before ever truly finishing what I started. So here I am, deciding on new challenges for myself. Really making sure that these challenges are attainable and that I am able to conquer them.

So, I want to start off small, setting myself up for a win and not a fail, knowing that if I set the challenges too high, I may not reach them. My first challenge is to exercise at least once a day, 30 minutes a day, for 3 months. My second is to figure out why I keep getting hives (in this challenge what I really need to do is take the time out to write down what I eat each day, keep a food diary, and then eventually take out certain foods one by one and then reintroduce myself to them). And my final challenge is to cook dinner at home for my family at least 4 times a week, if not more. My husband would want me to cook more, I, on the other hand would like to either eat out every night, or hire a chef. Since both of those ideas are out of our budget, and really totally out of the question, I am just going to have to challenge myself to cook.

I have chosen 3 challenges and give myself 3 months to stick with these challenges, and since they (whoever they are) say that habits form within 2 weeks, I figure, 3 months should be a somewhat sufficient time frame to build habits in my life. Like I said, I am starting off small and am working my way up to bigger challenges eventually. You have to start somewhere, right? Insect steps, insect steps - teeny tiny little steps turning you in the right direction!

Now, since I am challenging myself to do 3 things, what about you? Will you take this challenge with me? Do something you don't necessarily want to do, but challenge yourself to do it?

Challenges are a way to push you and make you stronger. Don't you want to be strong in your personal and professional life?

Challenge yourself to make a difference in your life, whether big or small. A difference doesn't mean you have to cure world hunger, or stop North Korea from building nuclear weapons, (although, if you could challenge yourself to do something about those 2 things, that wouldn't be too bad). But making a difference by challenging yourself in your own life will make a difference in others lives as well.

Think about it, is there a mountain too high that you can't challenge yourself to conquer?! If the answer is NO, and I hope it is... Then DO IT!!! Climb that mountain of challenges, start off on a small mountain and work your way up to Mt. Kilimanjaro or Mt. Everest of challenges. If I can work on doing it, so can't you!