Challenges are an inevitable part of human experience. They simply are. Nobody gets a challenge-free
life pass, and our ability to feel joy and peace does not depend on the absence of bumps on the road.
Challenges are built into the fabric of human life. They add spice to what would otherwise be a bland
existence. And while they don’t have to be huge, they do have to be present for this life to have
meaning. A challenge is not a prerequisite for all life in creation, but it is a pre-requisite for a human life.
So here we are – human beings living on planet Earth where challenges are a given. And how do we feel
about challenges? We hate them. We resent and fear them. We get angry about them. We feel
victimized and trapped by them. We believe that challenges take our power away, steal our joy, and
reduce our potential for fulfillment.
None of it is true, however. What if we could look at the challenges through a different lens, seeing
them as blessings in disguise, meant to teach us, strengthen us, and ultimately lead us toward growth?
Perhaps if we learn to shift our perspective on challenges, we could begin to become masters of our
journeys.
I recently heard a powerful parable that comes from the Baha’i faith. It speaks of a man in love who was
separated from his beloved and was desperately looking for her. He was pining away for a long time,
praying and hoping that he would find her, but unable to locate her. After much searching, he began to
waste away, unable to live his life without her. He tried everything, but to no avail, and on the day when
he was ready to give up on life altogether, he found himself walking through a market. All of a sudden
he noticed a watchman following him. Soon more watchmen showed up, blocking all his pathways for
escape. The man believed these watchmen to be angels of death and though he wasn’t happy about

living, he didn’t feel ready to give in to death. He cursed the watchmen, trying to figure out how to get
rid of them. He ran with all his might and came to a tall tree growing by the wall separating the market
from a garden. He clawed at the tree, climbing it even as the branches cut and stung his hands. When he
climbed to the top of the garden wall, he tipped over and fell down to the ground inside the garden. And
there in front of him he saw his beloved walking down the garden path. Overwhelmed with joy, the man
sent up prayers to God for long life and happiness for the watchmen who led him here. But if he were
wise, he would have sent prayers for the watchmen from the beginning, knowing that in the overall
design they were there to push him toward that which he needed.
Of course, the watchmen in this story represent the challenges that appear to block the paths we wish
to follow. They are the things we fear and despise. However, unbeknownst to us, they tend to guide us
to the things we most need. With the hindsight usually being 20/20, we are often able to understand
and appreciate their role in our lives once we achieve our desired goals. But the story suggests that if we
were wiser, we would begin to appreciate and give thanks for them long before we achieve what we
think we desire, trusting that even though the challenges may frighten us, their presence has benevolent
purpose.
Challenges may not make our lives very easy, but we can learn to navigate them with ease and grace.
Here are some ways we can do it:

 View Each Challenge as a Lesson – Every challenge brings with it a lesson, even if that lesson
isn’t immediately clear. Ask yourself, “What is this experience teaching me?” It could be
patience, persistence, or the importance of self-care. Viewing each experience as meaningful
instead of just annoying makes it easier to handle.

 Practice Gratitude in Difficult Times – Gratitude isn’t just for the good days. Even in tough times,
finding things to be thankful for can shift your perspective. Perhaps the challenge has brought
supportive people into your life, or maybe it has pushed you to learn new skills.

 Practice Self-Compassion – Be kind to yourself as you face challenges. It’s easy to criticize
ourselves for struggling, but self-compassion helps us to heal and gather strength to move
forward. Acknowledge the emotions that come up as a result of the challenges. Allow them to
flow through and then release them.

 Stay Solution-Focused – Dwelling on the problem keeps us stuck, while focusing on solutions
and taking small steps forward empowers us. Don’t overwhelm yourself by complex solutions.
Select one thing at a time that is manageable and achieve it.

 Lean on Your Support System – Challenges feel lighter when shared with trusted friends, family,
or mentors who can offer perspective and encouragement. If the immediate family does not
provide enough support, reach out to a therapist or a coach to talk things out.

 Trust That Everything Has a Purpose – Accepting that life is unfolding for a reason can make it
easier to embrace difficult moments. This doesn’t mean that every hardship has a direct or
obvious meaning, but rather that each one can contribute to our growth and purpose. The
meaning of challenges is not always clear from the day-to-day human perspective, and
suspending this limited view can help us see the bigger picture.

Learning to see and appreciate the blessings within the challenges allows us to perceive the light within
the darkness. It helps us to shift our perspective and change our internal state of being. It can lead us
toward peace and joy even when trouble roams near. Challenges, by their very nature, are designed to

push us out of our comfort zones. They force us to confront parts of ourselves and our lives that we
might prefer to avoid. But avoidance of these tough moments means we also miss out on the gifts they
offer. It’s in these moments of difficulty that we are given the opportunity to build resilience, learn
valuable lessons, and even gain clarity on what truly matters to us. By embracing the things we identify
as challenges, we allow life to move us closer to the things we ultimately desire to achieve.