Over the past 90 years, I have experienced many different challenges.

Some of the challenges we choose, like financial issues, and some choose us, like health and personal relationships. 

In the past, when life became challenging, it caused me stress and self-doubt. It was easy to feel that the world was working against me. I tended to see these challenges as failures.

In my experience, how we respond to these challenges and how we confront them is really what determines how we experience life. Life is not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens.

Looking back through my life, some of my greatest achievements have been the result of working through challenges. I have since begun seeing them as opportunities for growth and self-development.

When I approached life with a desire to learn from things around me, I began to improve and evolve in response to my experiences. 

Life always has new things to offer us; we just need the courage to look for them.

Having a positive attitude and a cheerful disposition when we face life’s challenges can be the building blocks of our future.

Reflecting on my past and looking positively to the future, I found this to be crucial to dealing with life’s lessons with an openness and enthusiasm. This approach propelled me forward; it allowed me to contribute positively to the world around me.

I understand the desire for control, as we are all on our own path and want to oversee how we walk it. 

However, it is important when developing the habit of self-control to keep an open mind. Not letting others dominate you, making you angry, or causing you to lose your self-control.

When I took time to share with others, to ask for their help and their point of view, I discovered that we all face similar challenges. This realisation opened up new options for me that I had not thought about before.

I found that when I faced a challenge, learning how other people how they solves challenges, I could develop a plan to find the best solution. This method took some of the pressure off me and gave me more clarity. 

Focusing on creating positive solutions instead of coping with the problem made my world a better place.

I believe that no matter how many challenges we are faced with in this life, there is always a learning curve. We must have the belief in ourselves and the willingness to look for it.

I am sure I will face more challenges in the future, and I have learnt to keep an open mind to look for solutions. No matter what I face, I know that growing through my challenges will allow me to live a better and happier life.

– Nancy