How to Face Your Challenges and Fulfill Your Dreams

Start with baby steps

Nature is persistent, despite all odds.

We’re a part of nature. We face a plethora of challenges as humans, and we’ve overcome so much. Consider the process of a seed pushing through the earth, sometimes past asphalt or other barriers. And yet, the seed manages to sprout and continue to grow.

We are like seeds sprouting, every time we start something new, every time we put one foot in front of another, every time we speak up for ourselves. The human condition is filled with long growth spurts of different kinds.

We’re presented with opportunities disguised as challenges each day. We get to choose what we do with them. Will we push through? Will we ask for help? Maybe we need to slow down and take it easy. Other times, we need to get off our butts and do something about it.

Here’s how you can face your challenges and fulfill your desires:

Take things one day, hour, or minute at a time

Baby steps are essential, especially when you might be struggling with a mental health issue like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.

Sometimes we need to slow down and focus on small accomplishments. Pay attention to the times you followed through. If you feel unmotivated to do anything and you made your bed this morning, celebrate. It’s ok to take a break and rest. Be impressed by the small stuff you got done today.

We’re usually hardest on ourselves. Give yourself credit for taking care of mundane responsibilities like washing your dishes. If you’ve been neglecting your needs, celebrate anything you do to take care of yourself. Did you eat breakfast today? Bravo. Be gentle with yourself. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take teeny tiny steps toward what you want, and it’ll happen.

If you love to play music, and you’re too depressed to pick up your instrument, start by holding your pick or listening to someone else’s inspirational song. Then pick up your guitar and strum. Eventually, you’ll be creating beautiful music. I gave this advice to a friend, and I hope it helps.

Flip the script

Challenges always equal opportunities in my book. We’re much braver than we realize. We have an opportunity to recognize our courage and move through it. Being presented with hard things can make us stronger and help us grow.

Flipping the script works to shift our attention to the positive aspects. Another word for it is reframing. When you look at a situation from another angle, you’ll find a hopeful solution. We often find darkness craves the light. We seek to find solutions when we’re lost. When we have nowhere else to go, we miraculously find the way out.

“Hitting bottom” is a good example. When I hit an emotional bottom from my active alcoholism, I decided I was worth saving and I asked for help. That moment of despair was the best thing that happened to me. Instead of seeing only despair, I flipped it around and saw hope and promise.

Be honest with yourself

Can you change your habits or behaviors? What’s standing in your way? Does your fear stop you from taking action? Do you need help? If so, are you willing to ask? Ask yourself these key questions to get to the truth. I tend to blow things out of proportion until they seem unmanageable. If I took another look, I might see it as a minor inconvenience. In that case, perspective-taking makes all the difference in what I consider a problem.

If you’re sitting around waiting for your dreams to come true, you might be waiting a long time. Are you disappointed things aren’t coming to you? Then get up and do something, anything to get the ball rolling.

There are times I think I can’t do it. I haven’t pursued a job or written a cover letter in years. There are moments I feel unequipped to sell my skills and talents. Yet, if I think back to job leads I’ve successfully followed before, I know I can do it again. Honestly, I don’t want most of these jobs I’ve searched for.

I’ve held back from pursuing what I want the most because I feel unqualified. I’ll have to take a deeper look at what I do have to offer, then be willing to take a risk. A few opportunities involve sending pitches. I’ve never done it before. That’s why I’m looking at virtual assistant positions instead. I’m afraid of putting myself out there.

Get to the raw truth of your situation. You’re not that helpless, and you can’t manifest something without action. Some actions can be subtle and powerful, like shifting your mindset and following through with a new action that serves your best interest.

Go for the gold

We tend to accept second best because we’re afraid we can’t get what we really want. We take what we can get in the moment. What if you believed you can fulfill your greatest desires?

But wait. What about my limitations, you might ask. You’ll need to decide on a couple of things. One, make a decision that you’ll overcome whatever limitations you currently have. Then, decide if you’re willing to do what it takes to make your dreams come true.

Accepting old or leftover versions of your dreams and desires could mean you don’t feel worthy of the absolute best in life. Look inside and ask yourself why you’re not going for the gold. We get stuck in a rut sometimes, and there are ways to climb out.

What if I wrote an imperfect pitch and failed? What a great lesson for me. I’ll get better each time I try. And I might reach my goal to hone my craft and gain exposure (and make more money). I have the potential to make my dreams come true.

Sometimes whatever we do, our dreams don’t come to fruition. There’s freedom in acceptance. Your dreams may change over time. You might not be ready. Maybe what you want isn’t the healthiest choice. There’s always something better, more suited for you at this moment.

Final thoughts

Facing challenges is part of being human. Some say that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. You have more strength and courage than you know. You have untapped resources ready to be utilized.

Start by taking tiny first steps toward what you want. Celebrate small victories. Identify your blessings in disguise, looking for opportunities to grow from your experience. Be honest with yourself. Then, when you’re ready, go for it.

We are resilient beings. When you believe you can face a challenge, there’s a strong chance you’ll get through to the other side. Believe you can fulfill your dreams, and you’ll be more likely to manifest them.

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