Challenges are a form of friction in our lives. And friction is uncomfortable. We’d rather not have it. We want our comfort and familiarity. Even if it’s not good for us, it’s easier than changing. Change is scary, uncertain, unfamiliar, and unknown. We get scared of letting go of control. But life is out of our control. There is friction. And friction will form us. But we decide how it will form us.
The friction of challenges can form us to be negative, bitter, and egotistical. Or it could form us to be hopeful, resilient, and humble. This is where our values enter into the picture.
If we anchor into our values and let them guide us, then the friction we experience will form us into the people we want to be. Otherwise, we are avoiding the friction, complaining about the friction, and feeling sorry for ourselves because we feel the friction.
When we voluntarily say yes to this friction and accept it, we allow it to change us, transform our situation, and ultimately work in our favor. So, what happens when we lean in instead of leaning away? There is a transformative power that is unleashed when we voluntarily accept our circumstances, like the challenges in our lives.
Challenges bring friction. And friction changes you. So how do you want to be changed?
