Choosing Challenges and Seeing Things Anew

Have you ever noticed how you understand the same saying in new ways at different stages of your life? Recently I've had an unusually large amount of work, but one particular project was really taxing my brain. "Why does it have to be so hard?" came to mind. Then immediately I remembered something that had illuminated things for me long ago, but now I saw another aspect.

Years ago I was taking my oral exam for my Ph.D. Three professors were on the committee. One I considered a tough, cold fish and I was a little scared of him. Another seemed a pleasant, if distant man, and I had no idea of what to expect from him. The third was my mentor, for whom I'd been a research assistant. The fact that he was in the room gave me a sense of comfort in a scary situation.

I was totally shocked when my mentor gave me the hardest questions, and then pressed me with harder follow-up questions. As I waited outside the room to find out if I'd passed, I was really upset that someone I'd trusted had tried to undermine me.

After they came out and told me I'd passed, I got aside with my mentor and said "Why did you do that?!!" He said,
"I know you. If it had been too easy, you wouldn't have felt you'd accomplished anything." I had to agree, but said it need not have been that hard. I thought that after all, you want some challenge or a game is no fun, but then, if it's too steep a challenge, it's more stress than fun.

Fast forward many years. He had my number. I realized that I still believe that if it's not really challenging, I don't feel like I've accomplished much. Perhaps I've been attracting and choosing the very challenges another part of me doesn't want. I have decided I want challenges I can handle with ease, but aren't easy. My new affirmation is "I handle challenges with ease and enjoyment." I will also easily incorporate it!

(For tips for more effective affirmations see Boost the Effectiveness of Your Affirmations)

Namaste,
Awareness Transforms
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