In my mind’s eye, when I think of Monumental Challenges, I envision a very steep hill that I need to climb. I stand at the base of this hill and contemplate the best ways to climb the hill. I look at the hill with all of the trees, uneven landscape and boulders that cover it. My first step is to identify how am I going to tackle this Monumental Challenge? Taking those first steps with a Monumental Challenge can be very daunting and overwhelming. A big hill or life’s challenges must be conquered one step at a time with the notion of never looking back. Looking back will create too many set backs for you and may lead to you never accomplishing your goals.
For many when faced with a Monumental Challenge avoidance and procrastination take over. It seems so much easier then having to deal with the issues that you are facing. Ultimately, this will lead to disfunction and a lack of motivation to move forward in your life. You will remain stuck and become immobilized in your own thought process. The question is how do we move forward in working through Monumental Challenges.
First, let’s identify some Monumental Challenges that may occur in your life. Loss of a loved one, loss of a relationship, getting fired from your job, moving, health issues, disabilities, lack of finances, lack of motivation, anxiety, depression and many more challenges that one can face. The first response to a Monumental Challenge is usually the feeling of being paralyzed, wanting to walk away or avoidance. This is where your first challenge begins by not avoiding and starting to deal with the big hills ahead of you.
To avoid the Fight or Flight response I want you to take the time in a quiet space to look at the Challenge ahead. I mean really look at all the aspects of it. The good, the bad and the ugly possibilities. This starts to put your mind in a realistic mind set to begin the Monumental Challenge. I have realized over the years with myself and my clients that the most productive way to conquer and work through a Challenge is by breaking it down into small components. If you are thinking “baby steps” you are totally correct. I know this can be hard because sometimes we want to fix things to move them out of our way. However, without thought, time and patience the Monumental Challenges tend to have cracks that continue to hold you back. The time and the energy needs to be put into the process to make everlasting change.
I have had to watch various people in my life deal with a cancer diagnosis, including myself with malignant melanoma. I was fortunate enough to only need surgery but the others in my life have had a long road of treatment. I remember the day so vividly when my doctor gave me the diagnosis. My head was swirling, tears falling down my face and just being scared, all a normal response. A normal response is the moment where you decide Fight or Flight. With a medical diagnosis or a life crisis it is so important to allow yourself to feel and then to start the process of climbing. The one day at a time or one step at a time theory is really the basics. It really is one step at a time to conquer. Watching a friend going through their metastatic diagnosis as a warrior, the key is one issue at a time. If they were to think about everything all at one time dysfunction would set in. Instead I have watched them break it down. This is where your process will begin. Break your Challenge down into small steps and take one at a time. One step may take weeks or even months to conquer and you must persevere. In this process you will begin to create a plan for yourself.
Creating this plan gives you a sense of control over the challenge. The song “Toughest” by Ed Sheeran talks about his challenge through his wife’s cancer diagnosis. This song talks about how one can conquer the toughest obstacles. Take a listen and I think it will give you a great perspective on Life’s Monumental Challenges. Whether it’s work, family, health, finances or a disability it all starts with creating a plan. Taking the small steps of breaking down the issues can help you work through them and get you to the other side of the hill.
There is a sense of beauty watching someone start with tragedy or tough times and the process they take going through the pain, hurt, struggles and fear. This is growth and this is you being able to say, “I did it.” I am not unrealistic here, I completely understand that someone going through grief, loss or a medical diagnosis will have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Without the work that one needs to put forth to move through the challenges they will remain dysfunctional and in fear. I have seen how a medical diagnosis can cripple a person but I have also watched them thrive, adapt and empower themselves to feel in control.
The next steps are totally individual. I have given you the tools to start the process to conquer a Monumental Challenge. Once you have taken some time to process and break it down you will know what to do next to continue your climb. Always keep in mind that there might be setbacks: however, all the control is with inside yourself to move forward through the things that block you. Breaking down the process will empower you and give you the strength to get to the top of the hill and over. Your world might be different and you may have to cope with many changes and challenges. Stick with the mindset that moving forward through darkness will eventually bring the insight you need to feel whole again.
