Challenges – conquering for the greater good

Dreams can often become challenging, but challenges are what we live for.

Travis White

Life is sometimes so challenging. Challenge after challenge after challenge. Its funny how one big challenge leads to so many more smaller challenges, and those smaller challenges into even more smaller challenges. And all these smaller, small and big challenges get together one fine day, and try to choke you…

Lets me first look at how challenges came to be. The classic definition for a challenge is a problem. Something that deserves a certain amount of attention, so that it can be solved. But then, problem is too negative. Not very inspiring. In this wannabe-positive-optimistic world, we rephrase the word to look better – after all, looking better might better the situation. So we call it an opportunity.

But then again opportunities are a dull way of looking at things. Very un-exciting. Not very macho. Not proper leadership material. So we add some masala into it, and make it sound all hot, sexy and brave. Challenge.

In other words, there arose a problem, which is actually an opportunity (since you’re a leader), which is actually a challenge (‘cos you have to take it up since you’re a leader).

But challenges are fun. That is, if you’re working on solving something you’re passionate about, challenges are fun. But what if you’re not? What if you’re doing something you’re not passionate about? Something you might be good at, but what you really dont want to do. Are they still fun? Or do they turn into fearsome obligations?

I believe it would be the latter, since I’ve been kinda tied up these days trying to manage things which I don’t want to do. But do I have an option? Nope!

But let me add a few more complications here. I’m obligated to do the stuff I don’t want to do, since I really DO want to maintain relationships with the people involved. If I refuse to do the things, or if I be really honest about it, I’ll lose my cordial relationships with a few very ‘wanted’ people. i.e. I really want to spend time with them, talk to them, and be associated with them. I agree that you cannot satisfy everyone in the world, but don’t you have to make certain compromises to keep in contact with people? And you have to keep doing that until you’re close enough to them to say that the work they’re asking me to do is monotonous and rather boring, and not up my alley.

So, challenges are something you have to do. Whether you like it or not. Your leadership skills, and ‘substance’ (whatever that means) is being tested in a challenge. Whether you like it or not…

I’ve also noticed that challenges are also something that you really can’t do. For example, waking up early. Its almost impossible for me! So its a challenge. Its not that I don’t want to do it… Its just that I can’t… I simply cannot help it…

So if challenges are so big a challenge, then why challenge yourself and take up the challenge at all?

For the greater good…

To develop in life, to be a better individual, to conquer the world – they say…

If you look at it in a way, it does help me to attain some rather favourable qualities… Like being patient. And managing time better. But it also tires me out, and makes me hate what I do. A tough (‘challenging’) choice…

If you were expecting some sort of conclusion, a sort of ending, “this is what a challenge is”, “it is good!”, “it is bad!”, or “it is stupid!”, I’m very sorry, ‘cos I’m as clueless as you are. (If you weren’t as clueless as I am, then you would’ve stopped reading halfway right?)

So I’m leaving it very open… I’m undecided on this strange phenomenon of diction. I shall definitely try my best to find meaning for this weird connotation, but until I come up with something satisfactory, and intellectually-challenging, adios!