The Changing World of Challenges

Challenge is a word that can mean many different things.

Something we want may bring obstacles to overcome that are challenging. What we thought would be easy to do may now prove to need more of our attention.

We can find ourselves challenged by someone to defend ourselves, our work, even our beliefs. And, while most of us do not enjoy those situations, there is value in the debate as it causes us to look more deeply at our positions, even as we open our minds to the possibilities of shift and change.

Circumstances themselves can bring challenges to moving forward. It’s raining. Or snowing. Or any number of things that can cause us to shift our approach to a journey, figuratively or literally!

There is no doubt that it is not a one size fits all kind of word or experience.

Then there are the kinds of challenges we invite into our world.

Those challenges can show up in just about any realm.

What are they? While not precisely contests, they do bring an element of measure with them.  Here are a few fun examples:

·         Drawing Blindfolded Challenge

·         Guess The Song Challenge

·         “Never Have I Ever” Challenge

These are great as icebreakers in groups and allow us to step outside of some comfort zones, have some fun, surprise ourselves, and connect with others!

But there is another kind of group challenge meant to create a focused effort for achieving a goal with a unique type of accountability beyond mere comparisons. Those are my favorite.

I find that declaring an intention and following through in the company of like-minded people energizing and motivating. How about you?

August is the perfect month for them.

Why? Because August is a month that seems to be an in between time. While still hot, even excessively so here in Texas, there is a sense of summer waning. But it’s also not autumn yet. No sweater weather yet! School is starting at some point, but even there, it’s scattered.

It’s just not a month with a clear purpose.

That makes it a perfect time to ask ourselves where we want an extra boost to move us into the next season in the company of others, and then dig in!

These challenges work because they are simple. First, we make a declaration of what we will do (or not do!), and then as a joined community, we set out to keep that promise. Next, we cheer each other on and provide encouragement where it’s needed. The key is that we create transparency in what we are doing and introduce vulnerability into our effort to get the help we need.

For this August, I’ve chosen two. They focus on my health and a writing project.

The writing challenge I joined is centered around five e-mails each week with a prompt to complete a task related to my writing project. It generally takes less than 30 minutes a day. But by the end of the month, the project will be well on its way to being finished. Since this one has been languishing for a while, that’s a good outcome for me!

Where would a challenge be helpful, even fun for you? If you can’t find one that fits, let me know! I’ll help you search one out.

Or perhaps, it’s the perfect time to start your own!

That’s right! You can create and lead your own challenge!

Yes, you can!

Challenges. They can open whole new worlds.