 I have the answer: I hear you say, “but what exactly is the question?”
Well, the beautiful part is that it really doesn’t matter since the answer comes from within and what strength of character we have in reserve.
Each of us are faced with challenges throughout our lives, some have massive challenges like the death of a loved one, others have smaller challenges like managing raising 4 children and paying off a mortgage. None of us are immune to life’s challenges and obstacles, in fact often it’s the challenges that really make us grow into the people we are.
I had a client some time ago talk about how grateful she was that she had such a hard time at School. Her class mates often picked on her about her weight, appearance and blemishes on her skin, we all know how terrible adolescents can be.
However she reached the point where she truly appreciated the lessons they had given her early in life. She was forced to find friends that appreciated the real person and not just the exterior and now she is a beautiful young woman that has truly risen above the crowd and has a real acceptance of who she is and is helping others to do the same. She recognises that the compassion she now has comes from the challenges she herself had to go through.
 What challenges have you been through recently? If they were given to you from above, what lesson might you be needing to learn or accept to move past it and forgive?
As a small child one of my earliest memories was of me running to my father crying. The reason for the tears is completely lost on me now but his words remain with me always… He said, “Jodie, everything happens for the best, sometimes it’s almost impossible to see it at the time, but you just need to trust that it will all turn out OK!”
Throughout my life, whenever I’ve gone to my Father for advice, I receive the same words… If you’re able to take them on board today and begin to believe that everything does happen for the best, you life will truly take a new path.
To be able to believe that everything will work out does take a particular strength of character! And let me be clear, I’m not saying ‘just hope your problems go away! There are some things we can’t plan for, some things that just take us by surprise. It’s at these times that we must let our strength of character shine.
Let’s do a quick stocktake. I’d like you to note down all the character traits that you believe you have. Make the title of that list “I am:” Next, I’d like you to write down all the things that you know you need to work on, we all need to work on something, and make the title of this list “I am becoming:”
This list could go on and you, but really, no one knows you better than you do, so create the two lists and begin to work on them. Acknowledging the traits that you already have and working on the traits that you know you need to develop.
There is no possible way to remove challenges from our lives, however if we choose the path of strengthening our character within, we will be much better equipped to deal with these challenges in the future.
Paraphrased from a great master:
 “Never wish the mountain were smaller,
wish that you were stronger and more prepared to climb the mountain!”
“The force of immense pressure is what creates diamonds”
If you’re really ready to start living your life to the fullest and need some support in building the character traits that you have chosen today, please email me at Jodie@advancedcoachingsolutions.com.au for a 1 hour free introductory life coaching session and we can work on it together. | 
Determined