Facing life’s challenges with an aura of sagacity

MAKING hard-hitting decisions is not always easy. Which makes life an enormous challenge. The right path that we should take is not always clearly laid out before us, and the unknown can easily paralyze us. You may be thinking, “I don’t know how I could ever get through this.” Or you may be battling powerful feelings of despair, suffering, confusion, fear, worry, and even anger. These are all normal responses to tragedy or uncertainty. Facing tragedy, or life storms of any kind, can be extremely knotty. But in the midst of heartache and pain, you can find the hope and courage to go on. 

Sometimes we need to take a moment to stop, pause, and reflect on something before we can move forward, and there is nothing wrong with that. There is an end in sight, and if you understand that you are not alone with this decision, that millions of people have been faced with difficult decisions throughout their lives, you may realize that you have the support you need to move forward. Patience is probably the most difficult part of this process, but it is the key to making a good decision that is healthy and well thought out. Don't give up, and you will find the strength within yourself to make a decision that you will be happy with for the rest of your life.

 “However you do it, you’ve just got to fight in this life . . . If there’s one thing you’ve got to hold on to, it’s the courage to fight!” - Bessie Delaney

As long as we are alive we cannot be free of difficulties nor spared from problems. The question is how to overcome and resolve them. And there is only one answer: to confront and challenge life’s trials head on and with an aura of sagacity (level-headedness). In doing so, we can actually change them into sources of joy. Hardship builds character. I firmly believe that one can never become a person of extraordinary character just by leading an ordinary and peaceful life and avoiding difficulties. 

Challenges help to shape us to be the best that we can be and to force us to look at aspects of our life in a new way. They help us to grow on a personal level. They teach us lessons that enable us to progress forward in life and cause us to take necessary action to move us to where we need to be. Challenges importantly help us to learn a great deal about ourselves. Life involves scaling one mountain, then the next, then the one after that. The person who keeps on going, one step at a time, and finally conquers the highest mountain, will have a real sense of victory in life. But someone who avoids challenges and takes the easy route instead, will gradually descend into the valleys and feel no such sense of satisfaction. 

Just about every important figure in history has in fact lived a life marked by one mishap after another. But these individuals rose up again after every setback, prodded on by a spirit that refuses to concede defeat and relishes challenge, to eventually crown their lives with victory. The key thing to understand here is that tremendous learning, personal growth and opportunity can accompany challenges if you are open to looking at your challenges in a frame of mind that seeks learning and awareness. 

Dr. T.R. Khanna said we should make our motto: "Think in positives, act in positives, and live in positives." With this kind of attitude we will always say to ourselves, "Nothing is a problem. I will see every problem which comes as a challenge. So let the challenges come!"

As we progress in this life, let us not give up!

- Ashley Mwanza