With all of our young people embarking upon new chapters of their lives, I wanted to share some thoughts on the challenges that await them. Whether you are heading off to Grade School, High School, College, or even heading out into the workforce, no doubt you will be faced with choices and challenges that are difficult. It may be new topics of study, or interacting with new people. It may be doing something you have not done before, and the mere thought of it creates within you an increased level of anxiety. There is a word for that feeling, it’s called growth, and you are not the first to feel its effect.

Each and every time we step out of our comfort level, and challenge ourselves to new experiences, we will be met with similar uncomfortable feelings. These are to be embraced not avoided, for within them are the pathways to being the person we were meant to be. If we remain in a static state of comfort, there is no growth. If we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by fear, there is no growth.

There is no greater indicator in our success than our ability to overcome fear. It is not our age, gender, social status or lack of wealth that will hinder us in our lives, but rather our ability to push back against fear, and move forward.

Throughout our lives we are given special people who see within us the potential we may not see in ourselves. They may arrive in our lives as teachers, mentors, or family members who may be further along in this journey of life, and are in a unique position to provide both guidance and perspective. You may see in them only their current state of relative success, but know that behind that is a lifetime of growth. Just like them, you can not skip the steps of what you have to do in life just so that you can get right on to what you want to do in life.

Whatever place in this journey you find yourself, you may be saying: “This is Hard!” You are right it is, and that’s the good stuff. Embrace what is hard and soon, what is hard will become easy. However, if you become content with what is easy, everything will seem hard.

Just as in taking our first steps, or mastering those early math principles, those things that challenged us earlier in our lives, faded into simplicity, and become second nature.

Never Quit! The act of quitting in and of itself creates an invisible impediment rooted in fear, that slows growth and becomes that much harder to overcome. Perseverance however, does just the opposite; it creates a momentum that feeds on itself, growing in confidence and fueled by courage. It becomes a self-perpetuating energy source that will propel you through whatever challenge you confront.

So, regardless of your age, and whatever seemingly impossible obstacle stands before you, know that you have it in you to confront and overcome that obstacle. Just remember you are not in it alone.