I was listening to the Empire Podcast about the Ottomans. What an incredible empire. Some of the feats they managed, it’s crazy – 600 years lasting.
At its largest, Ottoman territory spanned millions of square miles. At its peak, it was a global force.
A center of intellectual cultivation and revolution.
But when we learn about them in the West, we seem to believe that we were the biggest threat to them. What a false statement.
When listening, I heard that the Ottomans feared the Persian Empire to a much greater extent.
We Westerners did not hold that threat at all.
This shows the importance of perspective when it comes to challenges. The Ottomans maintained a perspective on what their greatest challenge was. That’s why they were around for so long.
Our greatest growth comes from challenging our assumptions and embracing discomfort.
How does this relate to us?
When we set our goals to progress towards, these lead to different pathways. Remember, the pathways are the journeys we take to achieve progress.
Inevitably, on these pathways, we are likely to face challenges. We must appreciate this fact.
These challenges are the obstacles that prevent us from achieving these goals immediately.
But we don’t have to train our brain to think like this.
We don’t have to believe that challenges and obstacles are trying to limit our chances of success.
We need to shift our perspective.
I’ll tell you a story. I was trying to do some Degree Apprenticeship Applications last year. Part of the process was doing numerical reasoning tests.
Everyone that knows me will realise that I am shit at maths. I don’t like it and it pisses me off.
But this was a challenge that I had to overcome. If I were to achieve an offer, I had to pass this test.
So I shifted my perspective. Instead of viewing this challenge as a barrier to my progress, I viewed it as an extra task to help me grow.
It’s this mindset that we need to adopt when looking at challenges.
That test was not for me to fail, but it was a chance for me to improve and then expand my skillset.
If I worked hard at it, this ‘obstacle’ would increase my chances of success.
There’s a deeper reason for this. If we have a positive, ‘growth-based’ mindset and face this challenge head-on, there’s a reward for us.
On completion, we feel better and understand that the goal is much more achievable.
For each obstacle you pass, you are more likely to achieve your goal.
It’s a fact. But the first step is not to treat challenges as barriers, but as opportunities.
So when you are trying to go to the gym more often, trying to eat healthier, or trying to start a new side hustle, remember, there will always be challenges.
It’s about how you view it.
My challenge for this week – write down three challenges you’re going to face. Write out how you are going to treat them as opportunities.
Have a great week!
Dylan 🙂