3 Psychological Strategies for Endurance and Conquering Life's Challenges 🌟

In life, challenges and difficulties are inevitable. How we approach these obstacles greatly influences our personal growth and success. Research has consistently shown that stepping forward to confront challenges, rather than avoiding them, leads to better outcomes in the various aspects of life. In this article, we will delve into three powerful psychological strategies that can help you develop the endurance and resilience necessary to confront challenges.

Understand the Power of Conquering Challenges:

The first strategy for developing endurance and resilience is to recognize the positive impact that conquering a specific challenge will have on your life. It is essential to connect the dots between overcoming the difficulty and the potential benefits it can bring. For instance, if you have a fear of flying, visualizing yourself exploring your dream destination can serve as a powerful motivator.

Let's consider a real-life example from my own life. After graduating from university, I was offered a postgraduate scholarship— it was a fully paid opportunity to study and guaranteed job placement at a major organisation in South Africa. As part of the selection process, I had to give a 60 second pitch on why I wanted to be part of the program. I took the stage and could barely put a sentence together. I was overcome with anxiety and stuttered profusely. It was at this moment that I discovered that I had a fear of public speaking. While I could have managed my life and career around this fear, I recognized the potential benefits of becoming a confident and competent communicator. This realisation motivated me to approach and endure the discomfort on my path to conquering my fear of public speaking.

To reinforce this tool, it is crucial to identify how confronting a specific challenge will benefit you. By understanding the value and outcome allows you to endure the discomfort that you will face as you conquer or overcome this challenge.

Foster an Enquiring Mindset:

Developing an enquiring mindset empowers you to take a step back and objectively assess the challenges you face. By zooming out and observing how a difficulty impacts you, you gain a fresh perspective and the ability to be proactive in finding solutions. Engage in self-reflection and ask yourself questions about the challenge's impact and the lessons you can learn from it. Additionally, seek out examples of others who have successfully overcome similar obstacles and learn from their experiences. Cultivating an enquiring mindset enables you to transcend reactive responses and which then gives you the space to respond in a more empowering manner.

One of the ways that have helped me in some of my most difficult periods in life is to remind myself that there are countless others who have also faced this – that these seasons of adversity are deeply interwoven into the experience of being a human. Doing this breaks our laser focus on our problems and how unfortunate things are for us, and allows us to expand our meaning of life.

Let me give you an example of how an inquiry mindset can help you break patterns and the reactive mode we usually go into when facing a challenge.  

While trail running in the jungle, I came across a stream and decided that it was a great spot for a mindfulness session. While sitting with my eyes closed, I kept hearing a buzzing sound around me. I opened my eyes and saw that it was a bee and that it went to walk on my leg. Initially, my instinct was to swat it away because I did not want to get stung, but I consciously chose to override that reactive response and embrace the uncomfortable situation. By remaining still and observing the bee, I discovered its intricate beauty and gained insights into my own emotions and fears. This practice of inquiry allowed me to break the negative way of thinking and find peace within discomfort.

Embrace Intentional Challenges:

Intentionally subjecting yourself to additional challenges beyond your comfort zone is a powerful way to develop the ability to endure and resilience. Setting deliberate goals to push yourself further—such as running an extra kilometer, dedicating an additional hour to study, or committing to read one more book—helps you become comfortable with pushing beyond the initial desire to give up. This practice strengthens your perseverance and trains your mind to view discomfort as an opportunity for growth. Over time, what once seemed impossible becomes achievable, and your resilience increases.

To highlight the efficacy of intentional challenges, let's turn to the sport of boxing. I began practicing Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, a few years ago when I moved to Thailand. During training sessions, I noticed a unique principle in boxing. At the end of each round, whether it involved punching the bag, sparring, or doing pad work, a bell would sound, and participants had to complete ten push-ups before taking a drink of water and enjoying a two-minute break before the start of the next round. This practice ingrains a sense of comfort in moments of fatigue and physical exertion. Regardless of how tired one may feel, the requirement to complete ten push-ups emphasizes the importance of pushing beyond perceived limits. By embracing intentional challenges and pushing ourselves beyond our comfort zones, we can develop the resilience and endurance needed to thrive in the face of adversity.

There are many ways that you can build up this ability to endure in your own life through intentionally challenging yourself.

Conclusion:

When faced with a challenge, take a moment to envision the positive impact overcoming it will have on your life. Understand the value and growth that await you, and let this knowledge serve as your motivation to endure the uncomfortable moments. Foster an enquiring mindset that allows you to objectively assess challenges, learn from them, and gain insights that will guide you on your path to resilience. Finally, intentionally embrace challenges that push you beyond your comfort zone, recognizing that these intentional efforts will strengthen your endurance and ability to overcome obstacles.

Developing the ability to endure and be resilient in the face of difficulties is crucial for personal growth and success. By employing these three psychological strategies discussed in this article you can build your resilience and overcome any obstacle that comes your way.