Week 8: Overcoming Challenges

I enjoyed the material this week.  I think it's easy to be naive about the future and underestimate the time and effort it will take to be successful personally and professionally.  This week in the reading material, it was helpful to be reminded that stones WILL be in the road and defeat and despair are a part of the journey.  

One of my favorite quotes was in the book Hero's Journey from a Jew who experienced the Holocaust: "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining, I believe in love even when I do not feel it, I believe in God even when He is silent."

Instead of wondering and worrying if and what kind of obstacles will appear in our paths, we can learn to focus on preparing ourselves physically, spiritually and mentally to handle the challenges that will inevitably come.  

Another point that I really liked from Hero’s Journey is that the stones in the road and the dragons of darkness that we face help to build our character and strengthen us in ways that we’ll need for the road ahead.  I think this fits in perfectly with the Plan of Salvation because we understand that trials and challenges are an integral part of this life that ultimately help us to prepare to become like Heavenly Father and live with Him one day.  When we have that perspective daily, our thoughts will be elevated by faith, purpose and perspective.