Facing the challenge

Men's Fitness, Sept, 2001 by Joe Weides

Challenges. They are lurking around every corner, hiding in the shadows, waiting to explode into our lives and, if we're not prepared, throw them out of balance. Sometimes we can predict when they will arise; other times, they appear without warning. Regardless of how they present themselves, one thing is certain: How we tackle each challenge remains an effective barometer for measuring our personal growth.

We each have our own way of dealing with obstacles that crop up in our lives. Some individuals--Michael Jordan and, closer to home for me, Arnold Schwarzenegger come to mind--thrive under such circumstances. We all saw how Michael responded to challenges on the basketball court, and most of us remember how Arnold repeatedly answered the call while winning seven Mr. Olympia titles, an unprecedented feat at the time. But the challenges didn't stop for Arnold once he left the stage, just as they didn't stop for Michael after he retired. Arnold put as much time and energy into making motion pictures as he did in preparing for each of his Mr. Olympia wins.

What changes are the challenges themselves, not the manner in which we approach them. Arnold, for one, was able to build a successful career as an actor by calling upon the same dedication and attention to detail he applied to becoming one of the greatest bodybuilders in the sport's history. And while many of us will never compete on such a grand stage, our ability to overcome our current challenges will steel our resolve for the ones that lie ahead.

Difficult circumstances often seem to conspire against us, and we all occasionally come up wanting when faced with life's innumerable battles. However, our focus should not turn to the battles we lose. For it is our willingness to answer the call time and time again that will eventually reveal the men we truly are.