Have you ever been faced with a challenge in life, one that really pushed you to your limits? 

Most of us have. But let me ask you, how did you feel when you came out on the other side? I'll bet you felt relieved, but I'll also bet that you felt stronger, tougher and more capable, too. 

In an old favorite of mine, "The Inner Game of Tennis," author Tim Gallway pointed out that when you want a really good game, you look for an opponent whose skill level is equal or superior to yours. Gallway said that, "It's no fun playing with someone who doesn't challenge you."  He's right of course, but it's also important to remember that challenge works the same way in every area of life. 

If you want to develop yourself and expand your abilities, you must face and master challenges, move out of your comfort zone, and every now and then take on a little more than you're absolutely certain you can handle.

Now, it's not necessary to compete with other people in order to do this, although healthy competition can certainly help us sharpen our skills. The really important competition goes on inside us, as we challenge our beliefs about where our limitations lie and how much we can be and do.

So, the next time life pushes you to your limits, why not look at it as an opportunity to grow? With this attitude, I think you'll find it much easier to rise to the challenge and come out on top.