In the days and months leading into the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia, I began to feel something unexpected.
I felt emptiness.
Not because I lacked drive or excitement, but because I could see what was coming. For 15 years, I had lived with total clarity. Every decision, every early morning, every sacrifice was fueled by a singular goal. I knew exactly what I wanted and exactly what it would take to get there. But as the Games approached, I realized that once they were over… there would be a blank slate.
No plan. No next steps. No challenge.
And that scared me.
It’s funny how the thing you’ve looked forward to your entire life, the pinnacle of your passion, can leave you wondering what comes next. I knew I couldn’t sit still and wait for the next challenge to find me, I had to create it.
Challenge Yourself: How I Found Purpose After the Olympics
Two weeks before the opening ceremonies, I decided to make a post-Olympic bucket list. It wasn’t about chasing adrenaline or checking off wild adventures, (though I wouldn’t rule that out either), but it was about intentionally finding ways to keep growing. I wrote down things I’d always wanted to try but never made time for like learning to play the guitar, reading 50 books in a year, writing a book, speaking on stages, juggling and learning to speak Spanish. These goals became lifelines to new hope, direction, and passions in my life.
Don’t Wait for the Next Goal—Challenge Yourself to Grow
John Maxwell once said, “Growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow is going to get better.”
That quote hit home, because I had experienced the truth of it. We don’t find lasting fulfillment by standing still. We find it when we’re stretched, learning, progressing and (especially) when we’re uncomfortable.
There’s also research to back this up. A study published in the Harvard Business Review found that “the single most important factor in boosting motivation is making progress in meaningful work.” Progress, not perfection or applause, is what fuels joy. When the external challenges fade, the internal ones become everything.
That bucket list has continued to expand each year and it has helped me rediscover the thrill of growth. It continues to give me new energy, fresh purpose, and a reason to keep reaching. I have realized that success isn’t a destination but it’s a mindset, and it has to be renewed constantly.
No Clear Goal? Challenge Yourself and Create One
So if you find yourself in a season without a clear challenge, don’t wait for one to appear. Create your own. Push your limits. Try something that makes your heart race a little. When life doesn’t challenge you, challenge yourself.
That’s how we keep becoming.
Quote to Ponder
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” -C.S. Lewis
Question to Consider
Do I currently have a clear goal or direction I’m working toward? If not, what’s one thing I could pursue that would bring purpose to my day?
More Tools to Make Challenging Yourself a Little Easier
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