Probably being a good mother to my two boys.  One has some emotional issues and he puts my patience to the test each and every day.  He is adorable, but very demanding.  I  just hope I am handling it the best way possible and that my other son is not too affected by it.

It surrounds me in the workplace.  People have become so used to being dissapointed, ignored and taken advantage of that they have forgotten how to enjoy their workplace and have given up on trying to improve it.  I refuse to evolve into a bitter, corporate drone - however exhausting the battle may be.

~ Greener today than I was yesterday!

I have a wonderful life except that I let anxiety take control at times.  I always seem to be worrying about money (or lack of it), my childrens well being, my home, family, work,  etc.  I try and practice mindful breathing and have a positve attitude, but some days it just seems overwhelming.

 

It can be difficult to become independent at times. Life after high school and  moving out is not as fun as it seemed, you spend your adolescence pretending to be older and when you're in fact older, it's overwhelming. 

 There are bills to be paid, homework to be turned in; deadlines. Suddenly you find yourself with hardly any time, leaving your passions behind. I used to spend days walking around and photographing anything I could, reading good literature of my choice on the weekends, and riding the bike for hours, or playing dungeons and dragons for days in the basement with friends, as geeky as it may sound. Those were my hobbies and it seems that at times looking through faded photographs and memories I become so nostalgic for the olden days. My biggest challenge; learning how to overcome stages and being able to move on. :)

 

My father told me in college to enjoy these days, for this was my last time to really be unencumbered.  Of course I didn't really think he knew what he was talking about.  Speed ahead 20 years, and now I GET IT!!!!

You seem too young to be cynical.  Try and enjoy your life and being in the stage you currently are in.  It only gets harder. 

I tell my 9 year old to just have fun.  He too is so quick to grow up. 

 

My biggest challenge is to not overthink things and just realax. For the most part I guess you could refer to me as impatient and an overachiever, I want answers and results fast, and sometimes that takes the life out of life. I've been going to a massage therapist nearby and it had an incredible result on my nerves though. Getting in the habit of exercising has worked wonders too, all the release of endorphins and extra energy I take it.

What I mean to say is that we can always look for ways to overcome our challenges, at times they're easily accessible and right in front of us, and it's never late to try and change habits! Remember that every passing second is a chance to turn it all around. 

 Lime has offered me a variety of great information and resources and I'm happy to have joined.

I'm trying to work on enjoying life more too.  One example I'm not proud of - I'm a volunteer head coach for a girls soccer team (6th grade) and have been the coach of these fine girls for 9 seasons.  I've been taking the games way too seriously lately and I'm always regretting my overachiever attitude with the girls after a game or practice.  When we started in 2nd grade, it was easy, the girls knew nothing about the game and showed it.  The performance matched their experience.  However, over the past few seasons my girls have been terrific and have a tremendous winning record.  As such, I think I'm mentally getting carried away with myself and my "duties".  the parents love me and think I'm doing a great job, but I'm not meeting my own expectations, I'm not making the memories I want from the experience. 

 I think I've done my job with these fine gals and am thinking of "retiring" from this position after the end of this season.

 I love these girls too much to torture myself mentally and treat them like I was treated when I played football for my middle and high schools.  I want them to walk away from their years with the team with a positive outlook and experience . . . I'm trying to work hard on changing, but look forward to when I too can join their parents on the sidelines and cheer.

 Sorry for the long post.

No need to apologize.  Sounds like the girls have learned a lot from you and the fact that you realize your weak points is a positive.  You are right about pushing the girls too hard and taking the fun out of the game. 

I was a very good tennis player when I was young and competed.  My father would come to my games and would constantly pressure me to do better and critique my performance.  I finally got so fed up I retired my raquet and that was over 30 years ago.  He just took the fun out of it for me.  So you are very insightful!!!! 

My stress level is too high these days and has been for quite a while now. Seems like I just get past one stressor and another one comes along. I try to maintain balance in my life between work, chores, play, and down time but it seems like all I do is run from one activity to another.

I do do things to help with the stress, like exercise, eat right, get enough sleep, take hot baths, etc. but the stress is still there. This week I decided to just lay on the couch and read a book a couple days after work and it was really relaxing. What I need to do is spend more time laying on the couch and stop worrying about all the things that need to be done.....

As you have probably read on LIME lately, stress is NOT good for us.  I too am stressed out with the pressures of everyday life.  Please try and take time to breathe, even if it is at a stop light.  Unfortuntely, I keep trying to reduce mine, but it is very, very difficult to do.  I can always tell when I am, my skin breaks out and my body really reacts.  I will keep trying, you do the same.

Wow!  Thank you to everyone who answered my question. I am touched by each story. I've been a mom, hoping my son would grow up OK. (He did prettty good!)  I feel for the corporate battle against negativity (my fiance is in it). And how worry and stress can seen bigger than us.

I write for people on ways to meet challenges, so I appreciate your comments.  Thanks also to the folks who shared what helps them. 

Which is my next question: What has worked for you that you can share?  What do you need to be able to face your challenges?  Is there a fear under a block?  What would help you over it?

My greatest challenge is to think in a new way how to help people better. How to put on a new brain.  I just found my block is fear of the unfamiliar. Like I don't know the rules of that game.  So I need trust in what inspired me to do this.

Thank you for your responses!

Bess McCarty/ Personal Growth Coach for Life and Business/ Free 4 Step Self-Coach Audio: www.BessMcCarty.com

Change.  I don't like it. I would rather stay in a situation that was not the most positive than change.  I like familiarity.  That can be good in that I am loyal, yet I wonder what I could have accomplished when I was younger if I wasn't scared of the unknown.

I always say, "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger".  Humans have a spirit that enables us to survive horrific things and still come out the other side.  Knowing you have this ability has seen me through some tough times too.  As I get older, I seem to have more courage to do things or at least think about doing them.  I realize that I don't have anything to loose.  That comes with age.

I am "A" personality, a go-give person. I was taught anything worth doing is worth doing well. I have anxiety over have I done my job well. Is my life what others expect of me. I have now address this problem. I will do what I have to do to take care of myself. If I not taking care of myself, how can I help others. My other part of my anxiety is taking on other peoples problems. I now asking dose it affect my life or the life of my family. In this area I give support, sympathy and empathy

I think my biggest challenge in life is not biting off more than I can chew without getting bored with myself :) It seems that I cause a great amount of stress in my life just because I'm so willing and ready to do any and everything (that is, on top of my necessary tasks, i.e. college, job, relationship, etc.). I also have problems staying in relationships for fear of losing my independence. We'll see how this one pans out ;)

If a relationship is a healthy one, you don't have to loose your independence.  My husband and I wrote our own vows, and it them we said something to that affect about helping the other to grow and keep our independence.  I can't remember the exact words, (it's been 13 years) but don't be afraid to embrace something good.  They don't come along that often.

Thanks for the advice, Vicki! And congrats on a healthy and stable 13 years! It's lovely to see relationships that work, given the awful example couples today set (did someone say divorces abound?). I do agree that you have to be brave to embrace something that good. I've found that relationships are very hard work and entail a great amount of trust. Mine has been highly rewarding thus far, however, and I plan to keep working at it! :) Let's hope I make it to the 13 year point as well! 

It's funny.  My grandmother used to tell me she worked on her marriage everyday.  And at first I laughed.  Now I understand what she meant.  Just trying to be available to my husband when he walks in the door after afger work is sometimes hard, but important to him, so I try and give hime my attention.  It's the little things that can make or break even a good relationship.  I'm glad things are going well.

Lately it has been keeping my children busy during the summer and keeping my patience.I even read LIMES blogg on it and have used some of the ideas.  It is a very long summer, almost 3 months and my boys are getting a bit antsy.  Thank goodness we are going away next week for a few days.  I always joke that they are going to Camp Mom.

Acceptance.  Sometimes you have to accept certain people in your life and sometimes you have to accept certain circumstances.  I have a hard time being comfortable with the situation at hand and accepting that there are things in life that are out of my control.  It goes to accepting myself as I am, worts and all.