Life is full of challenges, but how we perceive them determines whether they block us or elevate us.

A challenge can feel like a wall, immovable, frustrating, and keeping us stuck. Or it can be a threshold, a doorway inviting us to step forward into growth and transformation. The challenge itself doesn’t change. But how we see it does.

Think back to a moment when something felt impossible. Maybe it was a career shift, a difficult conversation, or a personal setback. If you saw it as an insurmountable obstacle, it likely reinforced feelings of frustration or defeat, and it became an obstacle. But if you viewed it as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and expand, it may have led to unexpected breakthroughs.

This applies in leadership, relationships, and personal growth. A job seeker facing constant rejection might see a wall, “I’m not good enough.” But by shifting perspective, they might find a threshold, “What unique skills can I promote? How can I reposition myself?” That shift turns rejection from discouragement into a stepping stone toward success.

I’ve seen this in action throughout my recent book-writing journey. Some pages required major restructuring following feedback from guinea pig readers. I could have seen this as an obstacle. Instead, it became an opportunity to refine, clarify, and elevate the message. The process itself mirrors this truth: every challenge is a doorway. Whether you see a wall or a threshold depends on your willingness to walk through.

So, instead of asking, Why is this happening to me? Try asking, What may this be teaching me?

If you shift your perspective, you might just realise that what once felt like an obstacle was, in fact, a doorway to something greater.