If doing hard things brought pleasure, a lot more of us would volunteer for the struggle.

But life is often fraught with challenges and it's what we choose to do when we're faced with these challenges that will ultimately move us forward or backwards in our intended trajectory.

I was reminded this week of all my years in college studying the classics as an English major and tracing the hero's journey, a journey in which our hero embarks upon a quest or adventure and along the way is met with a crisis or upheaval and must exhibit strength of body and wit to endure and come out victorious and transformed afterwards.

I became that hero this week. Something showed up in my life, literally on my doorstep, and it had all the appearance and makings of something I thought I wanted. But I quickly learned that masked behind the veil of something attractive and alluring, was my upheaval and it went straight to my softest, most tender point of weakness, my heart. I could have faltered and let it overtake me, but instead I showed up and listened to the wisdom of my soul. And when I took a breath and listened, my courage and strength unfolded right in front of me. With conviction, I knew my answer and I knew my path.

Was it difficult and painful to reject something I've been chasing half my life?

Absolutely.

There's a reason why the lessons we need to learn recur in our lives. We don't pay attention. We don't want to listen. We think it will be different this one last time.

Well, it never is.

So I chose me and the option to stay the course and set free the dream I thought I wanted. I licked my wounds a bit because it's important not to skip that part, and when all was said and done, my tender heart beat stronger than ever because I showed up and stayed true to me.