There are two kinds of challenges in life: those that are thrust upon us and those we thrust upon ourselves. Both force us to grow, just in different ways.

The challenges life throws at us without warning force us to adapt on the spot, prompting us to decide—on the fly—how we’ll move forward. My first real experience with this came at age 22, when my father passed suddenly and right in front of me. That was just the beginning; life would throw more challenges my way. You’d think that coming out the other side of something that traumatic, I’d have my fill of “hard”. But, if you know me, you know I’m a bit extra when it comes to testing my limits and tend to choose hard things- voluntarily.

I need to know what I’m capable of. That’s why I choose challenges that demand everything from me—half-marathons, Spartan Races, three crossings over 80 miles of ocean on a paddleboard, and more. These experiences have shaped me and built a strong confidence in me that reminds me there’s nothing I can’t handle or overcome.

Earlier this year, I committed to the 75 Hard Challenge with a few friends. If you’re not familiar with it, here’s are the rules of this 75-day challenge:

1. Two workouts every day, each 45 minutes long, spaced three hours apart, with one done outdoors.
2. Read 10 pages of a nonfiction personal development book daily.
3. Drink a gallon of water a day.
4. Stick to a nutrition plan of your choosing.
5. No alcohol.

Here’s the kicker: if you break any one of these rules on any day, you have to start back at day one, even if you’re on day 70. There’s no room for excuses or slip-ups.

The timing couldn’t have been worse. I was training for my annual 80-mile paddle across the ocean for The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, building a business, managing family responsibilities, traveling for work, and attending a wedding. It was the last thing I needed to add to my already overloaded schedule. But I had committed, and I didn’t want to make excuses to get myself out of it. I had to see it through.

When I first read the rules, I thought, why does it matter if I miss one thing just one day? But the answer, as Andy Frisella, the creator of 75 Hard, explains, is simple: it’s a slippery slope. And here’s why.

One missed workout becomes one skipped day of reading. One small excuse becomes a pattern, and before you know it, the goal is out the window. It’s those compromises that, in time, derail us completely. That hit home for me. How often do we let ourselves slide, telling ourselves it’s no big deal, until we’ve lost sight of our mission altogether?

So, the real question became: Am I willing to live with myself knowing I committed to something and then made excuses along the way? In this challenge, you’re accountable only to yourself. Sure, I had friends doing the challenge too, but if I quit, the only person I’d really be letting down was me.

Think about it: we’ve all played golf with “that guy” who fudges his score. Everyone knows it, including him, but all the lies in the world won’t make him a better golfer. The same goes for life. If you skip reps in a workout or cheat on your diet, your body reveals the truth. The results—or lack thereof—will speak louder than any excuse. You can’t lie to yourself. And that’s a hard pill to swallow.

For me, 75 Hard was the ultimate test because it demanded a level of discipline and organization that doesn’t come naturally to me. I live life on the go; my days are rarely the same, and I thrive in the unpredictability. But this challenge required strict structure and absolute commitment. I had to split my workouts three hours apart, one of them outdoors. And my crazy schedule—leaving before dawn some days and returning long after dark—made fitting it all in simply exhausting. I had to be intentional with my time and plan each day meticulously. I couldn’t just “wing it” like I usually do. I needed a plan.

And then there was the no-alcohol rule. I spend a lot of my work and social time in environments where having a drink is part of the culture. I’ve always enjoyed letting loose with friends, but truth be told, I was actually looking forward to the alcohol-free part of the challenge. I had recently begun taking notice of all the ways alcohol was negatively affecting me- the inflammation, the difficulty sleeping, the general crappy feeling the next day. I was ready for the break.

But I didn’t expect how uncomfortable others would feel when I declined a drink. That was an interesting experience. It was as if my choice to abstain triggered something in them. I don’t judge anyone’s choices, it’s not my place—but I was surprised by how my decision not to drink was judged and interpreted by others.

Then, when I finally completed 75 Hard and went to have that first celebratory drink, I realized three sips in that I wasn’t enjoying it. Also, an unexpected and interesting experience. Not drinking taught me how, when, and what I like to drink. Since doing this challenge, I no longer drink for the sake of it. (I didn’t realize how much of that I was doing!) And when I do, it’s a drink I truly enjoy and savor - it really hits the spot!

I’ve learned so much about myself through 75 Hard, just as I have from every challenge life has thrown at me. Every experience reminds me of what I’m capable of, and that the only limits I have are the ones I impose on myself. Not every challenge has to be extreme to be meaningful. Each one, big or small, moves me closer to the version of myself that I’m striving to become.

So this year, I challenge you to challenge yourself. It doesn’t have to be 75 Hard or an ultramarathon—just something that pushes you beyond your comfort zone. You’ll find, as I have, that you’re stronger than you think, that you’re capable of so much more than you realize, and that the journey of self-discovery along the way is always worth it.