Throughout our lifetime, we pass through different stages—periods of extreme joy, calmness, and peace, as well as periods of chaos and brutal struggle. To emerge victorious from these stages, we must keep moving forward. Within ourselves, we have the necessary tools to overcome any obstacle and achieve our goals and dreams. One of the secrets to success is to always keep moving forward.

I am an unstoppable dreamer, always looking for new adventures. Leaving my comfort zone is something I have done often in recent years. Each time I do it, it doesn’t take long before I am face-to-face with the harsh reality of uncertainty. But always, God and life find ways to show me that we must continue moving forward because we have the power, strength, and courage to overcome any obstacle—and that is one of the secrets to success.

A few days ago, I went kayaking for the first time. I got into a single kayak, the guide pushed me into the water, and there I was, sitting alone in a small boat in the middle of the sea. We began the tour, paddling around the stunning scenery Norway has to offer. At first, the sea was very calm. But soon, the wind started blowing against us, and paddling through the waters became a difficult task. I knew I was trying hard to move, but I felt like I wasn’t making progress. Exhausted, I kept paddling, moving forward through turbulent waters, and suddenly, everything was calm again, making the journey much easier. At certain points, I stopped paddling and took time to enjoy the surroundings.

“We develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and obstacles.” – Stephen Covey

In that state of peace and relaxation, I discovered a hidden message. Life was using that sea kayaking tour to teach me that in order to move forward, we must keep paddling, even in the worst of conditions. It showed me that life can be calm and relaxed at times but harsh and challenging at others. However, we all have our own “paddles”—our strength and courage—that help us navigate through life’s currents.

Life always finds a way to teach us valuable lessons that can help us become the best version of ourselves, especially when leaving our comfort zone—even when we didn’t choose to do so. Sometimes, life pushes us out of our comfort zone in brutal ways for reasons we don’t understand at first. And sometimes, like a kamikaze, we leave our comfort zone in pursuit of a dream, a desire, or a fantasy.

“Don’t waste your time looking back. You’re not going that way.” – Ragnar Lothbrok (Vikings)

Moving away from comfort always means facing challenges—some simple, some difficult. But in the end, all these challenges help us grow and evolve, both personally and spiritually. Always remember to keep your eyes on the horizon, keep moving forward, and don’t look back—you’re not going that way.

Keep paddling through life. Keep moving forward with strength, commitment, perseverance, and courage because that is the secret to success!