Ask for more from life—seek out new experiences and create lasting memories! This means embracing challenges: when you tackle hard things, life becomes easier; when you always choose the easy route, life often gets harder. Jerzy Gregorek, co-creator of the Happy Body program, puts it simply: “Hard choices, easy life. Easy choices, hard life.” Don’t chase fleeting fun—pursue purpose, and fulfillment will follow. I learned this lesson long ago: don’t shy away from difficulty; rise up and meet it head-on.

This dilemma—choosing hard things over easy ones—raises an important question: How should we raise our children? As a parent, it’s tempting to shield my kids from every challenge, to solve their problems, and to keep them safe from danger or hardship. One study by Jonathan Haidt at New York University reveals that this overprotective approach is fueling a generation plagued by anxiety. When we deprive children of opportunities to explore, solve problems, make mistakes, and learn from failure, we inadvertently raise anxious adults who remain dependent on their parents. Ironically, in our efforts to protect, we may actually hinder our children’s growth. I constantly wrestle with this temptation myself.

My friend, I remember walking two miles to school each way when I was in first grade. By fifth grade, my mom would drop me off at the train station with $20, and I’d travel alone to San Juan Capistrano. Nothing bad happened to me—I just gained valuable experience for which I am grateful. As a parent, I now question whether I’d give my children the same freedom. Still, as we continue to ask more from life, we must remind ourselves to continually trust and depend on God’s wisdom, strength, and love.