Some elements of the work drive us more than others. For some, the technical side of things is what excites them the most; for others, the contact with the clients is what makes them get up every morning. While some of us love to create and think about how things could be, others would rather be heads down making things work. But, every now and then, we can be challenged out of our depth – sometimes even in our comfort zones.

It’s not sustainable to do just the work we love every day – but we can find joy in different aspects of our work life and make the most of any situation. Before we make you nauseous with all the kumbaya, let’s shift to logic: there’s a need and a purpose for every step of the work. If we embrace our challenges like positive opportunities to try new things and to learn new skills, we might find ourselves thankful for it later on.

For designers, the problem drives the solution – and being open-minded to the obstacles that may come our way can liberate us to feel more free to explore new possibilities.