The Congressional Award provides an opportunity for young people to set and achieve personally challenging goals that build character and foster community service, personal development, and citizenship.

Situations can be personally challenging, comfort zones shattered and limits pushed, but there's always inspiration and support.

In a twist on this formula, in this piece I'd like to share a more personally challenging assessment.

Phase 2: A set of tasks, completed in a residential setting away from home, which are personally challenging (typically in the form of an outdoor challenge experience), and focused on personal and social development (one week).

Whether self-designed or medically directed, diets induce feelings of deprivation that are personally challenging and socially stigmatizing, said Dr. John P. Foreyt, a psychologist who with Dr. G. Ken Goodrick, wrote "Living Without Dieting" (Harrison Publishing, $16.95).