Problems or Opportunities?

As best I can tell hereā??s how it breaks down.

Some people see problems as opportunities. Understanding that getting through each opportunity puts them closer to the next one. Kind of going through life with a stair step mentality. Excited to get to the next round of new opportunities because they are seen as ā??stepsā?? along a pathway. They feel like the bigger the opportunity (problem) the better because that means a bigger step taken. With this outlook they welcome big challenges. They push ahead boldly, as though it were a sporting event in which the opportunities were the opponent.

The opportunity being the thing that must be overcome or conquered in order to move up to higher levels of competition. Thereby bringing higher levels of enjoyment. Enjoying the whole process the way one might enjoy a weekend hobby or the companionship of a loved one. These are the kinds of people who charge out of bed in the mornings because they see the upcoming day as another opportunity to be great.

Conversely there are those who donā??t ever want there to be any problems (opportunities). Believing that problems are to be avoided at all costs. In the minds of these people problems are all bad. They see the very occurrence of opportunity as a problem. They get caught up believing that itā??s the end of something rather than focusing on the new beginning that lies before them once the challenge is met. These are the people who never confront either themselves or others. They just accept. "Whatever works for you." "If thatā??s what you want."

These people donā??t realize it but they are victims. Accepting what comes instead of actively going to where they want to be. Sometimes they see themselves as peacekeepers. Which is not a bad thing to be but peacemaking would be an even higher aspiration.

Peacemakers lean into conflict. Knowing the only true way to keep peace is by resolving issues through confronting them rather than not. Martin Luther King Jr. was a peacemaker. A peacemaker would rather go through instead of dancing around things. Jesus Christ was a peacemaker. They understand going through is conquering while dancing around is avoiding. Mohandas Gandhi was a peacemaker. Avoiding is putting things off until they are so big and painful that they become, well, unavoidable. I challenge you, as I have challenged myself to stop avoiding things and deal with them. If things in your life arenā??t the way you need them to be in order to feel what you need to feel check yourself. Are you resolving or avoiding?

And so the question, Which are you, a peacekeeper or a peacemaker? Do you see opportunities or do you only see problems? Are you busy keeping the peace, or are you actively confronting and resolving those issues in your life that are calling for resolution? How do you view the challenges you are currently facing, annoyances or welcomed opportunities?

Do you look forward to and welcome opportunities that challenge and grow you in the process? Have you accepted the fact that sometimes life is not comfortable but that "real life" happens in the midst of this discomfort? Are you content to accept what life dishes out or are you scratching and clawing in the trenches to pull from life and yourself the things you want and deserve?

Which is it going to be for you, Victim or Victor? The choice is all yours.

I offer these as my final thoughts on the subject:

Those of us who are crazy enough to think we can change the world, our world, are the oneā??s who will surely do it. If you want to make your world a better place in which to live, start by seizing the opportunities that are right now before you.

Make that telephone callā?¦
Write that letterā?¦
Confront that personā?¦Then tell them you love them.
Accept that setback and move on to the next battleā?¦
Share the gift of ā??youā?? with somebody, anybody.
Forgiveā?¦
Forgetā?¦
Do somethingā?¦ Do Anything!
Live!!

Thanks for sharing your time with me. I welcome your thoughts, comments.

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. "Mr. How-To" has been writing and publishing Articles and Newsletters online since 1999. Clyde's company EASYHow-To Publications provides "How-To" information on How-To do, be or have just about anything one can imagine. For more information visit http://www.EASYHow-To.com. Email correspondence for Clyde should be sent to: cdennis@easyhow-to.com

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


The Dawn On The Nile Valley Has Secrets To Tell! (3)

Me and Mao Tse-Tung!My first political experience was with Mao... Read More

Motivation: Small Changes, Big Results

When I was 8 years old, my parents let me... Read More

What Do You Truly Value Most?

Believe it or not, values are in the core of... Read More

Move On!

I woke up one morning with a sharp pain in... Read More

Your Life Just OK? It Doesnt Have To Be That Way! Live the Life You Really Want To Live!

I have some questions for you. Are you ready? How... Read More

Rules To Live Life By

How often have we heard ourselves complaining about how unlucky... Read More

Break Free

I received an email the other day from one of... Read More

Keep the Channel Open

Why do you do what you do? What is your... Read More

Do You Know Which Door To Open?

Do you remember that old television program that gave the... Read More

Succeed Like the Super-Successful

Two undeniable traits of the super-successful are: their belief in... Read More

All Talk And No Action; So Let It Be Written; So Let It Be Done!

It is so important to know how to motivate ourselves... Read More

Live On Fire

Words seem inadequate to describe the beauty and abundance that... Read More

Make It Happen Now!

Most people think that when they have chosen a path... Read More

Questions for the Game of Life

"If you could eliminate one day from your past so... Read More

Making Things Happen

We are all given the tools, but it is up... Read More

Two Months, Two Actions: First Steps to Success

Susan stood on the scale the other day. She had... Read More

A Burning Desire

"Mommy, he's doing it again." I yelled as I came... Read More

The Top Ten Strategies to Employ When You Feel Like Quitting

Ever feel like quitting? "Are you kidding?" you ask, "A... Read More

Do More! Learn More! Create More! Live More!

Over the years in America and the west generally, the... Read More

Practice, Practice, Practice

It may sound silly but the key to self-confidence and... Read More

Why Do 9 Out of 10 People Never Live Their Dreams?

When we were kids we all had dreams. There were... Read More

Context-Free Living ... Living Without Boundaries!

I know by now that you've heard the terms Debt-Free... Read More

How to Master Lifes Problems

"Life is a Tiger-ride, by no means easy, but ride... Read More

To Boldly Go

For the first time in many years, Star Trek Fans... Read More

Motivation, Your Core Resource

Your motivation is one of the core resources you have... Read More

Danger In The Comfort Zone

I don't know who said it or where I heard... Read More

Three Fs and a Challenge

It's no secret that life is a tricky animal to... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know... Read More

If You Dont Ask You Are Rejected, 7 Steps to Overcome that Fear of Rejection

If You Don't ask then You are Already Rejected. Many... Read More

Anchors Away!

If we want to fill our heads with the doom... Read More

Creative Procrastination

Do you ever postpone things, or just forget about them... Read More

Maintaining Your Motivation

I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at... Read More

Limitations Real Or Imagined, Stick Em In A Pigs Eye!

It's about time to take a real hard look at... Read More