Opportunity Awaits
Our minds help us remember specific moments in time that seem to be pivotal. Perhaps it was the time you decided to apply for that job that seemed like the perfect fit for you. Perhaps it was the time you decided you would spend the semester studying abroad. Perhaps it was when you joined the sports team where you ended up making lifelong friends. Maybe it was the time you finally read that book that everyone kept recommending to you. Or perhaps it was just a small moment like the suggestion from a friend, teacher, parent to try something you haven’t thought about or might put you outside your comfort zone. Those are the moments I love. Human conditioning provides us the capacity to make decisions based on all the information that comes our way through what we observe in our immediate surroundings.
However, we also remember the moments where we wish we had made a different choice in hindsight. Perhaps now you look back at your time in school and which you’d taken a certain class, even though you didn’t need it for your degree. Were you too shy to speak with someone you wanted to get to know better? Perhaps you saw something you really wanted at a great price and you didn't buy it. Have you stopped practicing an instrument you used to enjoy playing and lost your skills?
Opportunities are like rare jewels that we encounter in our daily life. They come and go, and sometimes we don't even notice them. But when we do, we must seize them before they disappear. Taking advantage of opportunities that become available to us can lead to personal growth, relationship building, and even life-changing experiences. But how can we recognize and act upon these opportunities when they occur?
Opportunities will reveal themselves in various ways. Some may be small and perhaps seem insignificant, while others may be life-altering. By keeping an open mind and being ready to discover new possibilities we become better aware and ready to act. Opportunities may be revealed from a chance encounter, a conversation with a stranger, a job offer, or even a simple idea that sparks your interest.
There are times that opportunities require us to step outside our comfort zone. Those instances may cause us to become fearful and become hesitant of trying something new. However, without taking chances, we constrain ourselves from potential growth and success and writing a new chapter of our story. Any time we sense that an opportunity presents itself, we should take a moment and evaluate the risks and benefits. At the same time, we should also trust our instincts and take action.
By staying informed and connected with all others in our social groups we increase our chance of recognizing opportunities that await us. If we are proactively seeking out opportunities that support our interests and goals, we remain on the path which leads to growth.
Being engaged with the right media and human resources will lead us to greater knowledge and skillset and in turn, more opportunities will arise. Opportunities may lead to failure and setbacks. However, these opportunities can also provide valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. Keeping a healthy positive attitude and a growth mindset will help build resiliency during the rough patches.
Our personal and professional growth benefit when we act upon opportunities as they become visible to us. Our chances of recognizing and seizing opportunities that align with our goals and interests can increase when we are prepared, informed and trust our instincts. So next time an opportunity presents itself, remember to take a chance, step outside your comfort zone, and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead.
Ariel Dagan