As I listened to someone recounting a story to their clients, I found myself reminding myself of something I already knew, bringing me back to awareness, & suddenly being able to take it back to myself. 

And isn’t that Fantastic? Someone reminding you of something you can do so well for others in your life, yet at the present moment, you might not be doing that so well for yourself.  I believe you’ve all experienced something similar.

I feel inspired, excited, full of gratitude today.  It’s been a crazy two weeks.  Lots of work.  An incredibly lengthy to-do list.  For me, that’s saying a lot.  On a regular day it’s busy.  These past two weeks though, kinda crazy, chaotic busy. 

Then yesterday, I happened to notice something.  It was an in-my-face experience.  I’m sure you’ve all had them.  Somebody brings you a jolt back to reality by reminding you of one of your own “primary beliefs to live by”.  It was about having the ability to perceive challenges as opportunities.  It’s been a signature theme for me.  I guide all my clients to treat “Obstacles As Opportunities”. 

And yet, here I sat, for fourteen daze, diving into a huge & tangled technology trap that had seemed just, well, too big to face.  What happened when I did sit down to face it?  It grew bigger!  I had avoided it for so long I literally had no idea. 

I had become Sisyphus.  I was pushing a heavy rock.  It doesn’t matter the nature, or depth, or breadth, or impact, or source of the heavy rock.  I had found myself pushing a heavy rock up a big hill.  I bet you can see yourself, remembering lots of times in your life where you found yourself like this.  Maybe that’s a place you’re in today? 

Whether life-altering, or threatening, or simply perceived to be so, it is what it is.  The sooner we find the opportunity in it, the better.  That’s where the opening is.  The opening is the Opportunity.  

An external source delivering my message, a cautionary note to stay present to that which I know to be true!  Fortune!  Serendipity!  Opportunity provides energy!  Energy begins forward movement with intention.  And the circle closes with gratitude & I keep on working.  This time with gratitude, as my tortured trap of technology begins to untangle.  

I hope you can hear this message.  Today, it’s delivered second-hand, & I’m ever so grateful.  See obstacles as opportunities.  Feel the change at the cellular level.  Begin to light up the world with your smile again!

It’s neither naivete nor stupidity that has people dancing with illusion. It’s just that without the skillful means to navigate the inevitable obstacles that occur in our lives we have a tendency to reach the threshold of tolerance for frustration. What often happens next is to seek out substances which will numb us to the frustration that we are feeling.

It’s just not that easy to recognize that the solution is a simple one. Just like riding a bicycle takes practice to gain skill, navigating life’s obstacles comes by building up our navigation muscles. Two key phrases to remember on this journey to designing a life that really works are Who Am I? and What Do I Want? In other words the signposts to success can be found by scrutinizing our current self-image and by deeply considering the goals we would like to achieve.

Focus on behaving as if you already are the person you want to be. Get serious about setting aside time to focus on goal-setting. Write your goals out regularly. Prioritize them. Take some action towards your goals every day. Keep your eye on where you are going, not on where you have been. Persevere through the obstacles and find new and self-nurturing rewards for your successes.