Crisis is opportunity
Friday, February 23, 2007 at 11:03AM Any problem you perceive or experience, even the worst situations imaginable, actually contains the beginnings of the best possible things that could happen. You can learn to reframe a crisis as an opportunity. Your point of view determines what seems easy or hard. What becomes far more important is whether you evolve to consider your pursuits to be more satisfying and fulfulling.
Consider entrepreneur Robert Kiyosaki went through a difficult period where bankruptcy initially forced him to live in his car with his wife for six months. They readily admit that was the toughest period of their lives. Yet, knowing hardship prompted them to develop new faith in themselves. It encouraged them to trust their dreams. They swallowed their pride, asked for help, took friends up on an offer to l live in a basement and 9 months later, they were back on their feet. Kiyosaki recreates his version of success as a best-selling author, real estate investor and financial advisor.
Consider a young man had a burning desire to pursue a musical career but was repeatedly told he had no talent. He came to suffer from low self-confidence, and didn't initially see everything he labelled as a problem was really a self-created illusion. He opted to become a pharmacist, but he never let go of his dream. When new friends encouraged him to enter the 2006 Australian Idol contest, he never anticipated winning. Funny, now Damien Leith's native Ireland wants him back! Athought in the process of becoming an Australian citizen, he does not forget his roots.
Both these men come to see they couldn't get rid of their problems by getting angry or trying to understand how people felt around them. Instead, they had to step back and see it is up to each of us to notice and correct errors in our own thinking. Each of these men discover inner power to reframe conditions, to view all experiences as part of learning curves and view every perception is a stepping stone. In essence, they show us perceived problems are exercises in character-building.
One big message stands out: to doubt and discourage is like standing in our own way. Each of us is invited to appreciate all experience and accept ourselves as we are. Though we create our own personal versions of external success, inner success is given. Intrinsic worth is always here.