When Opportunities Knock

Photo by Christian Bass on Unsplash

Opportunities often arise when our lives need a change––either one that we see or perhaps one that is brought about by external circumstances. Those that we seek are usually met with eagerness and hope for new possibilities.

Yet, sometimes, life has a way of bringing opportunities to us cloaked in challenges. I remember a time when it was brought to my attention that I was approaching life purely based on logic. I was going through life checking off the boxes but wasn’t looking at how the rigid role I was playing affected all other areas of my life. At first, I resented the disruption, but when I set my ego aside and rose to the 30,000-foot-view, I was able to see that life was giving me new possibilities, rich with meaning rather than just a list of successes.

Whether the opportunity arrives as a gift or a disruption, it’s important to ask a few questions:

● What is the opportunity here?

● How might this opportunity take me off course?

● What is the possibility that this opportunity is an invitation to step more fully into my own greatness?

When we slow down to ponder what the opportunity holds, we’ll know our next right action––as long as we don’t let our fear get in the way. Unfortunately, opportunities frequently trigger resistance. Our egos like to keep us safe, and safe comes with staying with what is known.

According to Steven Pressfield, author of Turning Pro: Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work, “The amateur fears that if he turns pro and lives out his calling, he will have to live up to who he really is and what he is truly capable of.”

That fear feeds our resistance, what Pressfield refers to as the work of the devil. Resistance anchors you to playing a small game. We’re creatures of habit, and we like our comfort. Even if the circumstances such as bad marriage, poor health, and a disagreeable boss are the backdrop for our daily lives, we often choose to stay in what is known. The unknown creates discomfort for most people.

So how do you know if an opportunity is right for you?

Know your values, and make choices that align with them.

We’re meant to evolve in every stage of our life––physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Now is the time to engage in continuous learning, make necessary changes, and propel your life in the direction that will fill you with hope, passion, and drive to achieve great things.