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By Jill Black
"The reason so many people never get anywhere in life is because when
opportunity knocks, they are out in the backyard looking for four-
leaf clovers." - Walter Chrysler
Everyday we are presented with so many opportunities and choices that
the possibilities are endless. As Bill Gates once remarked - "there
has never been a time like the present, with so many opportunities."
And this is true, but only when you cultivate an open mind attuned
towards receiving the seeds of opportunity and the realm of
possibilities contained within them.
Opportunities often come disguised in many different shapes and
forms. Some are obvious, while others arrive disguised as hard work,
difficulties or obstacles that arise throughout life.
Whenever, and wherever, there is a problem - your own or someone
else's - there is also the seed of opportunity disguised within the
problem. Do you see these as opportunities? Thomas Edison once
remarked - "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is
dressed in overalls and looks like work." Are you missing many of
life's opportunities simply because it may look like work?
Living mindfully is too become aware of the opportunities that exist
everywhere as you begin to notice what is missing in the world and/or
what could be improved. Thomas Edison, the inventor of numerous
inventions, saw there was darkness and created light with the
subsequent invention of the light bulb. If Edison had given thought
to the fact that it would take him over 1,000 failed experiments to
perfect his invention or the hours of work it would eventually
involve, the light bulb may have been delayed from mankind for some
time.
To jump start the process of recognising opportunities that exist all
around become curious and start asking more questions.
What can I learn from this?
Often just the mere act of asking yourself questions will create a
flow of ideas that "pop" into your mind (often when you least expect
it) along with a course of action for implementation.
Another method for stimulating your mind is to take a piece of paper
(or on your computer) and quickly make a list of 20 opportunities
that are available in your life right now e.g. the opportunity to
smile at someone, be a loving husband, wife, parent, start a new
hobby or take a course to increase your skills and earning power.
1. ----------------------------------------
And so on...
There is never any need to say there are no opportunities, or that
opportunities do not come your way. As you have just demonstrated to
yourself, the opportunities were there all the time just waiting for
you to recognise them - big or small, it makes no difference - your
day is filled with countless opportunities to improve your life and
the world around you.
Whenever you have a problem e.g. in the case of a failed business
venture or relationship break-up, you also have the seeds of
opportunity for starting a new and profitable line of business, or to
develop a wonderful relationship with someone new. As the old saying
goes "every cloud has a silver lining" and you only need to look for
your silver lining.
When opportunity is implemented through action life expands and
before long a chain reaction is set up through the Law of Increase,
whereby opportunity attracts ever increasing opportunities, just as
money attracts money, and love attracts love.
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Jill enjoys helping people live a prosperous and abundant life. She
is the author of several books and a member of the New Zealand
Freelance Writers Association (NZFWA). For more articles and
resources visit her online at:http://www.netwrite-publish.com
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