Ikigai Thought for Today: A Brilliant Disguise
Looking for the good in challenges.
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
Charles Swindoll
Impossible Situations
At one time or another, we have all faced a series of what were extraordinary opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
You know what I'm talking about.
It all works out in the end, and looking back, you can see the good in it.
Everything is self-evident after the fact. The key is identifying the opportunity while it is still disguised as an impossible or bad situation.
Maybe you are there hoping to find the good in a situation.
I had one of those five years ago with the ‘early retirement’ opportunity I shared a few days ago. If you missed the story, you can read it here.
Even without knowing the outcome, I went all in on finding the great opportunity in the midst of the challenge.
Looking at the situation as an opportunity rather than a problem made all the difference in my approach.
It led to success much quicker than the reverse attitude would have done.
If you are facing an impossible or frustrating problem, look for the opportunity
behind the disguise.
Quest well
I think I understand what you mean, but have some reservations about it.
Some situations are simply undesirable. Framing everything as an opportunity could sound like there's no room for hard feelings around a situation, like a disease diagnosis, or the death of a dear one. If anyone feels shock, rage and grief, I don't want them to feel bad because hey this is an opportunity.
It can be. It's just important for me to acknowledge that I don't have to call a bad thing good and I don't need to say it happened for a reason. I can say - these are the cards I have now, I didn't choose them but I can't change them, I choose to make the best of them. That feels more honest, and tolerable, to me.
Love this post…looking for the opportunity behind the disguise is such a lovely way to walk. Thanks Dave