Explore the stage of the Road of Trials in the Hero’s Journey, where overcoming life’s challenges transforms your character and builds resilience. Learn to see trials as opportunities for growth and discover how persistence leads to strength and confidence.
Powered by RedCircle
When is an opportunity not an opportunity? Opportunities come under many disguises. Some are a slap in the face kinds of opportunities and others sneak up on you. How do you know which opportunity is the right one for you? I have wrestled with that question throughout my life. I’ve had some wonderful job offers as well as other opportunities that screamed at me, “Ray this is for you?” When I turned toward them, my stomach tied into knots. I couldn’t sleep at night. I wrestled with it and I wasn’t winning. Eventually I let those go. Once I let them go I felt relieved and sad at the same time. I wasn’t sure I made the best decision. As time proved out for me something better was waiting .I knew it was the right opportunity in my gut. There were no sleepless nights only excitement and desire to get started. Those opportunities didn’t turn out to be easy roads to travel. I faced lots of challenges . I knew as I was traveling on these roads that they were the right roads for me. I imagine you’ve had similar experiences. When an opportunity comes your way check your gut it usually is right.
What helps luck is a habit of watching for opportunities, of having a patient but restless mind, of sacrificing one’s ease or vanity, or uniting a love of detail to foresight, and of passing through hard times bravely and cheerfully. ~Victor Cherbuliez
When we wake up in the morning we have no clue what the day will bring us. My preferential option is to view each day with optimism, convinced good things are coming my way. I view my day as one filled with surprises waiting for me to unwrap. I’ve found, in my experience, I usually find what I’m looking for. Why not look for the good? Why not look for opportunities? Why not look for adventures? They’re all there waiting for me. You don’t want to miss one of the wonderful surprises coming your way. Sometimes they sneak up on us. They have a propensity for being quiet. If we’re not alert they will scoot right on by. Snag them before they get away. You know it’s going to be a great day.
Setbacks happen. They happen to everyone. How we respond when we’re knocked down makes all the difference in our lives. Some people turn to anger, resentment, and revenge. Others remain frozen unable to come to grips with the reality that they failed. And others, shake it off, learn from the setback, and forge ahead never looking back. Motivational consultant Og Mandino wrote, “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.” A setback gives us the opportunity to learn, rise after a fall, and to dig deep inside and move forward. Develop a never quit attitude. Always confidently move forward seizing every opportunity to do good and make a difference.
We all need dreams. Dreams come true on TV, in the movies, and in books. In real life we have to prove we’re worthy of achieving the dream. We have to endure the struggles, setbacks, and periods of time when it seems we’re not making progress and we’re never going to catch a break. Lots of folks walk away from their dreams. They find the struggle to hard. They can’t handle the disappointments. For those who continue to work hard, endure the struggles, and patiently press on, unexpectedly it happens. They cross over to a place they thought of but never knew they could get there. I know this to be true. I’ve witnessed it my life and in the lives of friends. Stay true to your dream. Hang tough. When in doubt, don’t quit, press on.
