From Obstacles to Opportunities: Embracing the Transience of Life
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In the ever-changing tapestry of life, we often find ourselves face to face with various obstacles.
But what if we shifted our perspective and saw these challenges as opportunities instead?
Like it or not, life is a constant flux. Our ability to navigate through its ups and downs shapes our growth and resilience. By embracing the transience of life, we open ourselves to new possibilities and experiences.
This shift in mindset allows us to see obstacles as stepping stones, propelling us towards personal and professional development.
Whether it's overcoming a loss, adapting to change, or facing unexpected circumstances, our ability to embrace the transient nature of life allows us to find strength and resilience within ourselves.
The daunting hurdles that once seemed insurmountable can become the catalysts for personal growth and transformation. Join us as we explore the transformative power of embracing the transience of life and discover how we can turn obstacles into opportunities.
Let's navigate the ever-changing journey of life together and emerge stronger and more fulfilled on the other side.
“This Too Shall Pass.”
Are you familiar with the expression "This too shall pass"?
It’s a Persian reflection on the temporary nature of the human condition: nothing bad, nor good lasts forever.
Long story short, here is its backstory:
After a very difficult journey through the desert, a traveler came to a village. Seeking food and lodging, he was directed to a Shakir, a local rancher. ??
When the traveler was ready to resume his journey, Shakir supplied him with plenty of food and water for the journey. Continuing his journey, the traveler found himself puzzling over the meaning of the Shakir’s last words: ?“Don’t be fooled by appearances, for this too shall pass.” Many years leader, the traveler returned to the village and asked after Shakir. After being directed to a nearby village, he found him, now dressed in rags.
“What happened to you?” the traveler asked.
Shakir explained that he had lost his cattle and house in a flood and had become a servant.
Notwithstanding his change in circumstances, Shakir once again took care of the traveler and supplying him with food and water before he left. As the traveler was leaving he thanked his host who replied “this too shall pass.”
Much later, the traveler visited ?Shakir one more time. Instead of finding Shakir there, he was directed to a grave with the inscription, “This too shall pass.”
The traveler visited Shakir’s grave many times. On one of his visits, he found the cemetery and the Shakir’s grave washed away by a flood.
When the traveler became too old to travel, he settled down and many people came to him for advice. ?
People came from all over to benefit from his wisdom. Eventually his fame spread to the king’s chief advisor, who happened to be looking for someone with great wisdom.
The king was looking for an inscription for a new ring: if the king was sad, he could look at the ring and it would make him happy.
After meeting with the traveler, the advisor had a new emerald ring prepared for the king.
Having been depressed for days, after reading the inscription, the king reluctantly put the ring on his finger. ?Soon he started to smile, and then broke out in laughter.
The ring was inscribed the words, “This too shall pass.”
When One Door Closes…
Possibly like you, I was puzzled by the king’s response to the inscription.
But as I reflected on his response through the lens of my own life experience, I began to see the humor.
For many of us, whenever something bad happens, the immediate reaction is to catastrophize, to over-think the worst of all possible outcomes.?
For example, when my employment contract with Ernst & Young Canada was not renewed (as discussed in this article ), my knee-jerk reaction was that my career was over.? In my then current state of shock, my fear was that I would never, ever have meaningful work again.?
Reflecting on my reaction, with the advantage of perfect hindsight, I can see that my reaction to the event was total nonsense. Based on what I was able to achieve after the event, my instant (over)reaction to my contract not being renewed was in fact … quite laughable.
And so were virtually all of my reactions to whatever problems, issues or challenges that I have faced on my journey through life.?
Not only did these problems, issues and challenges pass as promised by Shakir, more often than not, when one door closed, another one opened.
In other words, as a result of my life experiences, whether good or bad, I am where I need to be in order to be where I want to be.? But that’s another story for another time.
Find and Open Another Door
I don’t know about you, but I am as reassured by the belief that “this too shall pass” as I am by the cliché about one door opening when another door closes.
Certainly, external factors that gave rise to whatever factors gave rise to whatever shall pass may well be beyond our control. ?
But just as certainly, opening another door is something we can--and must--control.? Even better if we seek out a new door to open.
Over the past few articles I have made reference to the SWOT analysis.? Among the benefits discussed in these articles, is the ability of a SWOT analysis to help us find another door to open.
Specifically, the O element (aka Opportunities) will help us find new doors to open, while the S element (aka Strengths) identifies resources that we can leverage to open these new doors.
And in case you missed it, here is the special offer announced in yesterday’s article:
Value-Rich Benefits: 24% Discount + FREE Access
To save you time and money and also to expedite your breakthrough to success, I’d like to help with the following offer.
If you order A Simple SWOT Analysis for More New Business before midnight January 31, 2024, you will receive a 24% discount on the purchase price.
And to support you in your commitment, I will give you free access to my existing video program:? The Best Authentic Marketing Practices valued at $331.
From my perspective, providing free access to the video course represents a win-win scenario.?
Your win takes the form of valuable benefits added to the SWOT course.? And my win takes the form of testing the marketing practices course, which I plan to repurpose in the coming months.?
Gotta love win-win scenarios!
How To Grab Your Free Access
As much as I’d love to give free access to everyone who reads one of articles, my preference is focus my support on the top 1% who is seriously committed to their own success.
This being the case, if you are seriously committed to better results next year, you can demonstrate your commitment by ordering the SWOT analysis course , which is available at a 24% discount for a limited time.
Once I have received your order, I will send you free access to The Best Authentic Marketing Practices ? But I will send the access details manually, which means you can expect to receive it within a couple of business days.
This offer expires midnight January 31, 2024.
Thanks for reading this article. I look forward to sending your free access to The Best Authentic Marketing Practices .
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