The Morning Ascent

What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity?

Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.

When confronted with a difficult situation, a person with an outstanding attitude makes the best of it while he gets the worst of it. Life can be likened to a grindstone. Whether it grinds you down or polishes you depends upon what you are made of.

Often, we are guilty of viewing our future challenges as the sunset of life rather than the sunrise of a bright new opportunity.

For instance, there is a story of two shoe salesman who were sent to island to sell shoes. The first salesman, upon arrival, was shocked to realize that no one wore shoes. Immediately he sent a telegram to his home office saying, “Will return home tomorrow. No one wears shoes.”

The second salesman was thrilled by the same realization. Immediately he wired the home office saying, “Please send me 10,000 shoes. Everyone here needs them.”

Thomas Edison said, “There is much more opportunity than there are people to see it.”

List two problems that are presently a part of your life. Besides the two problems write down your present reaction to them. Are they negative? Your challenge: Discover at least three possible benefits of each problem. Now attack the problem with your eyes on the benefits, not the barriers.

Make today your day to shine!