Obstacles Into Opportunities

"It still holds true that man is most uniquely human when he turns obstacles into opportunities." --Eric Hoffer

When I was a teenager, I had a teacher who was unbelievably optimistic and positive about everything. And since I was a teenager, I was sort of annoyed by this. According to this teacher, everything could be reframed from an obstacle or setback into a learning experience or challenge. Heartbreak. . . no problem. That was just preparation for clarifying what we wanted in a mate. Struggles in school. . . no big deal. These are simply self challenges to triumph over.

So annoying.

Now, as an adult, and a parent of teenagers (who happen not to be pessimists or negative), I understand where she was coming from and agree with her. She was 100%, absolutely correct.

Unfortunately, it's sometimes easy to get into a rut. We become trapped by ways of thinking that aren't really helpful or healthy for us. We've all heard 'glass half full/glass half empty'.

The events in your life are not what make you who you are, but it is your response to these events that show your true character. Lately I've been really exploring the idea that our emotions and emotional responses to external stimuli, are choices. Emotions are choices. That's a revelation in some ways. It's very freeing. I'm not connected to anger if I don't want to be. I'm not responding with fear because I choose not to. I'm not choosing to be depressed about things I have no control over.

We can change our patterns simply by changing the language we use. I am choosing to be brave. I am choosing to be strong. I am choosing to let things go. . . And as we do this, we choose to realize we are not the things that happen around us.

By readjusting our obstacles into opportunities, we attract more of what we want. What if it's that simple? It's worth it to suspend cynicism and let go of the patterns that have kept us stagnant, don't you think?

I only wish I had learned this lesson earlier. Reframing struggle into potential is exactly the kind of thing that we as persuaders can learn to do. Framing and reframing our lives and the lives of those around us is absolutely mandatory if we want to succeed in persuasion. Whether we are helping others to see that the glass is half full, helping them to see how our products and services will benefit them in life, or persuading our loved ones to realize that every day we make the choice to be unhappy. Let's make our choices consciously and use that consciousness for relentless optimism.

About the Author

Kenrick Cleveland teaches techniques to earn the business of affluent prospects using persuasion. He runs public and private seminars and offers home study courses and coaching programs in persuasion techniques.

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