Opportunity in Difficulty

“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.”
J. Sidlow Baxter

In life, each one of us is faced with challenges, trials, and hardships. None of us are immune. Thus, we have the opportunity to react to our troubles in one of two ways. We can become discouraged, upset, and resentful; or we can see them as an opportunity and strive to grow, learn, and become a stronger, better person. The choice is ours. Below are some thoughts on how we can best utilize our difficulties to our advantage.

Reflection

One way that I’ve learned to deal with challenges in my life is to always remember that no matter how bad it gets, there is always someone out there that has it harder than I do. When I think about that, it helps me to turn my attention to what I do have. This produces feelings of gratitude and thankfulness despite the hardship. Reflecting on what we do still have, even when we feel a difficulty has taken just about everything from us, will help us navigate troubled waters successfully.

Perspective

Having positive thoughts and viewing trials appropriately will go a long way in our ability to handle them successfully. Rather than asking “why me?” we should perhaps ask “why not me?” We can also say “I’m glad it is me and not my child, or spouse, or good friend.” Other positive thoughts that may help when dealing with difficulties in life are “this will make me stronger” and “what can I learn from this to make me a better person?” Having the right perspective and viewing trials as a necessary part of life will help us to overcome and come out on top.

Recollection

Trials are never new to us. The specific trial may be new, but trials themselves are not new. It can be helpful at times to think about all we’ve been able to overcome thus far in life. Remembering that we’ve made it through difficult times in the past will help us realize we do have the strength to proceed and carry on. Having faith in ourselves and recalling our success will better allow us to deal with present hardships.

Resolve

Determining in our mind before a difficulty ever hits that we will succeed no matter what, empowers us to more fully embrace and overcome hardships. When we have the resolve to come out victorious regardless of the troubles we face, it makes them a bit easier to endure. Please do not misunderstand though. Resolve does not mean that we won’t get discouraged, disappointed, or upset. What it does mean is that we will never give up. And determining we will never give up now before the trial comes prepares us for success. It is impossible for challenges to overtake us when we resolve to never give up.

Difficulties happen to each one of us. It simply is a fact of life and makes life extremely challenging. In fact our trials can either motivate us or crush us. Through reflection, perspective, recollection and resolve, we can conquer anything that comes our way. Learning to deal with difficulty and truly seeing it as an opportunity will help us to be successful in life.