In this short two-part series on Opportunity, I have decided to start by trying to get down to the core of what opportunity is. In doing this, I hope that I can build a structure around opportunity which allows it to be more accessible in your life. Let's get started.
What does opportunity look like?
In all honesty, I have no concise, easily digestible answer to this question. In most cases, an opportunity is in the eyes of the beholder. There are, however, some obvious signs that an opportunity is presenting itself to you.
I believe that the best sign that an opportunity has presented itself to you is if there is something completely new in front of your face, for which you must make a decision. Usually, you are presented with a choice. You can choose to take on the opportunity or pass it up. This is the core of what opportunity is to me.
Opportunity is the conscious choice you make when given a set of circumstances.
Generally, I believe that this idea of a decision or choice is key to understanding opportunity. You can either choose to accept an opportunity for what it is or decline it. An opportunity is a chance to generate some new form of energy or improve your situation. Hopefully, with this energy, you choose to improve not only your life but the lives of those around you.
Worth mentioning is the fact that not every opportunity will end up as a net benefit in your life. There are countless opportunities that pass in front of you which could negatively affect you in the short or long term. Opportunities are not inherently positive. Again, this is why opportunity comes down to the conscious choice you make given a set of circumstances. Another tell-tale sign of opportunity is its benefit. This part is tricky though because you must be very attentive to what that benefit may be.
A key to understanding this is to be deliberate in thinking about what the opportunity will look like in the future. Think of this as a mental image. The harder you think about it, the clearer the picture will be. Close your eyes and truly think about what the opportunity will do in your life. Think about what will happen if you choose to take the opportunity and if you decide to pass it up.
Every single day of your life you are presented with opportunities. Some of these opportunities are life changing and some are rather mundane. Some opportunities will change your current situation for the better and some may end up negatively affecting you over time.
The main takeaway from this is that it all comes down to choice. You have the power to choose the direction of your life, and thus the opportunities which are presented therein. There will be positive and negative opportunities in your life. Your task is to make sure you know the difference and make the right conscious choice.
Opportunity looks exactly how you imagine it.
