As the saying goes,
“Opportunity knocks once in a lifetime”,
is not exactly true.
In fact, everyday presents many opportunities for achievement and self-fulfillment. We are living in a time when resources are all around us.
We have access to more information than any time in history, more tools at our disposal, and at a cost that is many times free.
How is it that we miss the opportunity that is crying out to us everyday? We go about our busy days doing what sometimes seem nothing but routine. Opportunities could walk right past us everyday, and we just don’t see it.
So, how do go move from opportunity blindness, and start cashing in on the opportunities that come our way everyday?
5 Steps To Open Your Eyes To The Opportunities All Around You
Step 1.
Turn Off The Red Light
The next time something exciting comes into your life that would get you close to your dreams, but your mental Red Light says, “Stop, Danger Ahead”, try turning it off. Sometimes that thought of doing something new stops us dead in our tracks.
The reason for this is hard to pinpoint exactly, chances are, it’s not due to our lack of ability. The thought of not knowing the outcome is a freighting one for most people. It can literally stop us in our tracks, and kill the possibility of acting on any opportunity that comes our way.
Turn that red light off, and proceed. Make a mental not that when you find yourself automatically shutting down the possibility of doing something that would get you closer to your dreams, quickly turn the “Red Light” to green. The more you do, more opportunities will flood into your life everyday.
Step 2.
Seize The “Now”
To recognize the opportunities pounding on our doors, our thoughts must be occupied with those of the present. But many times our thoughts are occupied by the events of the past. It’s like we are watching the reruns of the things we’ve done as if we have some ability to change them.
We recount conversations that were had, unpleasant experiences that caused is pain, and thing we wish would have ended differently. So many things can clog our minds eye that we are blinded to the opportunities that are presenting themselves right now.
Reliving them over and over will never change the past. We make learn what behaviors we need to change, but none of that can happen unless we do it in the present. Now is what we should focus on changing.
And for the planners who spend most of their mental energy planning the future, the sames message hold true. You do not have control of the future. As fast as things change, your future may look nothing like what you are envisioning.
The most powerful way to take advantage the opportunities before us is to create a mental blank sheet of paper from with to create. And begin recording on it the events of today. I call this the “Blank Paper Process”. We only control of what we do today. Use this day to create your masterpiece.
Step 3.
Talk Yourself Up, Not Down
It is simply amazing how many people downplay who they are or what they accomplish just because they are not considered a great movie star, athlete, or the richest person in the world. Yet day-in and day-out, they continue to perform excellently at what they do. Just because the world hasn’t given you a reward yet doesn’t mean what you do is not important.
Belittling yourself is one sure way to miss our on all the opportunity that come your way. Instead, just accept yourself just as you are, and feel free to move on anything that will help you get closer to your goals. You may not possess every skill you need to reach your final destination now, but today you can take one step forward.
Know that within you is a seed that grows into whatever you want your life to become. Belittling yourself only stunts that growth. But thinking positive thoughts around you and your accomplishments help that see to thrive.
When I started the “Super Achievers Network”, I asked people one question, “Do you consider yourself a “Super Achiever”? And to my surprise, almost everyone said, “No”. The reasons varied from, “I am not rich and famous, to “I haven’t achieved any great awards yet”. Yet many of them do things like, give food to the needy, help take care of a sick loved one, a janitor from my hometown sings to the children at the school. Yet, they didn’t consider themselves “Super Achievers”.
If we belittle ourselves, when opportunity comes, we will feel we’re not deserving. And just let it pass us by. It becomes another missed opportunity. Anyone can be great at whatever they want to do. When opportunity come, know that you have what you need to take it, even if it is one step at a time.
Step 4.
Learn To Set Daily Goals
Our futures are an accumulation of the things we do today. So why not set goals for the day, everyday?
Setting five year goals is a thing of the past, three year goals my still be relevant, one year goals is more common, but you have greater control over your daily goals. It’s manageable, practical, and timely.
Setting daily goals puts your focus on today. A where do opportunities live? Today. That’s where you will find them. Most people feel confident achieving the tasks needed to accomplish daily goals. Today is all we have control over.
Step 5.
Count On Opposition
Where there is greatness, opposition is always getting in the way. As you strive to take advantage of more opportunities in your life, expect to confront opposition. Expect it because it will come. Don’t be surprised with it surfaces. Just stay calm, and don’t let it throw you.
Instead, prepare to stand up to it, and fight your way out. Fight because sometimes overcoming challenges is an all out fight. It other words, it takes strategy, initiative, hard work, effort and patience. But stand up to it at every turn. You will find those obstacles begin to drop off one-by-one.
Remember, what was said in Step 3, when challenges come, do not belittle yourself. Everyone faces them, and you are no different. Stay positive in your abilities to overcome any challenge that you face. And determine in your mind that you will benefit from every one.
Sometimes you must look yourself in the mirror and totally accept the person looking back at you. You must like that person, fully accept that person, and determine to be your own best supporter. Remember all the crises you have overcome in the past, and all you accomplishments. This will give you more determination to encounter one more and win.
No matter what the challenges may be, you must keep total faith in yourself. Faith, without the presence of proof, is what you need to move forward with total confidence that you will overcome. No matter how many attempts it takes, if you persist, you will win.
Conclusion
In conclusion, opportunities are around us everyday. We can only see this when we clear our minds of the past, stop fretting about the future, and concentrate on only what we can do today.
Putting yourself in opportunity’s way will involve building yourself up, so that you understand that you have the seed of greatness within. Nurture that seed everyday with goals that you can accomplish, and the faith in yourself to overcome any obstacles that come your way.
Most importantly, realize that you are a “Super Achiever” in the making. Today is all we have control over. Make today bring all the opportunity to can get.