Problems or Opportunities?

As best I can tell hereâ??s how it breaks down.

Some people see problems as opportunities. Understanding that getting through each opportunity puts them closer to the next one. Kind of going through life with a stair step mentality. Excited to get to the next round of new opportunities because they are seen as â??stepsâ?? along a pathway. They feel like the bigger the opportunity (problem) the better because that means a bigger step taken. With this outlook they welcome big challenges. They push ahead boldly, as though it were a sporting event in which the opportunities were the opponent.

The opportunity being the thing that must be overcome or conquered in order to move up to higher levels of competition. Thereby bringing higher levels of enjoyment. Enjoying the whole process the way one might enjoy a weekend hobby or the companionship of a loved one. These are the kinds of people who charge out of bed in the mornings because they see the upcoming day as another opportunity to be great.

Conversely there are those who donâ??t ever want there to be any problems (opportunities). Believing that problems are to be avoided at all costs. In the minds of these people problems are all bad. They see the very occurrence of opportunity as a problem. They get caught up believing that itâ??s the end of something rather than focusing on the new beginning that lies before them once the challenge is met. These are the people who never confront either themselves or others. They just accept. "Whatever works for you." "If thatâ??s what you want."

These people donâ??t realize it but they are victims. Accepting what comes instead of actively going to where they want to be. Sometimes they see themselves as peacekeepers. Which is not a bad thing to be but peacemaking would be an even higher aspiration.

Peacemakers lean into conflict. Knowing the only true way to keep peace is by resolving issues through confronting them rather than not. Martin Luther King Jr. was a peacemaker. A peacemaker would rather go through instead of dancing around things. Jesus Christ was a peacemaker. They understand going through is conquering while dancing around is avoiding. Mohandas Gandhi was a peacemaker. Avoiding is putting things off until they are so big and painful that they become, well, unavoidable. I challenge you, as I have challenged myself to stop avoiding things and deal with them. If things in your life arenâ??t the way you need them to be in order to feel what you need to feel check yourself. Are you resolving or avoiding?

And so the question, Which are you, a peacekeeper or a peacemaker? Do you see opportunities or do you only see problems? Are you busy keeping the peace, or are you actively confronting and resolving those issues in your life that are calling for resolution? How do you view the challenges you are currently facing, annoyances or welcomed opportunities?

Do you look forward to and welcome opportunities that challenge and grow you in the process? Have you accepted the fact that sometimes life is not comfortable but that "real life" happens in the midst of this discomfort? Are you content to accept what life dishes out or are you scratching and clawing in the trenches to pull from life and yourself the things you want and deserve?

Which is it going to be for you, Victim or Victor? The choice is all yours.

I offer these as my final thoughts on the subject:

Those of us who are crazy enough to think we can change the world, our world, are the oneâ??s who will surely do it. If you want to make your world a better place in which to live, start by seizing the opportunities that are right now before you.

Make that telephone callâ?¦
Write that letterâ?¦
Confront that personâ?¦Then tell them you love them.
Accept that setback and move on to the next battleâ?¦
Share the gift of â??youâ?? with somebody, anybody.
Forgiveâ?¦
Forgetâ?¦
Do somethingâ?¦ Do Anything!
Live!!

Thanks for sharing your time with me. I welcome your thoughts, comments.

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. "Mr. How-To" has been writing and publishing Articles and Newsletters online since 1999. Clyde's company EASYHow-To Publications provides "How-To" information on How-To do, be or have just about anything one can imagine. For more information visit http://www.EASYHow-To.com. Email correspondence for Clyde should be sent to: cdennis@easyhow-to.com

Past, future motivate Spartan wrestling Fox11online.com Berceau's top-ranked team, according to WIWrestling.com, has plenty of motivation to go around. They can look at the walls, with plaques of former team champions and the names of individual champions painted on walls. They can also look across their ... and more »

Help Net Security

Hacktivism Trumps Money as Motivation for Denial-of-Service Attacks PCWorld Arbor also reported that two-thirds of all DDoS attacks globally were motivated by politics, ideology, nihilism or vandalism. In addition, it found that most network operators continue to avoid engagement with law enforcement authorities when they're ... DDoS attacks motivated by politics not criminality, Arbor Networks findsTechworld.com 'Hactivism' now the leading driver of DDoS attacksiTWire The Arbor Networks(R) 7th Annual Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report ...MarketWatch (press release) Dark Reading -PR Web (press release) all 52 news articles »

Motivated Zags Face Tough Saint Mary's Team on Thursday Sports and Weather Right Now As if they needed any more motivation to play Saint Mary's this week in Spokane. The Zags welcome the No. 16 Gales to town on Thursday. Saint Mary's is currently on a 12-game win streak, and they have only lost two games all season long. and more »

Chattanooga Times Free Press

UGA quarterback signee Faton Bauta motivated Chattanooga Times Free Press His parents came to the United States from Albania when they were teenagers, so there is that motivation, too. "I don't really know too many Albanian quarterbacks," he said. "Hopefully I'll be the first one." and more »

Motivation camp on bird water held E-Pao.net "We've spotted these birds in Loktak and Ungamen wetland areas since last year", says Dr Kh Shamungou,noted environmentalist while sharing his experience on water bird census during a day-long motivation camp on water bird census 2012 here at Toubul ... Bird census to begin from Feb 11KanglaOnline all 3 news articles »

Find motivation to exercise by setting reachable goals ScrippsNews By LAVINIA RODRIGUEZ, Tampa Bay Times Motivation is something that people find to be mysterious and out of reach. That's especially true when it comes to exercising consistently instead of in the start-and-stop fashion that many people find frustrating ...

'Biggest Loser' Dolvett Quince's Best Advice For Staying Motivated Through The ... Huffington Post With all the layers of winter gear we're wearing and swimsuit season some four months away, it's hard to stay motivated to hit the gym this time of year. (Unless, of course you're one of the Serena Williams of the world.) But if anyone can drum up some ... and more »

Hartford Courant

Motivate Students, And Achievement Follows Hartford Courant But among the ideas that have been advanced so far, one central question goes largely unanswered: "What must we do to ensure that every student is personally engaged in learning and motivated to produce quality work in school?" Without a robust answer ... and more »

Miesha Tate is motivated to bring the fight to 'delusional' Ronda Rousey MMAmania.com Anything that she says is motivation, definitely." Everyone knows Rousey has ridiculous judo, jiu-jitsu and submission skills. Tate comes from a wrestling background, but she believes it's more than just her wrestling that gives her the edge: "That's ... and more »

Motivation and Inspiration: Video The Province (blog) I have a video below that is on motivation and quite popular. Many times people ask me on my journeys what motivates you to do such a thing as cycling around the globe? Where do you draw the inspiration? I wish I could do something like that they say.