When you open your eyes to find new opportunities you suddenly realize that each day brings with it its own set of new possibilities and choices. But you usually shun off many of them for fear of risking leaving the familiarity of the comfort zone, or that you’d rather not rock the boat and that your life is just fine the way it is now. But what if these opportunities could be exactly what you need to be happier and live a better life?
The opportunity for change doesn’t always need to be big and dramatic. It can be hidden within the little things you do every day. Change your commute route, discover a new coffee place, spice up your wardrobe, or try a new hair color or style. These little things may seem trivial now, but once you do them, you’ll notice a world of difference in how you perceive life. These opportunities for growth are all around us. And with each new change, your self-confidence will begin to flourish, and your comfort zone will start to shrink. You will begin to really grow.
To reach somewhere you’ve never been, you have to do something you’ve never tried before. You may fail, true, but either way, you’ll come out on top because something will have happened to your character, a change for the better. You may not see it at first, but it’s there.
And with each new eye-opening challenge, you’ll start to believe more and more in your abilities and your inner strength than ever before. You’ll finally realize that you can break through that glass ceiling hovering over your head – that there no limits to what you can truly accomplish.
As you face new challenges, you become stronger and more excited by the prospect of life itself.
Here are a few ways that you can begin to open your eyes and find those opportunities:
Write down your thoughts and feelings. Writing organizes your thoughts and helps you see things from an outsider’s point of view. Writing can help you let go of your fears and worries. Writing also helps you keep the past in the past. Exactly where it belongs.
You may be able to highlight experiences and situations that you’ve been through in the past that may still be keeping you from moving forward. While we can’t change the past, try as we might, we do have a say in how our future will pan out. So, learn from your past mistakes, pick yourself up and shape your own future.
Look for positives in negative situations. It may be a bit cliché, but there’s always a silver lining to every cloud, you just have to look for it. It may not come easily at first, but you’ll get the hang of it. And that’s when you get to seize that exciting opportunity that not many people notice because they’re too busy complaining.
Identify the obstacles that are holding you back. We all have those bad habits we wish we could break but don’t know how. That’s because the problem lies not with the habit itself, but with something else you’re storing safely in your subconscious. The habit is only a symptom. Once you realize what it is you’re trying to avoid, you can ditch the bad habit and begin a healthy journey on the road to success. The process of journaling can help you with this.
Believe in yourself. You’re the only one who can dictate how you feel about yourself and how others see you. If you have a strong sense of self, others will believe it. And if you give off a sense of not being really sure, others will believe that too.
Change how you think the world works. This is a great way to begin truly seeing opportunities around you. This is how all the great minds did it. They challenged the laws governing their world, hoping and dreaming of something better, something no one else thought possible. You don’t have to go out and invent something completely out of thin air, but simply adjust your perception of the world to accommodate fresh ideas and potential.
Start something you’ve been putting off. Today’s the day you’ll start that new language course or spinning class, whatever you’ve had your eyes on but kept pushing back for so many reasons. Make a choice to begin and act on it. You’ll find hidden opportunities, I’m sure of it.
Take regular walksFresh air and exercise, what’s not to love? You get some vitamin D while clearing your mind and lungs by taking in the world around you. Be mindful of where you are and of the people around you. If you’re serious about boosting your creativity and finding opportunities go for long walks in nature. Walking can be a form of meditation in motion that down regulates the part of the brain used for reasoning and up regulates the part of the brain responsible for allowing new ideas to drop in your mind.
Volunteer. Meeting people for the first time and connecting with them opens your eyes up to the world and helps you find opportunities to give your life meaning. Adding a smile and a handshake will do wonders for your self-esteem, and you’ll have brightened someone’s day. Everyone likes it when you appreciate and acknowledge them. As you give of yourself, you will be surprised by the new opportunities that will show up for you.
Stand up in meetings. You know when you’re in a meeting and get that great idea, but just one second later, you think it’s dumb and not worth mentioning? We’ve all been there. The people whose ideas got implemented are the ones who weren’t afraid to speak their minds, realizing they may get rejected but knowing full well that their ideas are worth hearing. You will find opportunities chasing you down when you be courageous and speak your truth. You never know who may be listening.
You deserve to be the happiest you can be. and Finding new opportunities can boost your happiness in unexpected ways. Start today, to open your eyes to the opportunities around you and let them guide you to a better, more rewarding life.
Be well + prosper,
Elaine