People often say that only the most prepared minds perceive opportunities. With the term “prepared” we are not just talking about the art of strategy, a refined plan or technical knowledge. Being able to consider the possibilities of change in any context also requires a lot of self-confidence, enthusiasm, good emotional management, patience and resistance to frustration.
The art of seizing opportunity at the right time is directly linked to the field of personal growth, certainly to all of us would like to have this ability to see the doors open when there are only windows closed in front of us. It is not a matter of training, having many university degrees or luck, it is a mental concentration capable of glimpsing flashes of hope between adversities.
- Many people have succeeded even in the less favorable circumstances.
- A classic example of this is undoubtedly Steve Jobs.
- Who when he was fired from Apple.
- The company he founded.
- Far from giving up.
- Launched another project no less brilliant and iconic: Pixar.
- Before long.
- He became Disney’s largest shareholder.
From a psychological point of view, it is necessary to expand a little more the meaning of the term opportunity, it should not be denounced exclusively to the professional sphere, that is to say success at work, the opportunity is above all to be able to generate a change that brings well-being and that requires advances both emotionally and personally.
In psychology, there is a very interesting concept: the “opportunity cost”. It is an idea that basically defines what it costs to achieve a desired goal when preparing it.
We’ll understand it better through a few examples. Many of us prepare for the future by going to college, investing time, effort and money, yet, despite all these efforts, the labor market sometimes offers us few opportunities.
Another example is parents who take their children to piano lessons from a young age, under the idea that something like this will make them happier and even improve many of their intellectual skills, giving them greater opportunities for the future. these kids are going through a lot of stress.
Sometimes the cost of accessing certain opportunities is very high and, far from bringing benefits, it brings unhappiness and makes life difficult. Opportunities are certainly an elusive and complex concept.
It’s not always possible to predict or anticipate them, and sometimes when you have them in front of you you can’t see them because you’re not prepared, anxiety, anxiety and discouragement prevent you from seeing these blockages so conducive to change. It is important to take care of your psychological health to allow these changes that affect your own well-being.
Many say that opportunities are created. What modern society always tries to convince us of is that each person has their destiny creating their opportunities through effort, however, as we well know, sometimes the context is not favorable, no matter how much you prepare and work, the opportunities are rare. especially in times of crisis.
Perhaps that is why we need to find opportunities between adversity, as the philosopher and soldier Sun Tzu said, victory is achieved by being able to find opportunities in the midst of the problem, however, the problem can sometimes cloud the vision.
So instead of obsessing exclusively with graduation preparation, taking courses, or acquiring technical knowledge, you should focus on certain psychological skills. Good emotion management and daily stress, for example, is an essential survival tool.
In addition, resistance to frustration and the ability to cultivate hope even in difficult times are also aspects to consider.
Opportunities are invisible to those who see reality without perspective, as well as those with depression or anxiety disorder. It is not easy to consider possibilities for change when the mind does not favor you and what you feel suffers in all its forms.
However, being able to see opportunities on difficult days is the only mechanism of salvation and progress. Because often what you want from life is not an open door to success or fame, but to be good to yourself and those around you.
Something like this requires effort, it requires looking beyond yourself to connect with your environment, then looking with your heart and thinking flexibly, creatively and intuitively. Difficult days come and go, but you can overcome all the circumstances, allowing you to move by seeing opportunities. for progress.