Ten years ago the challenges you face today would probably not have arisen for you: you were likely in a different role and you probably didn’t have the skills or experience to be able to do what you can do today.
In the same way, situations you found challenging then are probably routine for you now.
This means that:
the abilities you have today are a direct result of the challenges you faced in the past.
And:
what seems like your greatest challenge today is actually your greatest opportunity to learn and grow.
The biggest wave is the most difficult to surf. It is also the most exciting.
And even if you’re not quite ready to surf it fully today, that is still OK. We’ve seen that in any situation there are always five types of outcome you might choose to create and five ways you might choose to learn and grow. This gives you ten alternatives for how you might choose to respond, perhaps with several options for each. And you get to choose which option you prefer. You get to choose which way forward is the best opportunity for you today. And that learning to choose how you respond is part of the opportunity.
Realising that your greatest challenge actually brings you your greatest opportunity to take the next step to becoming who you most want to become is yet another step to becoming antifragile.
Can you think of a problem or crisis in the past that taught you something or which helped you to grow? Are you treating the ‘problems’ you face today as opportunities to learn and grow again, to become who you most want to become?
Adapted from Inner Leadership: a framework and tools for building inspiration in times of change.
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Photo By Mike Sutherland via StockPholio.net