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 seem like your greatest challenges today are actually your greatest opportunities to learn and grow.
The biggest wave is the most difficult to surf. It is also the most exciting.
And even if you are not quite ready to surf it fully today, that is still OK. Because in any situation there are always five types of opportunity for the types of outcome you might choose to create and five more for the ways you might choose to learn and grow. Which means there are ten options for how you might choose to respond, perhaps with several options 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 this learning to choose the best way forward for now is another 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 you faced in the past that helped you to become the person you are today? Are you treating the ‘problems’ you face today as opportunities to learn and grow again?
Adapted from The Churning, Inner Leadership: a framework and a set of tools for building inspiration in a time of change.
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Photo By Mike Sutherland via StockPholio.net