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Every so often, I come across
people who say, ‘I do not
have luck on my side’ or
bemoan a missed opportunity. ‘If
only I could,’ seem too familiar a
cry. Though no one can go back in
time and make a brand new
beginning in life, there is always
scope to make a fresh start and
finish brilliantly ! ......... but only if
we go the extra mile !!
Come to think of it, we see
some people born as they say 'with
a silver spoon' and sizeable
number born in abject poverty too.
Yet these people do not remain
forever in such enviable or pitiable
situation. Should it be the case, I
can only think of only one reason.
Perhaps they have not made
use of the avenues before them or
have not grabbed with both hands
the opportunities that life keeps
throwing up before them. We are
gifted with different talents and
diverse capabilities with immense
potential. If we put these into good
use and take calculated risks,
there is no reason why we should
not surge ahead in life !
And there are examples to back
this view. Take for instance those |
who are passionate about regular
exercise and its positive effects.
They often gain mental peace and
achieve great fitness levels. They
are able to put the energy back in
their work that too on a regular
basis.
The same can also be said of
other activities we indulge in -
relationships, careers, business,
studies, parenthood- the list is
endless. The approach we take
and the path we chose to pursue
determine the benefits we derive
from our consistent efforts.
But the journey is not an easy
one. Along the way, there will be
huge boulders placed before you,
abuses hurled at you, the choicest
of insults coming your way,
humiliations to contend with, and
many just waiting to laugh at you
the moment you falter. Faced with
such situations, how can we get
the best out of life? Can we turn
the numerous adversities into
successes?
The answers to these posers
rest on how well we are prepared
to tackle them, the way we put to
test our capabilities, and the will to
embrace every glimmer of |
opportunity when it comes
knocking. Perhaps this is the
philosophy Winston Churchill had
in mind when he said: “A pessimist
sees the difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist sees the
opportunity in every difficulty.”
The numerous experiences we
go through in life teach us to look
well past the present to the future
with optimism, to recall the lessons
learnt in bad times, and to build on
resilience to sustain us in future.
Personal values also play a big
role in the process as well.
When we know who we are,
where we are from, what we stand
for and what we believe in, then
such values become almost like
the secret code we live by, the
basis for our behaviour. These
values keep us steady and guide
our decisions - making us feel safe
no matter what the circumstances.
This translates to our being
grounded, confident and alert
when we meet opportunities when
they come by.
Dr. Joseph V.G.
Chairman,
Garden City Group of Institutions |
