Do you remember when these 3D-Hidden Object posters came out? They were quite the RAVE…

They were not what they appeared to be at first glance… If you wanted to understand what the poster was really about, you had to stop what you were doing, get real close to it – focus on it, and back away very slowly… and then – like magic – 3D images would appear / seemingly emerge right off of the paper (3D effect). The embedded 3D images were disguised and hidden to the untrained/unfocused eyes.

Some people (me included sometimes) would get frustrated if we could not see the 3D images fast enough – some were easier than others… and missed the ‘magic’ of the poster.

“We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are” ~ The Talmud

A very popular, but always inspiring example of this is Thomas Edison in the invention of the light bulb.

As an inventor, Edison made 10,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 10,000 times ?" Edison replied, "I didn't fail 10,000 times . I have just found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb.”

This exchange demonstrates how the lens through which you see can lead to two totally opposite extremes of the same exact situation; one person saw 10,000 individual mutually exclusive failed attempts. The other, taking a slower more focused look, considered each “failure” another step closer to the true solution and owned it.

How is ‘who you are’ affecting how you see things; how you see the world, your world?

There is an empowering principle that states:

Life offers neither problems nor challenges, only opportunities.

Bruce Schneider explains the principle this way:

• Problems are creations of a fear-based perspective on life.
  
• When we transcend fear, what remains is opportunity
  

It’s almost as if opportunities come at us in life disguised as ‘problems’ or ‘challenges’. But that is all they are… disguises.

When the costume of a problem/challenge is removed, and fear replaced with faith – BOOM - there it is, OPPORTUNITY…. (popping out like that 3D object) to grow, to learn, to reflect, to change, to become better, stronger, more determined, smarter, more patient, deeply loving, mature, etc.

I am not saying this is easy – but it is possible. Joseph, from the Old Testament, left for dead by his brothers, was such a shining example of being able to see his situation and struggles as an opportunity to serve and take care of his family at a later time. It showed in his attitude, in every job, and in how he showed up to life, regardless of how ‘fair’ it seemed.

We were discussing this principle in a mastermind group recently & I was so inspired by the responses of our members. They shared how they stopped labeling themselves with negative and hurtful thoughts and words, let go of anxiety and sadness and moved on to thinking of solutions and exercising their creativity. Smiles everywhere!!!

Next time something ‘does not go your way’ or the way you thought it should go, remember that you have a choice. Most will chalk up the situation to a problem or a challenge. How are you going to see it?

You are now at a fork in the road – how are you going to interpret that situation? Will fear cause your opportunity to show up as a problem or challenge?

Or, will you slow down long enough to see through the disguise and come to another conclusion – a different conclusion, a more accurate conclusion: this is simply another opportunity for me.

Hindsight, they say is 20/20.

Hindsight takes NO FAITH.

It is simply looking back at your life and piecing together what happened and how those ‘things’ led to different outcomes that you are now experiencing.

What is Foresight?

What if your foresight was 20/20?

Foresight takes FAITH!

What would 20/20 foresight look like for you?

I think James 1:2-4 gives some insight to the answer:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

20/20 Foresight, then, is saying goodbye to problems and challenges forever through your ability to choose – to consider EVERYTHING (whatever it is that comes your way) PURE JOY.

PURE OPPORTUNITY!

You’ve got this!!! Be patient with yourself. Take the time to notice how you view things… As you change who you are, you will change the way you see things and vice versa!!!

Life can be a lot like that 3D poster – if we slow down and focus, we will see that opportunity pop right out of what initially might come across as a problem or challenge. Once it does, you will be able to appreciate it, and even be grateful for it!

Please leave some feedback & let me know what helps you see opportunities instead of problems and challenges!

dave@davemitchellcoaching.com

Best,

Dave