27th April, 2022
Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. ~ Napoleon Hill
When faced with problems or setbacks in your life, what is your immediate reaction?
For most people, the first impulse is to complain and have the ‘Why Me’ reaction – “Why did this have to happen to me?
What am I going to do now? My plans are all ruined!”
This response is only natural. However, after the initial disappointment wears off, you have a choice to make.
You can either wallow in misery and dwell on the negative aspects of your situation or you can find the benefit or lesson that the problem is offering.
Yes, you’ll probably face a period of uncertainty or struggle, but there’s always a flip side to the difficulty.
You see, a “problem” is often not a problem at all. It may actually be an opportunity.
For instance, a problem may point out an adjustment you can make to improve certain conditions in your life. Without the problem, you never would have taken this positive action.
The New York Times printed an essay, “Is There Meaning to a Brain Tumor?” written by a 40-year-old woman named Sharon who was told that she had a large tumor behind her left eye.
The tumor was surgically removed in a six-hour operation. Fortunately, it was benign.
Can you imagine someone finding a host of benefits in this frightening situation? According to Sharon, there have been many positives.
Sharon was deeply touched by the outpouring of help and support the community gave to her and her family during this crisis.
People in the community, some of whom were only acquaintances, provided evening meals for her husband and their children.
Her friends made arrangements for her house to be cleaned. Sharon learned about the human capacity for kindness and for helping others in time of need.
Having confronted the fragility of her own life, Sharon now says that she developed a more positive attitude and is eager to accomplish the goals she set while lying in her hospital bed.
She also has developed a closer, more meaningful relationship with her brother and sister.
As Sharon explained, it took a personal misfortune for her to see how good life can be. She has gained a new appreciation and zest for living by overcoming a trying and difficult experience.
So, the next time you suffer a problem or setback in your life, don’t get discouraged or give up.
Don’t let problems cloud your attitude window forever.
Clear off that cloudy window. You may find, after the dust settles, that you can actually see better than you did before!
Just remember the words of Napoleon Hill: “Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”
Continually ask yourself what you’ve learned from your trying experience and focus on moving forward and growing as a person.
In times of crisis, always strive to maintain an optimistic attitude and an open mind — for this is the environment that will allow you to find the benefit in your difficulty.
In the end, just remember that America was discovered because Colombus lost his way while trying to find an alternate route to India.
God gives us problems to make us stronger, his delays are not denials, he takes away something to give us something bigger.
Turn your problems into opportunities and stay blessed forever.