As I was drinking my early cup of coffee, looking over the lake this morning a bird flew into the living room. With floor length windows on one side the bird in a frenzy flew against them again and again to try and get out, banging his head, fluttering furiously away from me in my attempts to guide him to the open door.
Which led me to think of this parallel.
In life we work towards what we think is the light, or freedom, focusing our attention on the light beyond the window – What we can easily see.
We try to fly beyond the window, but we’re metaphorically knocked back by the glass, or obstacles which are in our way.
What we fail to see because we are so focussed on getting out through to the big known light, is the smaller patch of light left field of centre.
It’s the window of opportunity.
If we could just open our eyes to the bigger picture more often, look off centre and jump at the not so obvious opportunities, just think how much more we’d be able to achieve or understand?
Focus can be altered
I loved this short video for the new Skoda on YouTube – it’s awesome – just shows exactly what you focus your attention on is what you will really ‘see’.
Meaning of Opportunity
I looked up the meaning of the word opportunity : “A time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.”
5 Tips for opening yourself up to new ideas and new opportunities
- Look for opportunities in a tough situation – instead of feeling beaten, be ready for any new opportunities the situation might throw up.
- Talk to people you meet in the lift, or on the bus. Ask them what they do.
- Start something which in your head you’re thinking: “It’s really too late for me to start doing this.”
- Make friends with someone who is ‘not just like you.’
- Attend a conference or a networking event and collect at least 5 new business cards. Follow up the leads and actively make new connections.
What to wear with Tan Ankle Boots this Season – Floaty Dress
I think Jo that you are one girl that certainly knows how to seek out and open new windows of opportunity. I promised myself I would do just that this year, but I’ve already knocked back something which might have lead to something else but it really came at the wrong time when I was already overloaded. But I will keep trying to be open to opportunities. Thanks Jo.
Oh Jill, I know how you feel. Sometimes you can’t take an opportunity even if you know it’s right.
I’m big on opportunity. I help my clients retrain their reticular activating system to be open to the possibilities and therefore recognising opportunity when it wanders past.
#teamlovinlife
Very well written and yes you need to talk with people in bus,lift or whenever you get a chance.
Hi Vaidehi, Yes, that’s so true – all too often I’m guilty of just standing there keeping myself to myself.
Yes! Love all these tips Jo.
Thanks Janet 🙂
OMG Jo – that video! Without giving anything away to anyone who hasn’t watched it yet – must admit I was so focussed on the subject that I didn’t see the obvious things going on!! Great parallel to life as you point out. We often are so focussed on a particular goal and the straight line to get there that we might very well not see other opportunities or even leg ups along the way. It’s why an open mind is a good way to be, and to allow yourself to think outside the square. Still sometimes things can be right in front of your face and it can take quite a while to see them! BTW – love that photograph at the top of your post. Beautiful sky and reflection in the water! 🙂 #TeamLovinLife
Glad you enjoyed that video too Min! I couldn’t believe how much I missed!
Looking for new opportunitities often means stepping out of your comfort zone – a bit scary for me, but the times I’ve done it have been so rewarding. It’s also about remembering the bigger picture and not getting too caught up in the little details.
Yes, seeing the big picture is important. Sometimes it’s so easy to get bogged down by the nitty gritty 🙂
I love this. Sometimes opportunity doesn’t jump up and down and wave its hands in the air. And we can only see that when we take the blinkers off. #teamlovinlife
Hello my namesake Jo! Thank you 🙂 Yes, sometimes we need more than just a little nudge.
I love it Jo! That Skoda ad is brilliant. I totally agree with you, we often need to take a different perspective and put ourselves out there to attract new opportunities. I’m off to a Business Expo tomorrow to do some networking, learning and business building! #TeamLovinLife
Enjoy the Business Expo Lyndall 🙂 Good for you 🙂 Yeah, that Skoda ad totally got me too!
Wow…what a way to really make one think, Jo! Thanks for this, and I have a feeling I won’t be sleeping as much tonight because I’ll be processing…. 🙂
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Haha Jodie! Don’t forget we need our beauty sleep as much as we need new opportunities – don’t fret!
Great tips here and I especially like the one about making friends who aren’t just like you. Taking ourselves out of our comfort zones. We all like the cocoon of a comfort zone but to get the most of life we do have to throw in the odd challenge here and there to keep us on our toes. Have a great week!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond 🙂
Hi Sue, it’s true isn’t it that we tend to make friends with people who we feel will be ‘like us’ which really is so limiting in the experience of the universe 😉
Comfort zones are a very comfortable place to be and that is why people are too frightened to seize opportunities. I find myself being a little unsociable at times because I am frightened to make new friends. I’m comfortable with my old friends you see. However I’m determined to get out and about more this year to socialise and make new acquaintances. We’ll see where it takes me. 🙂
Me too Kathy. This year is the year for smashing a few of my old comfort zones. It’s great to have old and trusted friends though – and we should count ourselves fortunate to have them and keep them too 🙂
You’ve drawn an interesting parallel Jo. No doubt it will get everyone (including me) thinking about finding a window of opportunity.
Hope so Jan! Sometimes things stare us in the face, and other times those opportunities are just hiding left of centre waiting to be discovered.