In every stage of life, we encounter challenges. Whether you’re running a factory and facing supply chain issues, or dealing with unexpected financial hurdles, it’s easy to get caught up in the problem itself. But often, we forget that these very challenges are rooted in blessings we’ve already received.
Think of it this way: if you didn’t own that business, you wouldn’t have the business-related issues to begin with. If you didn’t have a certain amount of wealth, you wouldn’t face the particular financial puzzles that come with it. As the saying goes, “new levels bring new devils.” In other words, each challenge is actually a byproduct of some privilege or opportunity we’ve been given.
For example, imagine you have a child. The challenges of parenthood are real, but they stem from the beautiful gift of having that child in the first place. As we navigate the rough patches, we need to remind ourselves of the underlying blessings. It’s all too easy to let a single gray dot on an otherwise white canvas overshadow the entire picture.
As Viktor Frankl, the renowned psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, once noted in his book Man’s Search for Meaning: “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” In the same spirit, we must shift our perspective: the existence of a challenge is proof that we have something valuable worth protecting or improving.
So next time you’re facing a problem, remember to acknowledge the gift that lies beneath it. By appreciating the underlying opportunity that gave rise to the challenge, you’ll find it easier to approach it with patience and perseverance rather than despair. Ultimately, this mindset shift can transform how we navigate both life and business, allowing us to see each challenge as a gray dot on a white canvas rather than the whole story.
