“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau

I’ve had a lot of unexpected opportunities in my life. Like most of you, I’ve followed through on some and not on others. I’m sure you can relate, right? But, whether I followed through or not, I’ve come to realize that these opportunities were usually related to goals I had created or intentions I had made. So, why did they seem unexpected and why did I follow through on some and not others? Maybe it’s because they came in a different “package” than what I had expected. Or, maybe it’s because they seemed even better than what I expected.  Or, maybe they came at an unexpected time.  Or, maybe I just wasn’t ready!
Regardless of the reason for following through or not, what I’ve learned is that “I” had a major part in creating my own opportunities, I just didn’t know it.  And, knowing that now, every opportunity seems important because I know it is a manifestation of my creation. I also know that every opportunity matters whether we think it is important or not. Sometimes just one opportunity can mean the difference between an extraordinary life and a mediocre one. We just need to be able to recognize it when it comes.  It can be truly life-changing.
 
Some Tips for Creating, Recognizing and Seizing Opportunity
1. Say “Yes”
Taking advantage of opportunities in life starts with simply saying “yes” to them when they come around.
2. Don’t hesitate
Opportunities are often short-lived and, because of this, procrastinating doesn’t work. Action does.
3. Don’t be afraid to take risks
Sometimes opportunities involve taking risks that seem frightening or are out of our “comfort zones”. Do it anyway.
4. Stay open and conscious
An opportunity could present itself and we wouldn’t recognize it because we’re not open to new possibilities. So, stay conscious and be aware at all times for signs that could lead to opportunities.
5. Be Curious
Curiosity awakens your mind and helps to create opportunity. Ask a lot of questions and search for answers.  It doesn’t work to be a passive player in life.  We need to “show up” in order to create opportunities.
7. Focus
It’s important to know what you want out of life and create intentions based on this desire. If you know what you want out of life, your mind will focus on that and be on the lookout for when an opportunity arises.
8. Make decisions and stick with them
Often, people don’t have opportunities in their life simply because they don’t make any decisions and they are ambivalent about their direction. I believe that the Universe is very wise and will respond to our requests.  We just need to get clear, ask, take action and let go of the outcome.
These tips have worked for me.  What about you?
I’d love to hear from you at docbeverly@aol.com about your thoughts. I truly would.
Beverly