Great things can come from difficult challenges

I interviewed earlier this week with a local nonprofit organization and something the CEO had said to me really stuck, mostly because it's a philosophy I am trying to live by as well.

When I asked her why she enjoys her job, she explained that she likes to make opportunities out of challenges.

Hmmm. Imagine that.

Imagine taking every potentially negative situation you've ever experienced and finding a way to see the positive, to truly improve your life (or the lives of others) because of it. 

Weeks before I ever learned that my name was part of a list of more than 500 people whose worlds would be turned upside down in an instant, I tried my best to prepare myself for the worst. To find the opportunity out of the challenge. I was ready for the worst, but still hoped for the best.

As it turned out, it wasn't energy that was wasted. I was poised when I was taken from my cubicle, walking through the maze of offices, waiting for the elevator, entering a conference room, reviewing the separation information and being escorted out of the building. I took a deep breath when the door shut behind me and thought to myself, "I will make this be the the best thing that has ever happened to me in my career."

It's been six weeks and one day. And each of those days I have thought about how I can turn this challenge into an opportunity. An opportunity of a lifetime.

But it's hard. I bounce from moments of pure, blissful relaxation to utter panic. Will I get a job offer soon? Will I run out of money? Will I be happy at my next job? Will I have to move? Will I regret moving? Will I regret staying?

Uuuuuuuuuuugghh. How exhausting!

Tonight I'm on the eve of a very big day full of two very important, very DIFFERENT career opportunities (which makes three total opportunities this week!). I think I feel happy, bust mostly I feel torn. 

Opportunities out of challenges.

I keep telling myself that. 

But when you have a few very different opportunities presented to you, which do you take? When do you decide to make a commitment? When do you hold out for something better? When do you take a risk? When do you stick with something safe?

I. Don't. Know. I don't knoooooooooowwwww.

Should I go with my gut and take a chance, even though it's the most risky option? Do successful people take chances to go after their dreams? 

Opportunities out of challenges. 

I think it's starting to become clearer what that opportunity is that I long for. Get butterflies for. Hope, wish and dream for. I think if I don't pursue that now, I might never have another chance. 

But that opportunity is also scarier than the others. But then again, maybe that makes the reward even greater. When you look death in the eye and come out the other side living and thriving, the reward is unlike anything you've probably felt before. At least that's what I've heard. 

I have a dream. I've had this dream for several years. I've been successful but haven't made this dream happen. I am now faced with the opportunity to realize this dream and to build upon it even further. The decision should be simple ... so why does it feel so difficult?