Find the Pearls in Your Life

Find the Pearls in Your Life

Oysters live inside hard shells and have soft, sensitive bodies. When a grain of sand pushes into the shell, the oyster experiences great agony. If the oyster is unable to remove the painful irritant, it tries another approach and coats the sand with layers of soft iridescent mother of pearl. Thus what was initially an annoyance is transformed into a beautiful object of great value.The same thing happens to each of us when faced with life's irritants. We have the choice to react in pain and agony or find a way to use the problem/challenge to create something of value.

The merchant J C Penney was challenged as the seventh of twelve children in a very poor family. He decided to use his capacity for enterprise to get what he wanted. Consequently Penney raised and sold pigs to buy his school clothes. The undertaking that created a practical solution for purchasing school clothes, eventually expanded into a lucrative business, J C Penney department stores.

Joe, another fellow had a lemon into lemonade story. He was chief engineer at a company that was downsizing. When he lost his job, he was momentarily sad until he realized that finally he had the time and opportunity to start his own business. Had Joe's job not been eliminated he would never have pursued entrepreneurship. Joe ultimately developed a successful technology business which gave him greater personal freedom and fulfillment. All this evolved from a situation that began as an irritant.

There are pearls hidden in every situation. They are the seeds of a new way (career, relationship, business, hobby, process). The choice is to be a victim of circumstances or a opportunist. Recognizing opportunity requires, vision, willingness, courage, effort, determination and action. Do you have what it takes? Are you willing to find the pearls in your life?

Jean Walters is a best selling author. You can find her metaphysical/spiritual books on Amazon.com

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