17 Jan Opportunities: Disappointment = His Appointment?

Disappointment: An Opportunity to Learn

There are no mistakes in life, only opportunities to learn a new lesson.

Okay, so test that statement with me right now. Think of something from today or some time recently when you made a mistake or something felt bad in your life.

Maybe your spouse said something that made you mad.

Maybe you got in a fender bender.

Maybe you arrived somewhere embarrassingly late.

So what did you learn from that? Was there something you could have done that would prevent that in the future? Or in the case of your spouse, is it time to do some reading or counseling to improve matters?

These are the types of lessons we can learn in order for things to go better in the future.

As someone once said, failure is an opportunity to do something different next time.

Opportunities to Learn: Yes, I’ve Had Many of Them!

For example, recently a friend of mine was acting like she was irritated with me, and I knew I needed to ask if there was something wrong. But when I asked her, she became aloof and cold, insisting there was nothing. I tried to be a safe person to her, but nothing I said would get her to talk. As I thought about it later, I wondered if it was a mistake to bring it up. Lesson learned? Maybe she’s not going to be able to be a close friend, and I need to direct my energy and expectations in other places. Or if I decide to keep cultivating our friendship, I learned I need to allow more time and interaction to figure out how it can work on a deeper level.

Or there’s the time I posted something on Facebook and had no idea that it would offend someone I care about. Lesson learned? When I post something, I am now more aware of possible consequences… I think about my “audience.”

So use failure as a springboard to success. Direct your energy toward future improvement rather than wallowing in regret.

Opportunities To Learn: Look for Them

There are so many potential opportunities for learning through error! (Aren’t you excited?) You’ll find them in your job, relationships, health, activities and events. All of these have wonderful opportunities for learning through mistakes!  The biggest requirement necessary on our part is a teachable, honest attitude in evaluating ourselves and what we have contributed toward the problem. Because we usually have contributed something.

This is HUGE in experiencing the reality that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) The “good” often includes a lesson that will help us with what comes along next in life.