Problems are only opportunities in work clothes. ~ Henry J. Kaise
When faced with any sort of challenge, we have the choice to approach that obstacle as an opportunity to make us better people or to take the view that something is conspiring against us.
Each and every problem has a purpose:
One to make you stronger, one to make you more patient, one to teach tolerance and forgiveness, one to teach us to communicate clearly, and yet another to instill creativity.
Man's Search For Meaning
When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. ~Viktor Frankl
Viktor Frankl, in his classic, must-read book, "Man's Search for Meaning", chronicles his experiences as a concentration camp inmate. Apart from Frankl, the only survivor of the Holocaust in his immediate family was his sister. His parents, brother and wife all perished. Throughout his years of imprisonment and the unfathomable things he experienced and witnessed, rather than becoming bitter and resentful, Viktor Frankl discovered the importance of finding meaning in all forms of existence, even the most sordid ones, and thus a reason to continue living.
Consider each adversity a blessing.
Each challenge offers an opportunity. Many times, these opportunities are difficult to see, especially when we are in the 'eye of the storm'. It's understandable that we don't know what that obstacle's blessing is, but know that there is indeed a blessing, however cloaked it might be.
Although not easy, thank your challenges and obstacles for the gifts they offer, including teaching persistence and perseverance. By extending our gratitude for these invisible blessings, we open ourselves to be more receptive to them.