Obstacles vs Opportunities

Earlier this week I was listening to Dr. Kimberely's Manifestation Moments and she made a comment that stuck with me. When I listen or read something, I like to stop, reflect, and re-read or listen to it again, just to keep the wheels turning. She was talking about perception, how we perceive the things in our lives. What she said was "change the way you look at things and the things you look at change". 


Society these days likes the victim mentality. That life is happening to us, that we have no control or power. And though it's true that you can't always change the circumstances, you can always change your perception of that circumstance. 


Sometimes it takes a few times for me to really let these ideas sink in. I can't seem to apply it to my life until I really get it. I watched a movie called Another Earth and one of the main characters told a story and it made me really get the idea about our perception. I want to share it with you. Don't worry, it doesn't spoil the movie.

“You know the story of the Russian cosmonaut? So the cosmonaut, he’s the first man ever to go into space, right? The Russians beat the Americans. So he goes up in this big spaceship, but the only habitable part of it is very small. So the cosmonaut is in there, and he’s got this portal window, and he’s looking out of it, and he sees the curvature of the earth for the first time. The first man to ever look at the planet he’s from. And he’s lost in the moment, and all of a sudden this strange ticking begins coming out of the dashboard.

He rips out the control panel right? Takes out his tools trying to find the sound, trying to stop this sound, but he can’t find it. He can’t stop it. It keeps going. A few hours into this begins to feel like torture. A few days go by with this sound, and he knows: this small sound will break him. He’ll lose his mind. What’s he gonna do? He’s up in space, alone, in a space closet. He’s got twenty five days left to go! With this sound!

So the cosmonaut decides the only way to save his sanity is to fall in love with this sound.

So he closes his eyes. And he goes into his imagination. And then he opens them. He doesn’t hear ticking anymore. He hears music. And he spends the remainder of his time, sailing through space in total bliss, and peace.”

Isn't that a great way to help you visualize the idea? We can't control people, situations, etc., but we can control ourselves. We have the power to choose! Everyday! You might be stuck in a situation, relationship, job, city, whatever, but in the meantime, choose peace. Choose happiness. Choose to see the situation differently. Change your mind about how the story is going, don't just go along with it if you don't like it.  

Every time we're faced with "obstacles", see them as opportunities to learn, and to grow. Choose peace, even if it's only in your head.