I can think of at least 10 situations which I turned into growth opportunities since Jan 1. How about you?

1.   Not getting a badge, a computer, or systems access for 17 days, after I started my new assignment...

        I took it on as a meditation challenge to be cheerful and go with the flow…and I succeeded. Yay!

2.  Being the only one excluded from a lunch invitation one day

        As quick as I could, I got over any bad feelings about it. Plus I even had a cheerful response prepared, if anyone were to say, “Hey Minoo, sorry we didn’t think of asking you whether you wanted to go with us”.  I had planned to say, “Don’t worry, I will join you the next time.” Yay!

      

.   3.  Or the time someone played a prank on me, by using my computer and email account to send an email from me to a group of 40 people with the message “They call me Moo Moo”

       I got over the initial surprise and indignation as quick as I could, and decided to let it go. I later discovered the prankster had done the same thing to multiple people. It was a genial prank, aimed at laughs, and not to victimize. Now, a month later, I am happy I did not make an issue out of it, and in fact, I am able to react with equanimity, when I run into the prankster, who has now taken to calling me Moo Moo.

 4.   Like when Tanita wanted to take my car to a different shop than the one I am used to

        Initially resisting the idea, I then quickly realized I should not be stuck on anything, and I should be willing to give alternatives a try. I gave her the green light.

      

5.   Like when some of my carpool drivers showed up 30 minutes late      

       Instead of being upset, which would have made the ride to work unpleasant, I very deliberately said to myself, “Minoo, you are going to put the fact they are late out of your head and make this a pleasant ride for both you and the driver” And I succeeded, even when there were repeat offenses from the same drivers.  Yay….big victory!             

6.   Like when I went to see the movie Winchester, and the person next to me kept disturbing me as soon as the movie started, by speaking in another language to someone on the other side of her.     

       My initial thought was to tell her “could you please stop talking”, or to move seats in a big huff.

       But I knew the situation called for something a bit more relational – I turned to her and gently said, “I am not able to follow the movie.” She said, ‘Oh, I am sorry, I am translating for the person next to me, I will stop.” This was when I turned the moment into a real growth opportunity. Moved by her predicament, I turned to her again, gave her a comforting pat on the arm, and said, “It’s okay, go ahead and translate, I think I can manage”. And I really meant it. She did not take me up on it. But if she had, I had made up my mind to put her needs ahead of mine. Yay! This was another big victory for me.

      

7.   Like when my former boss (from my previous assignment) called me at 10 p.m. one night, to discuss a technical problem she was facing, and to find out my availability to come in to help her with it.      

       I woke up in the middle of that same night with the perfect solution for solving the problem – an absolutely sure shot. My initial thought was I should not give it away for free; I should get some paid hours out of it. But once again, I sensed I should turn this into a growth opportunity.  So I did.  The next morning, I texted her the solution. I gave it away for free.  She was very touched and grateful, because it was the perfect solution, and she told me “Minoo, I will give you full credit for it when I share it with the team.” And that was enough for me.

8.   Like when I overcame my shyness to invite Tanita and her boyfriend to have lunch with me and my coworkers, even though I didn’t know my coworkers very well      

       I overcame whatever shyness and awkwardness I felt, and just made it happen. And I am glad I did.

9.  When Tanita called me a drama queen a few weeks ago

   Tanita was taking my car to go somewhere, and I said, “Tanita, watch the gas gauge – the car is low on gas and you don’t want to run out” When she came back, she said “Mom, you are such a drama queen.  There was more than a quarter tank in the car.” I bit my tongue and did not say anything, even though I did not like her saying that to me.  I waited for another completely suitable and different occasion to tell her to avoid using labels like that.

10. One last example – saying yes to something I have never tried before

        When a boss tasks me with doing something, or if I find out there is something on their wish list, I try to put my mind to it and give it a try, even if there is a risk of getting egg on my face.  I developed a CDR at my last assignment in response to such a request, and now at my current assignment, I am developing a Team Sharepoint Site in response to such a request.  I am so happy I squashed my fears and said yes to giving the Team Sharepoint site a try, because had I not, I would have missed the opportunity to learn a wonderful new skill.

    There – those are 10 situations I turned into growth opportunities since Jan 1.

   Now it’s your turn.

   How many situations did you turn into growth opportunities since Jan 1?  Can’t think of any?  Don’t worry.  Give yourself a goal.  How about this one – tell yourself, “I will turn at least 10 situations into growth opportunities in the next 2 months.” Don’t be surprised of how proud you will be of yourself at the end of it.  Don’t be surprised to experience very different outcomes.  As soon as each challenging event has blown over, write what the outcome was, and what it would have been, had you reacted in your characteristic way. It will convince you that you are on the right track and motivate you to keep turning situations into growth opportunities.  That's my plan.  I hope it's yours too!

Acknowledgements

Thanks for your condolences on the deaths of my sister Angie and brother-in-law Jim.

NEXT, Thanks for the feedback, (comments, likes, shares) on some of my recent posts Was It Luck, Was It By Design, Seek Inspiration and (Information) and (Consolation) for Where You Are in Life, Lessons From My Life(10 Things You Can Learn From My Experience).  I appreciate the affirmations I am on the right track from old friends, and new friends, and relatives who have become friends. You keep me going.

NEXT, Thanks to all readers, current and future, for sharing my Journey to Wisdom, Meaning and a Better Life.  Like you, I am trying to find my way through this complex maze we call life, and I am honored to have you share my journey, as I continue to seek the wisdom hidden in plain sight.

FINALLY, A Happy Birthday shout-out:  to those with March birthdays.  Hope you use your birthday month to turn challenging situations into growth opportunities, and never look back.

Oh, and one more thing: Not sure if you have time, but if you do, you may enjoy these other posts:

Family

Our Cake Boss Family, Family Songs, The Nightdress Brigade, Family Advice I Am Grateful For, The Porki And Bonkers Tradition, No Need for 23 and Me,Letters to Lucas, Flying Lessons

Friendships

The United States of Friendship – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6,Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

Pets

A Fresh Perspective on Pets, Secrets of The Super Models In Our Family,BowWow, Meoww, Why You Should Not Abandon Your Pet

Nature

Post on Trees, Reprising Joy Kilmer

Hobbies

Cricket, Glorious Cricket, Splendid Post, What!

Managing Your Money

Yoga for Investors, How to Turn Your Girl Scout or Cub Scout Into a Stock Scout, Financial Piece of Mind, Financial Piece of Mind – Part Deux, A Retirement Planning Formula You Won’t Find on Oprah

Simplifying Your Life

You know what Wesabi is, How About Wabi Sabi?  The Simple Life, The Element of Simplicity and Its Hope for Living a More Satisfying Life

Getting Over Your Self-Consciousness

The Element of Release From Inhibition, The Element of Being Less Self-Centered and Its Hope for Seeing Things in The Correct Light, The Element of Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone and Its Hope For Experiencing More of What Life Has to Offer

Learning to Laugh

How To Deal With The Sheldon Coopers in Your Life – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3,Part 4, The Nightdress Brigade, You Aced the SAT, How About the LAT?, How To Cause Atmost Confuzen at the Scripps Spelling Bee, How To Go From Madonna to Lilly to Myrtle in The Course of A Single Evening - And Even Have a Sex Change, A Facebook Face-Off, A Short Stint in Advertising

Learning to Relax

How To Become a Low Maintenance Person, Connected Minds, How To Become The Kind of Person People Want to Work with, How Many Times a Day Do You Visit Ireland? The Art of Carrying Things Lightly

Health
Raising the Bar, 4 Healthy Eating Ideas I Learned from My Friend Julia, The Element of Becoming More Focused and Precise In Our Goals and Its Hope for Achieving Powerful Results
Pursuing A Dream
What’s Next For You? The Element of The First Step and Its Hope for Getting Big Things Started In Our Lives, She Victories

Changing in Good Ways

Maybe Its Time To Become More Receptive, Maybe It’s Time To Live More Purposefully, Maybe It’s Time To Bust Some Myths, Maybe It’s Time to Walk In The Direction Of Your Fears, Maybe It’s Time To Understand What Freedom Is, Maybe It’s Time To Turn the Page, Maybe It’s Time To Rock The World, Maybe It’s Time For Freshness