The Winners Code

GEORGE CHINGARANDE | Monday February 22, 2010 00:00

Taken separately these events are neither positive nor negative. Most of these events are rather ordinary and mundane, but few of them are so critical as to be the defining moments in our lives. There are two things that can happen when our lives intersect with the key moments. We can either conquer these moments or we can allow these moments to overwhelm and overcome us.

These key moments present themselves with different face masks. They can appear as bad news such as a bereavement, divorce, traumatic accident, betrayal or job loss. They can also come as good news. The common denominator in all life's key moments is that they have such a profound effect on our lives that they literally shake them to the core. The battles of life are won and lost in the key moments.

The principles that apply to the key moments of life are best illustrated by an old Sufi story about a farmer and his son.  One day the farmer went out to feed his animals, only to find his only beloved horse lying on the ground, dead.  Soon the whole village learnt of the news, and came by his house to express their dismay.  They said, 'We've heard of the awful news!  It is terrible that you lost your only horse!'  The farmer replied, 'It is not the end of the world.' 

The next week, while the farmer was working the land, his son runs to tell him that he just captured a herd of wild horses. The villagers heard of the farmer's news, and stopped by saying, 'You are so lucky! 

You have been blessed with an entire herd of horses!'  The farmer's only reply was 'Maybe we are luck but we must remember that my son had to labour to capture them. Hence our lucky is an intersection of opportunity and my son's determination to exploit the opportunity.'

 A few days later, while trying to tame the horses, the farmer's son was thrown to the ground and his leg was broken.  Again the villagers commiserated, 'What poor luck you are having, we are terribly sorry.'  

The farmer's reply once again was, 'I am grateful that he is still alive. As long as he is still alive he still has an opportunity to do and achieve something meaningful.'  Weeks go by, and while the farmer's son is still bedridden war breaks out. 

The emperor conscripts all the able-bodied boys to fight the battle.  When the messengers arrived at the farmer's house, they saw that the boy was injured and they left him chiding him for being 'a- good- for- nothing- fellow'.

As providence would have it, all the boys perished in the war.  'You are lucky that your son is alive,' said the neighbours to the farmer who replied thus, 'A living dog has a better future than a once valiant but dead lion.' What does the fable teach us about the key moments in life?

Learn To See The Advantage And Opportunity In Every Situation Our lives are ever evolving. What may superficially appear to be a tragedy may be the perfect conduit for our dreams to be fulfilled and difficult times always bring opportunities along. 

The Chinese symbol for crisis is also the same symbol used for opportunity. Crisis and opportunity is one and the same thing. The difference is only in the eye of the beholder.  To conquer the key moments of life one has to decide to look for the advantages and the opportunities, for they are always there.  Life deals no one a bad hand but gives everyone an opportunity to allow the champion within them to emerge.

Life is not defined by events that come our way, but by our response to those events. When one door closes, the other opens. However, often we are so fond of the closed door that we keep staring at it and fail to see the new one opening and beckoning us to enter.

Keep Your Focus On The Right ThingWherever there is a light, there is also a shadow. If you keep your eyes trained on the light you will never see the shadows. In much the same way if you keep your focus on the positive in every situation, the negatives will recede to the back seat.

For everyone alive the future holds a promise; a promise that it can and should be better than today. The bad, and even the good, news of today should not be the focus. The focus should be on persevering in effort today, knowing that this is what will produce a better tomorrow.

Examine Your PerspectiveMany a time it is easy to miss the ball. This is especially true when we compare our fortunes to those of others. There will always be people greater than you and there will also always be people smaller than you. However, as long as you are alive you have an opportunity to become greater and better. It is paramount to accept reality as it is, and then work towards creating a better reality. The most important thing therefore is to be alive and to outlast every storm and every disappointment.

Luck Is An Intersection Of Opportunity, Preparation And LabourOpportunities come to all people, but people are not equally predisposed towards their opportunities. Only preparation and labour can convert opportunity to results. Many people complain of lack of opportunities, but few are wise enough to realise that applying themselves diligently to their current tasks will create greater opportunities.

Many people shy away from great challenges because they believe their strength is small not realising that they can only become greater and stronger by fighting against bigger challenges. Pray not that your challenges will be small enough to be met by your current strength, but that your strength will be adequate for the challenges that lie ahead whatever they may be.winningmantra@yahoo.com