Tip #26 Wise Words Wednesdays; Opportunity Edison-Style

     It's no secret that our world is a better place because of Thomas Edison. Why? Well besides the fact that he was quite the inventor, I think the successes he achieved are epic because of his approach to life (and to science in particular). I'm no Thomas Edison expert by any means, but I think it's safe to say that he was really good at thinking-out-of-the-box. How many of us get frustrated with something (especially technology!), but still go about it in the same way over and over again? Maybe we do that because we can't (or don't want to make the time to) think of an alternative. Maybe we do it because it is just easier sometimes than taking the time to learn how to do something in another way. Or, perhaps we are sometimes limited physically due to the fatigue, pain, and /or the energy required to participate in the process of recovery. Whatever the reason, we limit ourselves when we don't engage in out-of-the-box-thinking like Edison.
      For example, Edison made a paradigm shift when he invented the light bulb. He didn't take the candle and try to improve it. No, instead, Edison looked at the function of light, and how he would like light to be used. He looked at what was possible, even if it did not seem probable to achieve. That's where his "I haven't failed I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" attitude saved his bacon, and gained us light bulbs forever. So here's what I think. I think we should be more like Edison in how we approach recovery (well, and life in general too). If we can doggedly pursue recovery, and make our own paradigm shift, we too can have success. Why couldn't we?
     I think a good place to start is (in true Edison fashion) to begin seeing parts of the chaos as opportunities - no, not all parts, we're still human! Maybe for some it's an opportunity to help someone else in the future with the same issue, or maybe it's an opportunity to slow down, and not take loved ones or life for granted. Maybe it's an opportunity to have the time to do something you've always wanted to do (organizing those photo albums, learning a new language, reading the classics, writing a book...). Maybe it's an opportunity to see the goodness in others; the sides of people others don't usually get to see, and/or the way in which you and your loved ones learn to work together for the shared goal of recovery. Whatever the reason, and whatever the direction your paradigm shift may take you, I hope that the idea of opportunity in wellness is something truly considered. Who knows where you may end up? Here are some quotes on the topic at hand that I find inspiring.

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity 

Albert Einstein

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises

Demosthenes

Opportunities are seldom labeled

John A. Shedd

I especially agree with that last one!

Happy labelling!