When Every Opportunity Looks Good

Not too, too long ago, my wife and I had turned down a very, very good opportunity! It was one of those opportunities that appear to be a no-brainer -- that is, you would think it is obvious that this opportunity is right for you.

But after talking about it, we decided that even though the opportunity looked good, maybe the opportunity would be good for someone else. We didn't want to make a decision out of desperation. We wanted to make the RIGHT decision that would BEST serve our family.

When you're in desperation mode, you see every opportunity as a good opportunity. On the surface, ALL opportunities are good ones -- but some of those opportunities might later ruin you.

Back in New York City, I used to work for a temping agency and landed a temp job at rent-to-own company. At the time, my wife and I were only engaged. Also at that time, I was looking for opportunities to get out of NYC and working at this place seemed to be my ticket out!

One of the managers there talked with his manager and I was hired full-time. Yes! My goal was to work at this location for a few months and then transfer to a different branch in Buffalo, NY so that I could get out NYC.

But the good opportunity turned out to be a STRESSFUL one. I started to hate the whole concept of rent-to-own as we were renting and selling stuff at insanely high prices and the quality of the items weren't worth the prices. I had to work 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, and I had Sunday off and Tuesday off. I couldn't enjoy two days off in a role! Plus, I hated chasing after people who didn't pay their rent.

The job stunk! But was it a good opportunity? Of course it was! But good opportunities don't guarantee no consequences for choosing those opportunities.

Even though all opportunities appear good at first, there is a way to see if any opportunity would ultimately benefit you or destroy you.

If money is your ultimate priority, then every opportunity looks good.
If more family time is your ultimate priority, then only few opportunities look good.

If losing weight is your ultimate priority, then every opportunity looks good.
If having overall better health is your ultimate priority, then only few opportunities look good.

If having sex and self-pleasure is your ultimate priority, then every opportunity (and every warm body) looks good.
If settling down with a good spouse and a family is your ultimate priority, then very, VERY few opportunities look good.

If getting out of your neighborhood or your city or state or country is your ultimate priority, then every opportunity looks good.
If looking for a place where you could thrive is your ultimate priority, only few opportunities look good.

If you change your priorities, then you could determine what opportunities are really good and which opportunities are not good.

The problem we have is that we make important decisions when we're in desperation mode. I could go on telling you about all the bad decisions I've made when in desperation mode. And let me tell you, whenever you make a decision out of desperation, you will ALWAYS make the wrong decision.

One secret I've found to always going for the best opportunities is to be content where you are. When you see no pressing reasons to leave where you are, then you would look at other opportunities as bonuses in life.

What is one of my goals in life? To have lots of land that I could plant an orchard that could feed my family and many other families. Right now, I live in a quadraplex. If I am content where I am, then I could focus on what I am really looking for instead of getting any ol' house that I would ultimately not be happy with.

• Be happy with your fatness.
• Be happy with your skinniness.
• Be happy with your poverty.
• Be happy being single.
• Be happy being childless.
• Be happy with your neighborhood.
• Be happy with your job.
• Be happy with your education.

Being happy where you are DOES NOT mean you shouldn't pursue better things. We should always pursue opportunities to better ourselves and our situation. However, don't pursue these opportunities out of desperation. Learn to be content with what you have, and when you get something better, it would really feel like a bonus. Plus, you would have no regrets at the decision you made.

Before you go for that next opportunity, ask yourself if your next decision would be based on desperation. Let thoughtfulness and contentment help you make your decisions. Don't let desperation influence you.