Seeking OPPORTUNITY in every CHALLENGE
All humans face difficulties in life and such times do not allow us to think constructively, we are swept away by our emotions and keep thinking about the problems rather than solutions. What if we think on finding opportunities in difficulties too? I would like to support it with a small real life story...
Once a farmer took a loan of 10,000 INR from a money lender for his daughter's marriage. The money lender asked him to repay the loans in two months.
Farmer worked hard to repay the amount but still could not collect that huge sum, after two months the money lender met the farmer and asked for his money. Farmer told the money lender that he is finding it difficult to collect that much amount. He offered the money lender something else, and requested humbly “I have a barren land you can claim the land to the point that reaches your eye.” The farmer was very clear in his intentions and was open to giving away his land but the lender got furious and told him that he wants his money back and his barren land was of no use to him.
Farmer apologized and asked for some more time to repay the amount. He went to the nearby village to sell his land and approached the landlord of that village. He said the same thing to the landlord 'I have a barren land you can buy the land to the point that reaches your eye.” The landlord agreed to buy the barren land and paid to the farmer 10,000 INR. The farmer happily took the amount and repaid his debt.
The landlord who purchased the land used good quality fertilizers and also kept farmers from the same village to take care of his land and started cultivating the land. This way he generated employment for people using the barren land. Slowly the land started showing results and started producing good quality crops that gave him good returns. He also provided free ration to the needy people of that village.
When the money lender came to know about all these he became furious and approached the farmer and told him that he lied to him that the land was barren.
Farmer explained that he said the same thing to the other landlord and had nothing to hide or lie about the land. But still the landlords came forward and purchase the barren land.
He did not stop there, he used it as an opportunity and with a positive vision he cultivated the land and also generated work for the poor farmers and supply food to the needy.
The money lender realised his mistake and apologized to the farmer for being rude and harsh.
Moral :-Challenges and difficulties are the integral part of life, but the person who is able to succeed in life can recognize the opportunities in challenging situations and use it to its fullest, not only for himself but also provide opportunity for other people of society. It is rightly said that “Identifying the opportunity in challenges and using it for others with selfless spirit is the biggest religion of mankind”.
Written By: Arjun Gaur (International Life Strategist & Author)
