Can a problem be an opportunity to do your best?

In my opinion yes, what I grasped from the statement “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” A problem can be a solution because it allows you to backtrack and see the mistakes that were made and how to improve them, as well as providing yourself with a new perspective and a freshly revised plan of action. I strongly believe problems offer opportunities. There have been so many times where I have been faced with problems I thought would consume me, instead they helped me with things like character development and how to improve day to day life scenarios.

Although this did occur over a few years, it wasn’t a miracle that fell into my lap. It takes a lot of self reflection as well as dedication to improve and rewire the way you look at certain situations in everyday scenarios. The personal story I will share today is about my Journey with basketball. I fell in love with the sport at only four years old. It quickly became a passion of mine that I knew would stick with me. For me basketball was more than just a sport, It was Teamwork, love, security, as well as compassion and most importantly it was a sport that you really needed to believe in yourself to succeed in it. If you can’t believe and trust in your teammates to be there for you when you need them or vice versa things get a bit complicated on the court.

So you may be asking, what this has to do with problems offering opportunity? Well as I just mentioned when you don’t believe in yourself things tend to get delayed or even not done at all, because of that one annoying thing that hangs over a lot of our shoulders, the  question that makes us ponder, we all tend to ask ourselves  “What if”. What if I don’t make this lay up or what if I pass too early or… the list goes on, What if is what can or could be not what is, you will never know what could be if all you do is sit and “What if” your life away. This brings me to middle school when I was put on the B team. There were two teams A and B, A was for advanced players and B was for players that needed some more time and help working on the little things. At the time I had fallen into a habit of doubting myself after I found out I had made the B team which led me to the “What if” questions, “What if i worked harder during tryouts” or “What if I prepped better before tryouts” but those were questions that I could’ve avoided asking myself and instead ask myself questions that help with building myself up such as “ they must see my potential and want to work with it” or “they believe in me” but asking yourself questions like this take time and patience as well as believing in yourself. Fast forward to the middle of the season, I worked hard and I changed my attitude which got me on the A team.

Not only that but I also improved tremendously skills wise because I learned to be patient with myself and learn that it’s okay when a problem gets in my way because it is never permanent. Now to my next story where problems offer opportunity is Michael b jordan. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school varsity basketball team during his sophomore year. He was offered a spot on the junior varsity team instead, but the sting of rejection had an impact. An impact for the better, this rejection gave Michael more dedication and determination and it also partially paved the way for his future career. Michael went through many trials and tribulations he ran into many problems but that never stopped him, it only drove him to fight harder for the spot he wanted. Michael had a very successful basketball career and did well in Hollywood although he was successful he still  had plenty of problems thrown his way but that never stopped him it only drove him more. So to sum it all up, problems do offer new opportunities. Michael Jordan’s story as well as mine are both living recent examples of problems offering further opportunities.