Have the Courage to Open the Door

I often hear people talking about getting an opportunity. They are looking for that one door to open so they can step through it. That assumes there is only one door, one option to choose from, when in reality we are usually given multiple options every day. We may not see them as opportunities, yet that is exactly what they are. I enjoyed finding this German Proverb as it reminds us that when fortune knocks, we have to open the door. It can be that simple.

So we hear fortune knocking and what then? Do we feel ready, worthy, able and willing to answer the call? Do we have the right skills, the necessary knowledge, do we know what to do with this bright, new future, or are we instantly self deprecating and spiral into creating a list of all the reasons why we shouldn’t open that door? Fortune is exciting, scary and daunting all at the same time. It is unpredictable and untested. It will not be certain, completely clear, foolproof or even completely safe. That’s why it represent the future, it is unwritten and unknown.

So we hear fortune knocking and realize that we have choices. Act by opening the door and moving forward. Stand there completely still and maybe the future will not know we are home. Or run away, pretending we never head the knocking so we can stay exactly as we are today. Our future is waiting for us to answer, we just have to open the door.

And yes, fortune knocking can get annoying. We want to stay where we know what to do, when the future is calling us forward into an unknown adventure. And we don’t want to have to change or grow or learn or become because we KNOW how to be who we are today…and yet the future keeps knocking. Our fortune is waiting for us to act…and no matter what we do we are indeed taking action.

So what action are you prepared to take when you hear fortune knocking? Answer, stand still or run away. Whatever you do, you are choosing…doing nothing is still choosing. We do not always get opportunities, chances, fortune banging on our door so be sure to prepare today for the future you will face tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. There is nothing worse than remorse over not opening that door. If we fail to answer long enough fortune no longer knocks and THAT would be a regret that is a hard pill to swallow.

Have the courage to open the door…