Probortunity

I love learning new things. Especially when it's as simple as a word, phrase or quote that has the potential to act as an anchor for myself or others as we navigate our learning and leadership journeys. This past week I was gifted a good one. A Stage 3 teacher enthusiastically chose to share it during one of our reflections around embracing challenge.

"Every problem has a gift for you in its hands." - Richard Bach

'We use a particular word for what you're describing in our classrooms', he responded, 'probortunity'. He, like the students in the group, were making connections from their experience to the various learning environments that they'll continue navigating beyond the program. I loved the words reframing application straight away. What's the probortunity? Shifts my focus instantly.

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” - Albert Einstein

As the saying explains, 'where attention goes, energy flows'. We'd all have experienced becoming fixated on the things we can't control. That quicksand feeling, sinking deeper and deeper into the perceived problem that's in front of us. But what's the opportunity that lies within the situation, interaction, etc.? Now that opening up to possibility has a different feeling completely!

"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together." - Robert Redford

One new word definitely doesn't fix everything, that's for sure. But luckily we as leaders are more interested in building anyway. So this new word could become part of a practice, like the students and teachers have done at the client school we worked with last week. It's a helpful way of navigating the inevitable ups and downs that we all encounter each and every day. Because importantly, our thoughts, words and actions matter!

"Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor." - H. Jackson Brown, Jr.