As a young college student extremely excited for a semester exchange in Stockholm, my dream shattered just a month before departure when the Swedish university canceled the program. As my classmates embarked on their own adventures, I lost my hopes of studying abroad, feeling incredibly “unlucky” and thinking life was “unfair”.
Yet this setback led me to find another study opportunity in Tokyo, Japan. Studying in Japan became a pivotal chapter in my life and career afterward: it helped me become fluent in Japanese and opened doors for me I couldn’t even imagine. (I remain thankful to this day to the Swedish university for canceling—tack!).
As the beautiful parable of the farmer and his horse tells us, what we label as ‘good events’ or ‘bad events’ are merely ‘events’. Our perceptions give them their meaning.
Viewing events simply as ‘events’ doesn't invalidate our feelings during setbacks. But it can open us up to different perspectives, offering alternative responses to the very same events. As Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor, stated in his famous book:
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Challenging our perceptions during setbacks can be tough. When that’s the case, reflecting on past events that later revealed themselves as opportunities can serve as powerful tools:
What one event in your past seemed like a setback at the time but unfolded as a blessing in disguise?
Would you share this post with one friend that you thought of when you read this article? Sharing is caring. ❤️
Till next time,
Yiğit
“Perspective” changes everything…
Amazing