Recognizing Opportunities for Expansion
April 26th, 2008 by John Wolfe
For years, musicians, in different genres, have touched on the sentiment of today’s post regarding our perspective and how it pertains to opportunity. Two songs come immediately to mind: The rock anthem- You Can’t Always Get What You Want, by the Rolling Stones and the country classic- Unanswered Prayers, by Garth Brooks.
Of course, the Stones were singing about the concept that we don’t always receive everything we desire, but through our continued efforts, we can receive exactly what we need. Garth on the other hand, was referencing the idea that the god source energy provides its most amazing gifts, to us, by not granting certain prayers. However, it’s only in hindsight that we can understand and appreciate this.
Now, I don’t agree with the portion of these two songs that indicates we are unable to have or achieve certain things, whether by our own accord or due to a supposed intervention by source energy. It’s simply a matter of how we pursue our dreams (both through our thoughts and actions), and how willing we are to allow an adjustment of the means for them to manifest in our reality, which determines the outcome.
While we are in pursuit of certain dreams or goals, we can stumble onto some of the most treasured gems of opportunity and possibility. These opportunities could not have presented themselves, if we had not been pursuing our initial desires in the first place. And, they may very well serve as a new and “improved” route for continuing to thrust us forward, regarding our interests.
These paths, which may appear to be alternate to our initial plans, are the Universe’s way of handing us what we were originally wanting; only in a manner which is more appropriate for the achievement of all we desire. You see, I like to take songs like the ones mentioned above and interpret them differently than the way the song writers might have originally intended.
In the case of Unanswered Prayers, the main character had been setting forth the desire to have a great relationship and settle down with his high school sweetheart, but he was disappointed by the fact they failed to marry. Years later, he and the woman who eventually became his wife, run into his old flame at their alma mater’s football game. Bumping into her causes him to reflect on the idea god failed to answer his prayers during high school. Yet, he’s appreciative of this because his old girlfriend no longer behaved the way he remembered.
However, if we look a little closer, I believe his prayers were answered. They weren’t ignored at all. They were delivered to him, only in the guise of someone slightly different than the woman he initially assumed would fill the role. The character made his intentions clear (in this case through prayer) and took action by pursuing a relationship of his dreams. Along the way, certain opportunities presented themselves. And while he didn’t end up with his high school sweetheart, he still received his original intention for a meaningful, happy relationship.
Of course, this is just a song, but creative endeavors like song writing and singing, similar to writing and storytelling, provide the means to get in touch with our core beliefs. This is especially true if we find ourselves identifying heavily with the characters involved, whether we are the writer, listener or reader. We must examine those beliefs in order to understand the direction our lives are taking and what we are receiving.
For example, looking at alternate circumstances as an opportunity instead of a problem typically requires some distance between our initial intentions and the current crossroads we may be facing. We often have to take a new path and try it before we can fully appreciate its benefits. Only when we look back, can we reflect upon where we’ve been and the process it created, thus leading us to an even more advantageous point in our life experience.
The more consistently we can adopt and foster the view of alternate paths being opportunities instead of something dreadful, the more our lives will continue taking shape in a manner which resembles our initial intentions. Occasionally we must be willing to slightly remodel the means for achieving our desires, based upon our own expansion/evolution and what’s finding its way to us. Without this flexibility we may close ourselves off to some amazing experiences that can provide more expansive results than what we are currently achieving.
By continuing to set forth our intentions, establishing our true purpose, and taking actions which are in alignment with these; we will find a multitude of opportunities presenting themselves. This doesn’t mean we have to jump on board each and every one of them. Nor does it mean by taking any one them we have forsaken our original dream. It only means we are on the right path (for ourselves) and the Universe is acknowledging this by reflecting these opportunities in our experiences. It also means the original dream has reached such a point of expansion (right alongside our own personal expansion) that it too must go through some growth to continue keeping up with our new state of being.
So, don’t thank god for unanswered prayers, instead thank god, or source, or the Universe, or whatever you feel fuels your awareness, for manifestations that have been tailored to the individual you continue to become. As you shift and broaden your view point, you will recognize that when you get what you need, you’re really getting what you wanted all along.
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