You Smile More When You Choose to See Problems As Opportunities
Sep 23, 2025
Happiness can mean different things to different people. Some might view spending quality time with their family as something that brings much joy. Other people may prefer alone time with their significant other. We all have different ideas about what happiness means, but there's probably something we can all agree upon.
The fewer problems in life, the better.
Like happiness, you might define the word "problem" differently than others. The exact details might differ from one person to the next, but a common theme consistently appears. A problem is something that threatens to disrupt your potential happiness.
Perhaps you have planned a vacation for a long time now. You're proud of yourself for saving up the money and the personal time your employer offers. In the past, you would take a day or two off as soon as you accrued that paid personal time, but not for a while. You've been putting away all of those hours and days so you can take a much-needed vacation.
The plans are made, everything is taken care of, and you get a smile just thinking about jumping on that plane tomorrow and heading to your dream destination. Your Uber ride to the airport was surprisingly quick and enjoyable. You moved swiftly through security, the booking process, and your terminal nearby.
... and Then, Life Showed Up
You check your watch. You have arrived in plenty of time. When it looks like your situation couldn't get any better, it gets worse instead. A combination of unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances means you won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
The weather went south. There was a bomb scare at the airport. The pilots used by the airline you chose decided to go on strike, and you had no warning that this would happen. You don't know whether to spend a couple of days sleeping and waiting at the airport like many others or go home and play a frustrating waiting game.
It's Your Choice to View This As a Huge Problem or a Huge Opportunity
This stinks. You were so looking forward to getting away from it all. Then you encounter all of these problems. Take a deep breath. Calm down. This is out of your control, so why worry about it? Instead of miring in negativity and finding somewhere in the crowded terminal to sleep and wait for an extended delay, why not go home instead?
Think about what you can do instead of what you can't.
You've been waiting for an opportunity to take your boat out. Now's the perfect time. You know that your best friend has a couple of days off, so why not give her a call? The two of you enjoy battling each other on the tennis court, and now is as good a time as any.
You see this big problem as a series of opportunities instead of just bad news. You can't control much of what happens in your life. What you can control is how you respond to what happens.
Happiness is a choice. It's not something that exists outside of you that you have to obtain. It's your choice to feel happy, sad, or any other emotion. Start reviewing problems as opportunities, and you'll have a much happier and more content life.
Happiness isn’t about avoiding problems—it’s about how you respond to them. When life throws a curveball, you have a choice: dwell on what’s gone wrong or focus on what’s still possible.
Here’s how to reframe problems as opportunities:
- Pause and Breathe: Take a moment to calm down before reacting.
- Focus on What You Can Control: Shift your energy to what’s still within your power.
- Find the Silver Lining: Look for hidden opportunities or lessons.
- Adopt a Growth Mindset: See challenges as chances to learn and grow.
By choosing to see problems as opportunities, you can create more joy, resilience, and satisfaction in your life.
For more inspiration, visit www.SingleMomMD.org and listen to us wherever you catch your favorite podcasts @SingleMomMD
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