Recently I have found myself in a quest to find myself, seeking meaning in my identity, pondering spirituality, wrestling with my true purpose – if you’ve ever found yourself there, leave me a comment so I know I’m not the only one. 
For awhile, it felt like a crisis, like a shipwrecked sailor who couldn’t see an island for miles. Now, I’m realizing how much I have grown and continue to grow as a result of this journey, and it is creating opportunities in my personal life and also to make more money than I’ve ever made before.
Tony Robbins likes to tell the story of ten years in his life that he mapped out, documenting the major events that happened each month. He says that he was surprised that the times of greatest trial or tribulation resulted in the greatest growth and even the greatest joy in his life. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but those struggles allowed for changes and opportunities that created the most positive experiences later in life.
This is true for most people, as well, even if few of us record each month of our lives. The times that seem the hardest are the same opportunities that can provide abundance and joy, depending on how we deal with the present crisis. In fact, crises and new challenges are the reason why most people create online businesses.
For some, that crisis is losing their employment or the boss that threatened their security. For others, it’s hitting a wall in their personal development as they search for meaning, and they realize that they need more time with family. Others feel like me, as they recognize their call to something greater and seek to make it happen.
People on the outside may see these situations as trials or crises, and rightfully so, because they each bring their own set of challenges. But successful people see them as opportunities, even when the world says that they are insurmountable challenges. This is what makes us different.
