When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Funny how two people can look at a problem, an issue or a struggle, and one will feel helpless, while the other will see an opportunity for greatness. Think about it, we all live in the same world, and are born with mostly similar circumstances, yet a few become great, while the majority remain average. How come? Well a lot of it as to do with perspective, it’s as if everyone is looking at the same world through a different lens. Some see a corrupted, unfair, biased, dark, gloomy world without much hope so their basic instinct is just to survive, do the least they have to do to get by. A few others see a colorful, bright, glamorous, and enticing world full of bounties and treasure for the taking.

It’s easy to have a very pessemestic dark view of the world, it’s easy to feel helpless and weak because then you can just be lazy and do enough to get by. I remember when I was younger, I liked playing sports, yet I never tried out once for my high school’s sport teams. I was overweight, and thought that no matter how hard I tried, a coach would never take me on to the team since there is a bias or discrimination against my body shape. This was the easy way out, as a result, I never had to feel guilty or lazy for not going to sport team tryouts. Instead I got to sit home, watch tv and play video games, a very safe lifestyle. I was basically blind to the fact that maybe my weight was starting to be a problem and that I need to implement a healthier more active lifestyle.

As I grew older and started getting into personal development and self help I started seeing a new world, one full of opportunities for the taking. We are living in really exciting times, here are just a few of the luxuries that we take for granted in today’s world. Affordable world travel, how awesome is it that you can travel to any country in the world, try out their food, hang out with its people, and visit its best landmarks. Technology boom – how great is it that you can just google any topic, issue, or even health problem, and learn everything about it without having to leave your home or see a professional. Information age – this is a result of the technology boom, the availability of information, resources, and expert advice for free or very little money. Anyone can learn any topic their heart desires. The world is yours for the taking.

A world full of opportunity requires a lot of courage. Courage simply is doing the right thing. Courage is when you are feeling really lazy and tired and still decide to get your work done. Courage is when you haven’t slept good the night before, and it’s cold outside, and you really just feel like staying in, yet you still go to the gym and workout because you made a fitness commitment. Courage is when you have tried several business ideas and ventures without any success yet instead of giving up you hang in there knowing that you are getting closer and closer to success. Courage is when you get out of your comfort zone maybe to learn a new skill or try a new fun activity without worrying too much about looking like a fool.

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Remember the world is yours for the taking, so what’s stopping you? For most of us we might experience many roadblocks to success and self defeating tendencies. Whether it’s fear or insecurities or caring what others think, we end up becoming our own worst enemies. This is where desire without attachment to outcome sets you free. Sometime we become so attached to our future goals and desires, that we forget to enjoy and accept the present for what it is. It is possible to build an empire while still enjoying your present life to the fullest. Do you accept your current condition for what it is or are you always whining and complaining? What lens are you looking at the world from? Are you seeing a world full of unfairness, corruption and destruction or one full of opportunities, treasures, and gifts for the taking? Do you chose laziness, an easy lifestyle and a comfortable average living? Or are you willing to step up, live courageously and take whats yours? Remember the world is yours for the taking.