Next Thursday is Thanksgiving.
My oldest son will be flying in with his wife and young daughter. My youngest son will also join us, as will my ex-wife and her boyfriend. Family takes many forms. Some of it you’re born into, some you choose.
The holiday is an opportunity to be around people who matter and to spend some time thinking about and expressing what you’re thankful for.
Obviously, Thanksgiving is a reminder to be grateful for the blessings in your life – both big and small. But it’s also a time to be thankful for the challenges in your life, and the opportunities for growth that they bring.
“So Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want”
Often, when I choose to think about what I want, the first thing I think of is what I don’t want. Similarly, when I think about what’s going well (or something worthy of being thankful for), I often first think about what has been difficult or isn’t above minimum standards yet. Some things change quickly. Apparently, human nature isn’t one of them.
The Gift of Challenges
Can discomfort and challenge be genuine gifts? I think so! Challenges are often hidden gold mines. Instead of thinking about them as obstacles for you, recognize that getting past them creates new barriers for competitors. In other words, figuring out a strategy to achieve these lofty goals creates a new status quo and a sustainable competitive advantage.
At Capitalogix, we often talk about “finding a way,” “creating breakthroughs,” and “setting new standards.” The reason is that most of the things an innovator wants are just beyond their current capabilities (otherwise, they’d already have them).
Whether you’re leading a team, nurturing a family, or simply navigating life’s daily challenges, choosing gratitude (especially during the tough moments) can forge resilience and the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
This brings me to an important principle — the Stockdale Paradox — which balances optimism with realism. It is named after Admiral James Stockdale, the most senior naval officer held captive during the Vietnam War. Stockdale noted that the prisoners who fared worst were often the “optimists” who kept setting near‑term deadlines like “we’ll be out by Christmas,” then broke psychologically each time those hopeful timelines passed unmet. Their short‑term, date‑specific optimism couldn’t survive repeated disappointment. Stockdale’s perspective assumed it might take a very long time and could be extremely bad before it got better. Expect the worst and prepare for the best. Said differently, try to balance unwavering faith in eventual success with the discipline to confront harsh realities.
And we all face harsh realities.
Having “no problems” either means you’re blind to your flaws or aren’t playing a big enough game (which is a problem in itself).
So, I am thankful for my health, my family and friends, and the quality of my life. But I am also thankful for the stress, the challenges, and the opportunity to face a continually better class of challenges that forge a path to a better baseline and a bigger future.
I’m reminded of a poem I last shared over 10 years ago.
Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times, you grow.Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.~Author Unknown
Happy Thanksgiving!
My belt is already unbuckled.
Leave a Reply