Junction of Opportunities

An encounter between our current state of aggregation and the things we are exposed to. The point from which we scan the scenery in front of us and learn to select our desirable targets and the course which will take us there safely. 

The junction of opportunities does not necessarily have to be a crossroads in which we cannot choose between studying medicine or law, between getting married and remaining single or between staying in our country or relocating to another country. Our daily life is full of junctions of opportunities. For instance, to identify the relevant stimulus, to choose amongst numerous stimulations we are exposed to the one stimulation we want to focus on. Should we be tempted by a certain immediate relief or should we choose another direction which promotes us? At the junction we sometimes choose the computer game or a lazy wandering with friends and sometimes we muster enough energy to do our homework or prepare for a test.

We made the choice. In a little while we shall find ourselves in front of a new junction of opportunities where we will have to make another choice. The most difficult junction, the almost fatal one is at the beginning of the process of producing change.  Here we must do activities which are totally opposite from the way we feel or think. For instance, we have decided to lose some weigh, to add sports activities to our daily routine and to walk a few kilometers in the mornings before going to work. We enrolled for the gym. We have done these activities once or twice and were very pleased with ourselves. And then, all of the sudden, we feel we cannot go on. Terrible fatigue, various scary pains, we must undergo some medical tests. Perhaps we are unable to wake up in the morning. If we are tempted to stay in bed, we shall repeat the school year; remain at the same place, unchanged.

How can we find the strength to stand up?

We have made an appointment and as time goes by, the excitement and expectation turn into weariness and reluctance. Again, we find ourselves at a critical junction – where should we turn? Which side to choose? Should we choose our side or the side of the symptoms of crude rejection and various side effects?

We have covered some distance but we cannot celebrate change yet. Another wave of different symptoms arrives accompanied by doubts. You have been living together for a month and the things you found interesting become boring and oppressive. What happened? You want to let go. You have bought workout equipment and after a while it turns into a clothes hanger. You have almost finished writing your partnership contract and at the last minute you get cold feet and cancel it.

You have been studying for four years and are about to get your degree. All of the sudden you feel you do not like what you are doing and want to quit.

I do not claim that you must finish whatever you have started, but when we scan the scenery, there is a difference between a scenario in which you find out the studies do not suit you at the beginning of the process and turn to another direction and a scenario in which you almost reach the end of the course and are about to enjoy the fruit of your hard work…

This is the reason that in Friendship School we search for every possible, sophisticated device that can assist us with a friendly production. Management, getting help from a capable person etc. It is very difficult to ensure a journey free of mistakes. Here and there you might lose a battle or two, but you must make sure you eventually win the war. You have made a change in your identity and it cannot be taken away from you. You will not be discouraged by any gust of wind. You have moved to the next stage.

See: “Opportunity”.