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How a bad situation can be a good thing

What sets a positive thinker -- an optimist -- apart from regular people is that he or she sees an opportunity in every difficult situation.

For instances, a person who has just lost his job may try to capitalize on the downtime by boning up on his computer skills or trying to get his own business off the ground.

A student who's just failed an exam may sign up for after-school tutoring, forging strong relationships with her teacher and fellow peers that may last beyond grade school.

A troublesome car that's always breaking down may prompt someone to finally start saving up for a newer, more reliable vehicle.

A person who's afraid of flying is tasked with meeting with the vice president in another country. While terrifying, it affords him the opportunity to finally conquer his fear, making future flights a lot easier to swallow.

What's the common thread across all these examples? That a good situation can come out of a bad one so long as a person doesn't lose sight of the fact that every cloud has a silver lining.

When you're in a tough situation, it's easier said than done -- I know. But rather than wallowing in self-pity and giving up, we must strive to use the negative event to our advantage. We must be of the mindset that we can actually come out smarter, stronger, and more resilient. Remember, what doesn't kill us only makes us stronger.

Ironically, sometimes it takes hardship to get us out of our comfort zone and make things happen. If we never faced any real challenges, we'd never know what it's like to overcome a problem and gain wisdom as a result. Most people would acknowledge that only after resolving problems do they actually become better people and better equipped to handle challenges that may present themselves later on.

But only a positive mindset can facilitate this. If deep down you don't buy that "if there's a will, there's a way," you'll have a much harder time surmounting life's toughest moments.

Next time you hit a snag, do this: picture yourself one or two months down the road, feeling a whole lot better and once again in control of your life. Remind yourself that that scenario is well within your reach. A bad situation can turn into a good one with time. By fighting hard and staying positive, I assure you that you will prevail. Throw that negativity out the window and move forward!

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