article banner
Line Of Sight

Chances > Pride

In today’s world of social media and technology, we expect many things to be instant. We do not accept failure, because we live in a world that will just easily give us another option. We do not want to look back and try again, because we know that there are so many alternatives available to us, rather than to stick and give a chance to the options where we first experienced failure. We live in a world where we can control the outcome and make our lives easier, even though it means forgetting how to live a meaningful and satisfying life.

However, have you ever thought about how events would turn out if you pursued and took a chance on where you failed, and fought again? What if we walked the more difficult path and had the opportunity to work on our failures? What would be the outcome?

We sometimes complain about our work, from the insufficient salary we receive to the stressful environment we work in. However, have we ever thought that we are blessed to be part of a company that helps you grow and develop, that your employer provides with opportunities to learn?

Although it may be difficult to accept that work expectations differ from reality, be thankful for your challenging work; it pushes you to improve yourself. Give the company a chance they way your employer took a chance on you when they hired you. Stop the negativity, swallow your pride, and be happy and content. If the times that you decide to leave, you know that you go with a clear mind and the goal of moving forward for better career opportunities.

Forgiving is not the same as reconciling. Many struggle to find a balance between being merciful and enabling a harmful person to continue harming others. We should be willing to forgive everyone who wrongs us, just as Jesus forgives us. When someone continues to violate another person’s boundaries, however, a wise person sets firmer boundaries. If someone has punched you in the face, you can offer to forgive them, but you do not stay within arm’s reach until they have proven over time that they have changed. Giving someone a second chance means that we give them another chance to earn our trust. This does not mean, however, that we instantly forget what experience has taught us. Trust must be earned over time, and we are foolish to give trust prematurely. We can have a loving and forgiving heart that also practices wise guardianship over our lives.

Give a second chance depending on the situation. We cannot give chance to a situation where we know that the outcome will be failure and could result in a more difficult scenario. Giving a chance to anyone or to any circumstance is not a sign of weakness, but of strength. Be open to possibilities, because the only thing constant is change; and change gives us unlimited chances to become better persons.

 

She Leria-Borja is a Senior Payroll Specialist II of P&A Grant Thornton Business Process Solutions in Cebu.  P&A Grant Thornton is one of the leading Audit, Tax, Advisory, and Outsourcing firms in the Philippines, with 21 Partners and over 900 staff members.

 

As published in Mindanao Times, dated 29 April 2019