Moving from obligation to opportunity might be as simple as reframing the start of a sentence! ‘Huh?’ you say! You’ll find out what I mean much further down this post! 😉
We all have important obligations in life that are necessary for the smooth running of our households, the maintenance of our physical health, the nurturing of our relationships, and the stability of our finances. As we grow older, our days become filled with obligations, and the decisions we make become more complicated. It feels like our lists of tasks are never-ending.
So, how can I see my responsibilities as riches, blessings, and privileges? How do I stay aware of my blessings in everyday life? I remind myself that many people don’t have the choices and privileges I have. And what if I had no access to the things that taking care of can sometimes feel like an obligation?
Moving From Obligation to Opportunity
Exercise 1 – Reminding Myself Of My Blessings
Sometimes, I need to remind myself of my blessings. Yesterday, I did an exercise in journaling in response to a writing prompt that read : Write out a list of words that make you feel grateful.
Here’s my list of words, as they occurred to me:
- José
- Lucky
- Dreams
- Health
- Leisure
- Friends
- Purpose
- Love
- Opportunities
- Access
- Home
- Books
- Education
- Blogging
- Food
- Time
- Help/ Professionals
- Faith
- Memories
- Money
- Social media
- Connection
- Purpose
As you can see, it’s not an exhaustive list. There are many more words I need to add to it.
What would your list of words look like?
Exercise 2 – Rephrasing Sentences to Move from Obligation to Opportunity
I wrote five things I needed to do this week – my “obligations.” I started each statement with “I have to…” For example:
- I have to file my taxes.
- I have to buy some things for the house.
- I have to cook.
- I have to get up early.
- I have to clear out some shelves.
Then, I wrote those same five things again, but this time started each statement with “I get to…”:
- I get to file my taxes.
- I get to buy some things for the house.
- I get to cook.
- I get to get up early.
- I get to clear out some shelves.
There’s a subtext to the ‘get to’ list that makes it so powerful. For example, I get to file my taxes when so many people are below the poverty line. I get to cook when so many people are starving. Catching myself grumbling about something I ‘have to do’ I am reminding myself of the privilege I have that I ‘get to do’ these things.
Do you think this simple rephrasing might help to change mindset?
It’s powerful to understand our responsibilities as privileges – obligations as opportunities. This realization can deepen our awareness of how fortunate we are.
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I like your simple fix. We are lucky to be able to do those simple things – not only for the freedom, but healthwise, too. Thanks for sharing. We all need a good reminder.
I’m trying hard to keep this perspective, Marsha. Sometimes we get so caught up with cribbing that we forget all that we have! ♥
Yes, changing from ‘have to’ to ‘get to’ shifts the perspective to a more positive and grateful manner. I apply this when I get overwhelmed. It also helps me weed out unenjoyable tasks from my list. For example, if saying ‘I get to cook’ doesn’t make me feel better, I ask my husband for help with cooking or we order in. Obligation to opportunity is a powerful concept.
I like your list of words, Corinne. It’s so easy to make this list, and it is an incredibly powerful tool. Thank you for sharing.