The Art of Spotting Opportunities: Are You Playing It Safe or Trusting Your Intuition?
There’s an old saying that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. But how often do we actually recognize those opportunities when they’re right in front of us? The truth is, most people miss them—not because they aren’t capable, but because they haven’t trained themselves to see them.
The Missed Opportunities We Never Knew Existed
This week, a close friend and client of mine, Val, had one of her mentors, Forbes Riley (an actress and influencer that I’ve known of for many years) in town. They had planned a spa getaway, but at the last minute, Forbes realized she had to teach a class while they were on the road. She asked if they could use my office as a backup plan, and I quickly said yes, shifting my schedule to make it work. In the end, they didn’t need the space, but something else happened instead.
Forbes texted me from Val’s phone while Val was driving, asking if I’d like to meet for lunch the next day. I didn’t hesitate—I said yes. That spontaneous lunch turned into an incredible conversation, and I met another one of Val’s friends, Sandy, someone I might not have crossed paths with otherwise. What will come from that meeting? I don’t know yet. But as Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
How often do we dismiss these moments—the lunch invite, the chance meeting, the gut feeling to say yes—because we’re too busy, too skeptical, or too locked into our plans?
The Brain vs. The Heart: How We Talk Ourselves Out of What We Want
This brings me to a talk I gave at Women Make a Difference this week. I spoke about how we miss opportunities, not just because we don’t see them, but because we actively push them away.
The brain’s primary job is to keep us safe, and that’s where the amygdala comes in. It’s the part of our brain that triggers fear and hesitation—flooding us with reasons why something won’t work, why we shouldn’t take the risk, and why we’re not ready. This protective mechanism is great for avoiding real danger, but it also keeps us from stepping into possibility.
Meanwhile, the heart knows. It senses alignment before logic can explain it. But too often, we dismiss those nudges because they don’t make immediate, rational sense.
Training Yourself to Spot and Seize Opportunities
So, how do we get better at recognizing and acting on the right opportunities?
1.Say Yes More Often Than You Say No – If an opportunity comes your way and it feels even slightly aligned, explore it. The worst-case scenario? You learn something. The best-case? It changes everything.
2.Catch Yourself When You’re Making Decisions from Fear – Is your hesitation based on real obstacles, or is it just your mind creating reasons to stay safe? Start questioning the automatic “no” that your brain offers up.
3.Follow the Energy – When something lights you up or sparks your curiosity, pay attention. That’s your heart guiding you toward something meaningful.
Now, I’ll ask you this: Are you playing it safe, making decisions from logic and fear? Or are you listening to your heart and allowing yourself to be led by what truly excites you? The choice is always yours.
To your success and abundance!
Tania
P.S. Speaking of opportunities—here’s one you don’t want to miss!
My last in-person event in Santa Fe, Increase Your Income & Impact, is happening April 3-5. If you’re ready to expand your vision and say YES to what’s possible, join us! Click here to learn more.
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