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We?ve all seen a pendulum as it hangs from the bottom of a clock and swings back and forth. First it goes in one direction, than it goes back in the opposite direction. The back and forth continues forever ? its motion moves the hands of the clock forward.?
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For all of you physics junkies, here is the scientific explanation of Pendulum:?
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A pendulum?is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When the pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position. When released, the restoring force combined with the pendulum?s mass causes it to oscillate about the equilibrium position, swinging back and forth.
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A few weeks ago while preparing for a presentation, it suddenly occurred to me that 2 of the 7 principles of Gumption?are exactly like a pendulum ? adversity and opportunity. They are a counterbalance to each other. Whenever one occurs, the other always seems to appear shortly thereafter ? just like clockwork ? just like a pendulum.
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The word pendulum is derived from the Latin pendulus meaning ?hanging.?
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That is interesting because life seems to hang smack dab in the middle of a continuous series of opportunities and adversities ? and it?s that back and forth progression of opportunities and adversities that move us closer to our goals. And more importantly, the oscillations develop our character as human beings.
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Whenever an opportunity comes into your life, you can rest assured that adversity will follow. There will be challenges. There will be setbacks. What initially seems fortuitous oftentimes reveals itself as difficult and rife with struggles. We sometimes label these challenges as bad.
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Likewise, whenever a great challenge, setback or an unforeseen adversity suddenly pops into your life ? an unexpected opportunity will reveal itself as a direct consequence of that misfortune. And it?s often construed as good.
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Here are 4 strategies for getting the pendulum to swing your way with opportunities and adversities.
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[Read more…] about The Swinging Pendulum of Opportunity and Adversity
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