About this quote

Loss or disappointment can fix your view on what you lost and make other options invisible. Shift your attention on purpose and scan the edges of your situation for small possibilities. Give yourself a short time to grieve, then take one concrete step — a call, a walk, a small experiment — to force a change of focus. That single action often reveals opportunities you missed while you were staring at the closed door.

When to use it

• After a layoff at my startup: "I stared at that job listing for days, then I reached out to a former client and ended up with contract work that fits better."
• After failing a crucial exam in college: "I was crushed, but I joined a different study group and found a path to retake and pass the class."
• After a painful breakup: "I let myself be sad for a weekend, then I signed up for a local class and met friends who changed my routine."
• After a knee injury that ended my season: "I spent a month on rehab, then started coaching youth practices — it gave me a new way to stay in the sport."