In life, you aren’t given opportunities. You create opportunities.

You create opportunities by being friendly to others. You create them by always keeping doors open. You create them by helping someone out when you see them struggling. Be outgoing and meet new people. Be confident and realize that others have done what you fear.

Attend meetings and gatherings. Always say “yes” when you get asked to do something. Be open-minded to all ideas and offers. Be optimistic about your chances to succeed – at anything.

You create opportunities by making yourself the kind of person that others want to have around. If you are someone people enjoy, if people know you have something to offer, whether it’s a willingness to help, an optimistic attitude or simply the ability to smile when others are down, then they’ll want you around.

When people want you around, they’ll start inviting you to things you didn’t know existed. And when you get invited, you go. Because trying new things always creates new opportunities.

People can give you an opportunity, but you’re less likely to take it. When you create opportunities, they’re far more meaningful and the effects longer-lasting.

Opportunity means more exposure to life, and the more exposure you have, the more empathy and compassion you will develop. The deeper your perspective will be. When you’re life winds down, you don’t want to look back on a lifetime full of missed opportunity and regret.

And when you’re given an opportunity, and you’re not sure if you should take it, think about all of those people who’ll never get that opportunity. Think about all the people who would kill for that chance you’ve been given.

Even when my pursuit of an opportunity didn’t turn into anything good, it was still great. Sometimes you need to follow a lead to learn that it wasn’t the right thing for you. Nothing bad comes of pursuing the chances that life give you. Even when it’s bad, it’s good.

Never pass on the opportunity to create more opportunities.