By Colleen Corbett

“Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”
~Napoleon Hill

I’ve come to believe that the harder or more miserable a situation appears, the more potential it holds for something good—something even better than what we imagined. That doesn’t mean the good is guaranteed, though. It’s a possibility, a seed. And like all seeds, it needs to be recognized, nurtured, and chosen. We can embrace that “something better,” or we can ignore it and let it pass us by. Ultimately, our choices determine the outcome.

When I look back on the challenges in my life—the heartaches, the detours, the hard lessons—I can now see the good that came from them. Not always right away, of course. Sometimes it’s only in hindsight that I’ve been able to understand what those experiences gave me. In the middle of a storm, we’re usually too focused on what feels painful or wrong to recognize the potential for growth. But when we intentionally look for the good, we will find it. Sometimes it’s already blooming; other times, it’s still a seed waiting to grow.

Right now, my husband and I are in the middle of building a home. This home isn’t just a structure—it’s part of a bigger vision and a deeply meaningful goal we’ve been working toward for a long time. Because of that, it hasn’t surprised me that we’ve encountered opposition at nearly every turn. And I’ve come to see the delays and setbacks not as signs we should give up, but as natural resistance that often shows up when you’re creating something worthwhile.

At the time I’m writing this, construction has been at a standstill for nine months. That pause brought a lot of stress, worry, and disappointment—until some new circumstances gave me a fresh perspective. Now, I’m genuinely grateful for the delay. It created space for important changes we couldn’t have foreseen, and those changes have made everything better. What once felt like a frustrating halt has revealed itself as a blessing in disguise.

This experience has become a living reminder of patience and faith in action. Because I understand the laws at work—and because we’re committed to the process—I trust that we are building the home we’ve envisioned, even if it’s unfolding differently than I expected. The timing and method may not match my original plan, but I believe now that they’re part of a better one.

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