"There
is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less
than the one you are capable of living." Nelson Mandela
The day
you start playing small, that day people will begin to take to you for granted
the rest of your life. This is different from being humble and docile. I have
said on this platform repeatedly that there is a difference between confidence
and arrogance. When you are fully aware of your potentials, you are empowered
with the power to act- that dunamis, the unction to function effectively.
An
arrogant person knows little, is blinded to knowing more and thus limited in
knowledge. Know when your confidence is becoming marred with arrogance. Back then
in primary school [I did not attend nursery] we had this song that best
underscores the essence of why we must never play small;
*I know, I know, the little I know, I shall never forget*
Never let
people confuse your confidence for arrogance with their deliberate act of
igniting the anger in you by ignoring your potentials. Just stay focused and
tell yourself “I know who I am”. Wen you exude those inner sentiments of
belief, confidence and power to act, it radiates all over you and people around
you are infected. That way they can't make you settle for less.
Know thyself,
know thy enemy and in a hundred battles you will have a hundred victories Sun Tzu.
Dutch Post-Impressionist Painter Vincent Van Gogh once wrote "The
fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have
never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore." Many times we let the
fear within becloud our visions of the success out there.
If you can win the “battle of the self” then you will remain unfazed even in the most turbulent storms of life. Those who overcome the inner fear are those who have understood that God plays a major role in their lives and such they let him be God.
Yes, “Let God be God”.
When Jesus met Peter and told him "put out into the deep", Peter was distraught already from the long night of catching nothing. Remember, he was an experienced fisherman. Jesus spoke with the confidence of one who knows whom he is and what he is capable of doing. Peter could have been arrogant and told Jesus off, yet he was humble, humble enough to Let God be God in his life despite his disappointment of not catching anything. In trusting God, he reaped bountifully not just in this earth but in heaven.
One of my favourite Television Series is "House of Cards", which tells about a man's quest for political power and role of his wife in helping him achieve his goal. Now in its fourth season, the main Character Frank Underwood as depicted by Kevin Spacey is seeking re-election and during one of campaigns in college just before he was shot, he made these comments which struck my heart.
"A
diversity of ideas makes us all wiser. True leadership is not running away from
those who disagree with you, but embracing them". Frank Underwood was
ruthless in his political manipulation, he displayed both Machiavellian and Sun
Tzu's strategic planning with regards to politics. But in all he did, knew the
importance of working with opposition to achieve a common goal. Call him
ruthless, heartless, arrogant or wicked, if there is one word that best
described him in that television series, it is confidence!
As a
leader, you must work with those who disapprove of your methods, systems and
strategies. The essence of leadership is to galvanize action for sustainable
growth and development of everyone irrespective of which side of the divide we
fall in. This is the goal of Diplomacy and Politics. Never show a weak arm if
not your opponent will exploit you .
Today is World
Water Day!
"Do what you can, do it with others, do it
with passion." Guy Rydan,
According to www.worldwaterday.org
This year’s theme – Nature for Water – explores how we can use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century.
Environmental damage, together with climate change, is driving the water-related crises we see around the world. Floods, drought and water pollution are all made worse by degraded vegetation, soil, rivers and lakes.
When we neglect our ecosystems, we make it harder to provide everyone with the water we need to survive and thrive.
Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of our water challenges. We need to do so much more with ‘green’ infrastructure and harmonize it with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will re balance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.
Today I remember the hardships people go
through during drought and I thankful. Today I realize again the importance of
water and I am thankful. Today, I remember when during NYSC in Jalingo, Taraba
State, North East Nigeria we were faced with shortage of water and we resorted
to buying sachet water to bath during
the 3 weeks Orientation Camp first at Wukari, the present site of the Federal
University, Wukari.
Today I
join in the campaign for water sanitation across the globe. Today I am thankful
that I have access to safe drinking water. But in my Thanksgiving, I remember
those who only have, who find it difficult to have potable drinking water. Today,
I am asking you all to spare a thought about how you use water. World Water
Day, on 22 March every year, is about taking action to tackle the water crisis.
Today, over 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with
faeces, putting them at risk of contracting cholera, dysentery, typhoid and
polio.
Stop the
wastage!
OjisiEmezie
0 comments