Someone has said that life is not a bed of roses. That is true! Life is not fair. If life were fair, everything would be all right and we will live the way we want, having our wishes translated into realities before our own very eyes. If wishes were horses, everyone would have a ride.
But this is not what living is all about. Life is full of heartaches, sorrows, disappointments, unfulfilled dreams, career failures, job losses, lovelorn situations and insecurities. Every one of us has had his/her own share of these difficulties. Many are even going to the grave with songs that were never sung, education and careers that were never achieved, dreams that were never realised, houses that were never bought or built, investments never made, wills not written and goals that were never consummated.
But in the midst of these pains and anguish, some are forging ahead with their dreams realised and their goals achieved. These choice people seem to have it going for them; happy family life, blossoming careers, great health, great relationships, secure financial future and all that. My verdict: I believe very much that regardless of the fact that life is not fair, we are the chief architects of how our lives turn out. Passing the buck to other people including family, friends and state institutions, may assuage the pains we feel for a while, but the truth is, whatever you want in life, until you step outside and do something about it, it will end up just a dream, a wish, a mere desire and a worthless spark of imagination.
For instance, if you desire to have great health, you have to take responsibility to watch what you eat or drink, how you treat your body and what you do with your time. You may also have to identify your stress triggers and learn how to manage them. If you want to improve your career, you may have to work on your education or aim for more training on or off the job to acquire more skills, knowledge and abilities so you can be differentiated from the rest of the crowd. Essentially, your attitude to what life throws at you will determine your altitude in life ultimately.
There are five challenges that can limit you. Identifying and neutralising them will help you to emerge the true champion that you are.
- Fear – Many are stuck in the mud of life because their lives are lived in fear. Their life is run by fear so much so that it defines what they want to be, do or have. Several years ago, while in the university, a friend told me he doesn’t want to be rich because he feared that being rich means having many enemies and being the target of armed robbers, litigants and evil people. Such a mentality confines one to a life of mediocrity. Fear has chains. It has handcuffs. It has emotional tethers that limit one from pursuing the passionate dreams of their lives. Fearful people are great people who lead small existence. They play it safe so much so that life loses its excitement, beauty and adventure. In reality, 95% of our fears have no substance. Dare to dream. Dare to live!
- Failures and setbacks – Another challenge that limits people is failure. Some individuals refuse to try their hands on that particular thing they failed in. They refuse to confront their setbacks and failures. They are hunted by the past and in fact, they build their residence in the past. Until you let your past pass, you will pass with the past. Until you confront your setbacks, they won’t turn to comeback stories for you. Until you face your failures, you will never taste the fruit of success. Comeback stories can happen to anyone, but it happens to those willing to face their setbacks.
- Discouragement – People are going to give up on you. Sometimes, the closest people in your life, including your family, may write you off. They may sing your swansong when they should actually give you new tunes. Don’t give up on yourself. You owe yourself that responsibility. Most great people today were once written off by the most important people in their lives. Don’t yield your ground to discouragement. Don’t give up your dreams because you are not getting the right support from those that matter to you. Most times, the path that leads to greatness is a lonely path.
- Wrong habits – Sometimes, too, we are our own problems. Our wrong habits are the reasons we are on the floor. Until you are willing to break that harmful or unhelpful habit, you may be doing yourself the greatest disservice. Wrong habits can stop you. Wrong habits can kill you. Wrong habits can take you from being at the front in the race of destiny and consign you to the dustbin of life. Fight wrong habits with all you’ve got. Seek help from people you can trust. Seek ways to build your immunity against wrong habits.
- Procrastination – When you put off what you are supposed to do today, you overburden your tomorrow. Procrastination is the thief of time and destiny. When you refuse to write that exam, attend those classes, make that travel, make that sales call, go for that business meeting, tell the ones you love how you feel about them, start that business, invest into your future, you personally undo your success story by yourself.
Life is not fair to anyone, but some still make a success with what life gives them. In the spirit of the times we are in, especially looking back on the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela, go out there and succeed. The world is waiting to write your own success story!
Afroscandic – Celebrating and Connecting Africa and Scandinavia.
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