What do you do when you do not know what to do 2…

We all have times/moments in life when it looks like everything is against us. It looks like we are not where we should be or things are not quite working as we expect.

Sometimes we feel we are not where we want to be despite having tried all. To continue in this line of thought only leads to discouragement and despair.

At such times, when we feel we do not know what to do next, we need to re-evaluate the situation(s). And to help do this effectively, we need to see the situation through the eyes of gratitude

Gratitude

A lot has been said about being grateful. It can not be over flogged. I have discovered that this gratitude thing has got to be personal i.e. it is not a duty or a mechanical event. Sit down, take a sheet of paper and pen and begin to list things you are grateful for example:

• You are alive
• You are not in the hospital
• You have eyes to read this
• You have hands to type
• You have opportunity to access the internet
• You have 10 fingers
• You have 10 toes
• You are not bed ridden
• Things are bad but not everything is bad

Recently, my wife and I decided to take stock, we took a sheet of paper and divided it into two. We listed the good things on the left and the bad ones on the right. As we started listing all we could remember, it became apparent that the challenge is predominantly in only one area.

The exercise helped us to know that our challenges are in only one area and all the other things are working fine. So we were able to give thanks.

The exercise is such that no one can do it on your behalf but you have got to step back and consciously remember the things in your life that are working.

If we forget our problems the way we forget our blessings, life will be great.

It is amazing how when we focus on the positive, we see a light …The more grateful we are, for the things that have worked, that are working, the easier it is for us to move forward. Also, it is as if the exercise turns the light on and you suddenly begin to see things from a different light.

When you do not know what to do and you are feeling down and dejected, switch over consciously to the positive side by being grateful and you will be amazed how things turn around.

Tribute to Jim Rohn

One of the people that started me out on the road to personal development and improvement was Jim Rohn. I was particularly drawn to him because his messages were simple and you did not have to be a genius to know that what he was saying made absolute sense.

His seminars and books have had so much influence on me and I will like to share a few of the lessons, quotes and profound statements as taught by the greatest business philosopher.

• When the promise is clear, the price is easy
• A few things are responsible for the most result, find the few and spend most time on them
• We get paid for bringing value to the market place
• One discipline always leads to another discipline
• Formal education will make you a living; self education will make you a fortune
• Success is a few disciplines practised everyday; while failure is a few errors in judgement repeated everyday.
• Success is what you attract by the person you become
• If you will change, everything will change
• Work harder on yourself than you do on your job Think and act on these thoughts.

These philosophy has transformed my life and I will certainly recommend any of his materials (books, tapes and CDs) to anyone seeking for fulfillment and development in any and every area of his/her life.

Maximise your Weakness

There was once a 10 year-old boy who decided to study judo despite having lost his left arm in a terrible auto accident. He registered with an old Japanese judo master and started his lessons.

The boy was doing well in his training, and so he couldn’t understand why after three months, the master had taught him only one move.

“Master”, the boy said finally, “shouldn’t I be learning more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but it is the only move you’ll ever need to
know,” the master replied.  Not quite understanding, but believing in the teacher, the boy kept training.

Several months later, the master took the boy to his first tournament, where he easily won his first two matches. The third match was more difficult. However, after some time, his opponent became impatient and the boy was able to use his one move to win the match. He was quite amazed at the fact that he was now in the finals in spite of having mastered just one move.

The day for the final of the tournament came and this time his opponent was bigger, stronger and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might be hurt, the referee called for a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the master intervened. No, “he said, let them continue.”

Soon after the match resumed, the opponent made a critical mistake; he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin his opponent down. He won the match and the tournament. He was the champion!

On the way home, the boy and the master reviewed every move in each match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. “Master, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the master answered. “First, you’ve mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness turned out to be his biggest strength after all.

We all have weaknesses. Those same weaknesses, put in the right perspective, and properly channelled, could become strengths.

Maximise your weakness.

What am I here for?

Lately, I have been pondering over some issues which led me to ask some questions. As I thought more about them, I realised that I am not alone in the quest for answers. We live in a world filled with questions, and in addition to those that are running inside of us, the environment and society also throw some at us.

There are three categories of questions:

• Those we have answers to
• Those we do not have the answers to but can get from others
• Those that no one on earth has the answers to

As I started this write up, it dawned on me that no one has all the answers – the day a mortal has all the answers in the world, he stops needing God. I do not have all the answers and I will not pretend to, but I hope to achieve one or all of the following, through this medium:

• Stir you up to seek for the answers that are relevant to you
• Seek for answers from those that might have a bit of insight
• Get us all to exchange ideas
• Hopefully provide information that will come in handy for others that are not yet asking questions

One of the questions that I have asked (and I am still asking) is: What is this life all about? What am I here for?

In my search for an answer, I read the book “Purpose Driven Life” by Rick Warren. If you have not read it, I recommend that you please get a copy and read. From God’s word and the book, I got a few points:

• God created us and He had a plan and reason for allowing you to come to the world and at a time like this
• God never makes a mistake and you are not a mistake
• Everything that has happened to you and is happening to you is part of the whole picture/show – even the bad experiences are all working together for your good
• You will never find a meaning outside of God
• God has brought you to this world to solve a problem
• You are unique and special – so no point comparing yourself to another
• Your assignment is also unique and different – so no need trying to do it the way others have.
• Greatness lies in you
• You were made and wired up for connecting with others especially God’s people

While I do not intend to shove the content of the book down your throat, it is my strong belief that we all need to take time out, and ask this all important question: Why am I here?

It looks like we have a different problem in this age – now we know so much yet do very little about what we know. We know what we should do but we often do not do those things. It is the third month of 2009 and the question is where will you and I be by the end of the year? Closer to our purpose/dream or further? To be closer to our purpose, we need to know what our purpose is and take steps towards fulfilling our purpose.

The type of questions you and I ask will determine the kind of answers we will get. While yesterday is gone, and today is going; tomorrow is still there for us to start living our dreams and walking in purpose. If you have found your assignment, are you pursing it? If you have not found your assignment, seek and you will find. In all, let us wake up and do what we have to do.

What exactly are you here for?

Seye