OVERCOMING ADVERSITY SERIES (7)

UNLEASH THE POWER OF CLARITY

The present is a moment of creation and power; you can create or design the architecture of the future you want to have. It is in this moment that you define the direction, or course for your life. To embrace the present is to take charge of your future; you create your future, instead of letting the future happen to you.

The fact that you’ve faced challenges, had problems, experienced adversity doesn’t mean that you have to accept anything that comes your way. You must have clarity of vision. Where do you want to go now? What conditions do you want to experience? What exactly do you want? You must be able to hold a picture of that in your mind as well as state it clearly on paper. It takes a clear mind to choose the future you want and to follow your path.

Suppose someone gave you a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but it didn’t have an image on the box of what the end result should look like. Wouldn’t you have a much harder time putting the puzzle together, than if you had a clear picture of the end result? Definitely!

Well, through trial, and a lot of error, you may eventually put it together, but the process will be long and arduous. Having a clear picture of the end result eases the feelings of frustration and increases your chances of achieving success.

If we do not have a clear picture as to what we want to create in our lives, we have doubt; confusion, stress, worries, dysfunction and then fear, which by default take the place of clarity. When we have clarity, we eliminate these negative emotions; the pictures in our mind are vibrant and rich in detail. When you see what you want, you also see yourself in possession of what you desire.

Have you ever noticed how certain you are when you know the directions to where you want to go? We think in pictures. Aristotle said “The soul cannot think without pictures.” The images you hold in your mind influence what you focus on and will influence your actions and consequent results. When you can “see” your goal, the path that will take you there becomes illuminated as well.

Clarity is a choice

Clarity is a key ability shared by successful people everywhere. If you are going to achieve anything significant in life, you will have to get clear on exactly what it is you want to achieve and why you want to achieve it.

If you are not clear, or you don't know exactly what you want, then you would have to sit down and clarify your intentions. That sense of knowing what you want isn't going to just come to you. You have to consciously choose.

Clarity is a choice, not an accident or a gift. Clarity doesn't come to you – you go to it. This can only be done by you, and no one else. Those people who know exactly what it is that they what to achieve, are at a distinct advantage to those who do not know.

When you choose to clarify your dreams and goals that’s the moment you begin to lead yourself than allowing others to lead you. When you don’t set clear goals, you become a slave to the goals of others. But why choose to be slave when you can be king?

Clarity is king

Nothing ever happens without clarity. You cannot achieve much, or maximize your potential without clarity. A lot of people have an idea of what they want but they are not clear on exactly what they want to achieve and why. Someone has said, “If you don’t know where you are going, a map will be of no use.”

What makes some people more successful than others is their ability to have a clear vision of who they are and what talents, skills and abilities they have, and where they are going.

Clarity is essential to anything you do in life. Without clarity you would not succeed the way you would like to. Once you achieve clarity, life changes. You are able to accelerate actions and processes. Clarity guarantees speed.

¹¹Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. ¹²Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:11-12)

Clarity is power

“People who are confused take no action. Clarity = Power. You can’t commit if you’re still looking” – Keith Cunningham

Clarity changes everything. Nothing worthwhile is ever achieved without clarity. Clarity precedes success; it is the key to unlocking your potential and manifesting your destiny.

If you read the verses that preceded the scriptures quoted above, God spoke to Jeremiah about his mission and his destiny. But that was only going to be possible to the extent to which he sees well. Seeing well (clarity) will help manifest his destiny speedily.

The things that fight us from gaining clarity are the multiplicity of events that competes for our attention. And this is especially so when we are working to climb out of adversity. Our attention is pulled in every direction; therefore, having clarity about what is truly desired provides a focal point with which to direct our attention deliberately.

Without a focal point, directing attention becomes more of a challenge. When you are very clear about what you want and you make that your focal point, directing your attention becomes effortless. So, decide what you want, be very clear about it and give that your attention.

In my next post, I will help you with the steps you can take to gain greater clarity in your pursuits. Every success…

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY SERIES 2

THE POWER OF CHOICE

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Dr. Victor Frankl wrote: “...everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of all human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” So we are never without power. While we cannot choose our conditions, we are entirely free to choose our response to those conditions.

When adversity visits your life, you have two choices: to be a victim or to be a victor. Either we choose to be responsible for the life we create or we shirk our responsibility by blaming others or events for our failures and unhappiness.

Those who choose to be victims allow life circumstances to get them down, and they spend their lives asking others to redress the grievances life has dealt them. Victims are needy and demand to be served.

On the other hand, those who choose to be victors don't find life to be a struggle. They find it to be exhilarating. They don't encounter problems; they merely face things they wish to change. When they find something blocking their way, they look for a way to get around it or to overcome it. In a word, they look for, and find, solutions.

Victims are experts at looking for excuses. They almost delight in finding others and events to blame. Instead of looking for solutions, they doggedly search for excuses. They blame anything or anyone else for their problems. They refuse to get involved in finding a solution because they are, after all, victims.

People who believe they are victims say that the only way for their lives to change for the better is when other people get better, or if the socio-economic and political environment improves. They give a plethora of excuses to explain why they are in their very situation. Just listen to them talk and you will know their thinking and mindset.

The truth is, for as long as we keep thinking that it is not our fault, that it’s someone’s or something else’s, we will continue to feel helpless and powerless. By continuing to play the victim, we will completely be at the mercy of our environment or situation. We rob ourselves of so much power (the power to initiate change) by playing the victim. Most of the time the outside world will not change...not until we change first!

Victors, on the other hand, rise above the challenges they encounter. They rebound from life's hardships with newfound strength, and they use their strength to overcome their situation and serve those around them.

“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them.” – George Bernard Shaw

Why do so many people choose to be the victim? The reason, I guess, is that we get lots of sympathy, don't we? We also want to feel assured that we were in the right by justifying our own actions. Though it seems beneficial, the cost of doing so is high. The fact is, for as long as people convince themselves to be the victims of circumstance, blame something or someone else, they will never be able to take charge, learn from their experiences, move on and change their lives for the better.

Becoming a victim to your circumstances or situation is a choice. It really is! You can rise up today and choose to be a victor. May the Lord empower you with divine wisdom and strength to help you rise above your current challenges. You are a Victor, and not a Victim. Every blessing...

Making Effective Decisions and Choices

Life is about decisions, not conditions.

One of the things I do often is thinking. I am always running stuff through my mind with the view of gaining some insight into it. I realised how decisions, whether good or bad, shapes the outcome of my life, and I guess that of everyone else’s.

I believe one of God’s greatest gift to man (or humankind, if you prefer), is the gift of choice, which operates in us as freewill – the ability to make decisions and choose what we want. We can choose to serve God or Satan, do good or evil, serve others or live selfishly. It is totally up to us.

The Genesis story of creation reveals that God created man in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:28). The next thing God did with the man He had created was to put him in a garden (Eden), which is a place of His presence. God’s greatest desire was that man would be like Him, act like Him and live with Him. So He wanted to enjoy eternal fellowship with mankind.

The power to make decisions is something we all have; yet a few of us use it. Whether we want to love God or not, is absolutely our decision and God wants it so because He wants us to love Him by choice. Voluntary choice is the key – love isn't genuine if there's no other option. I could have chosen any other woman to marry but I chose Gina, my wife, and she made the decision to accept my love so I value her. She is my precious, priceless gem.

It is said that the average person makes about 350 decisions a day. We are always making decisions whether we are aware or not. Many people do not live the life of their dreams not because they do not have the ability to make it happen. They simply do not make the decision to manifest it. Some think they are not good enough whilst others attribute their inability to live their dreams to adverse conditions.

Life , as I have come to know it, is about decisions, not conditions. The fact is: we can experience the life of our dreams irrespective of the circumstances in our life. We must realise that, we, not the government, schools nor parents, are accountable for making that future happen. We can accomplish anything, when we really decide and nothing can stop us.

Life is full of decisions and choices. The decisions and choices we make determine our destiny. Decisions shape our lives. American motivational guru, Tony Robbins, said it well when he noted, “It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped”

There are folks who believe that whatever will be will be. They believe that they have no control over what happens to them. They believe that predetermined destiny rather than their own decisions govern the affairs of their lives. Much as I admit that some of the stuff that happens to us is outside our control, we have the choice as to how we respond to such events. Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. An understanding of this will help make our life more productive and fulfilling.

Dear friend, if you are not satisfied with your life presently, you can change it and set out on the journey to living the life you want. God has somewhat made you a co-creator with Him. When he said to man “be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over everything on the earth” he was essentially saying to man: “I have blessed you to become whatever you want to be”.

He asked man to rule his environment and not for his environment to rule him. Wherever you are on this planet you can make it. Your current environment might take exception to your going forward and becoming fruitful but you were blessed to dominate your environment so unleash that power which is already within you.

Success (fruitfulness), whatever it means to you, is the craving of every human being. That’s why you seldom find anyone celebrating failure. To become what the Creator made you to be starts with a decision. Decide that you are going to think thoughts that empower you and that you are not going to entertain limiting thoughts.

Need I say, that failing to make a decision is a decision in itself? Indecision is a bad decision. Studies have shown that the most successful people make decisions rapidly because they are clear on which direction they are travelling. Studies also show that people who fail usually make a decision slowly.

Do not procrastinate on your dreams or goals. Time is a very important factor to consider when making a decision. A lot of people have missed out on great opportunities because they did not act promptly. Taking one single decision in time has changed the status of big businesses. Many companies went to the top and others bankrupt as a result of decision.

There are different kinds of decisions. They are either compulsory or optional. The fact is, the quality of your decisions determine the quality of your life. Poverty is a result of poor decision-making, whereas wealth is the result of good decision-making. The global credit crunch is said to have come about by bad decisions made by some executives in Corporate America. So, you see, the decisions you make either rewards you or punishes you.

I guess the question that now comes to mind is: So, how can one make quality decisions? Let me proffer a few suggestions:

Reflect on the nature of the challenge. Every decision is a response to a situation. Recognize all problems, no matter how difficult, as opportunities for improvement, and make the most of these opportunities. Think of all possible choices and consider the effects. Will it be permanent or reversible? The Bible says, “The naive believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)

Be courageous. Choosing is a courageous act that entails opting for various courses of actions that will define one's destiny. Major decisions require courage. One must have courage to stand by their decisions, take risks, and implement it. You cannot win anything worth mentioning by playing it safe. Courage is doing what you ought to do even when you are afraid. Ambrose Redmoon, puts it more succinctly when he said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.”

Some people make bad decisions or give up on their good decision because of a poor self-esteem. Others easily pressure them into doing things even when they recognise that it is not in line with their values and goals.

Evaluate your choices – which one fits most the circumstances of the situation you are trying to overcome. What are the possible down sides of your choices? Who will be affected and how? Consider the cost/benefit ratio? Does the rewards of the decision far outweigh the cost? “Any sensible person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays stupidity.” (Proverbs 13:16)

Seek wise counsel. One of the things I try to do as a leader is to build consensus during decision-making. When you involve team members in the decision making process they will have a sense of ownership of the decision. This generates momentum and helps in its effective implementation. So ask: Who needs to be involved in this decision?

Sometimes it pays to seek professional advice or seek counsel from a mentor. Solomon, observed that “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14) “For by wise counsel you shall make your war…” (Proverbs 24:8). Many people have made a shipwreck of their faith and dreams because they fail to seek counsel when making crucial decisions.

Accept responsibility for your decisions and choices. We are responsible for our own life. Whatever the outcome of your decisions, you are ultimately responsible for it. A lot of people make decisions all the time and when the outcome is not good they try to pass the buck giving all kinds of excuses. So before you decide, think about your decision, consider the consequences of your choices. Because you are responsible for your decisions.

You must note that even when you make good decisions it is likely to encounter some challenges in its implementations. Accept the challenges and resolve never to give up on your decision because of a temporary setback. Continue to work it out; devise new strategies to make it happen and you will surely succeed.

So let’s go out decide your destiny by making sound judgement. Please do share your thoughts on this post by commenting on it so all of us can learn and become better decision makers. God bless. Cheerio…