Crowning Glories

Titles…..from status related titles to beauty queens to bla bla bla.

Awards…collectors of awards, an unending stream of awards.

Celebrity…to be associated as as socialite, rich, famous, popular.

Public Figure…want to be gazed and adored by the masses.

Looking at the above…..just what does it all mean.

• What is the value of it all?
• What is the purpose of it all?
• Who benefits from it all?

Not too long ago, as someone who was unfamiliar with these all, I too was very tempted to pursue all of the above. Why? Perhaps it is wanting to be a ‘somebody’, wanting to feed the ego or because it gives significance to who I am.

Now that I am in this “circle”, things look rather anti-climax. Are the title holders, awards recipients, celebrities, public figures all they are made up to be or thought of? Respectfully I say, there are undoubtedly many who deserves it and is leveraging on their position of ‘privilege’ to do good for the community, I cannot think likewise of the many others.

Gone are the days where Titles, Awards, Public Figures, Celebrities…..are earned through hardwork and significant contributions. These days, money speaks! Yes, let me repeat. Money speaks. If you are willing to spend a few hundred to multiple thousands, you will get an express elevation to that ‘status’.

Question — where is the value of these all????? Bought instead of qualifying and receiving on merit. Sigh.

A number has asked questions like why am I not having a title, why not receive more awards, etc. Simple – I just do not see the importance of actively pursuing these crowning glories. My value and significance is not determined by the titles and awards. Some of the richest people and also people who gives back significantly to the community are without any titles, awards, media appearances, etc. Yet they live a life full of meaning and impacting people around them positively everyday.

Look at facebook. Have you not realized the big increase of people converting their status to “public figure”?  *shake head* …..for what I may ask.

Being an unknown person is not a sin nor is it a shameful thing. My creator created me to be me…..that’s it. Simple me. My value and significance comes in the love I receive from my loved ones and blessing the community around me.

Pursuing these “crowning glories” may seem exciting to many. But in my opinion, it is also a baggage. To have to keep adding these glories to ensure we live a happy life (so we think) and make us continually look good to others….is a tiring thing. When will it end? When will it be enough?

So does this mean I will reject titles, awards, status…..? No. If it is a blessing from my Jesus, I will gladly accept it because I know I have earned it, not bought it. I receive it because not for my own benefits but so that I can use it to benefit others. But if I never receive any ‘crowning glories’ from hereon for the rest of my life….so be it. I am grateful for the blessings that I have received and is receiving in all it’s different forms.

Don’t Lose the Groove

Grooooooovy! Yeah, I enjoyed an excellent productive period when I was in the groove. Months passed….and unexpectedly (or ignorantly), I hit a speed bump mentally and physically.

I supposed I may have forgotten to go for my pit stops during my “groovy” period and coupled with some unexpected circumstances, that contributed to my speed bump. Losing my groove was tough. Lost my jive, creativity, energy, etc etc etc. Sigh!

Being the stubborn (sometimes) person that I am, well, I guess it took this “bump” to slow me down and go for my pit stop….a slightly longer one than anticipated. Being on such a high tempo for so many months consecutively, it took quite a big effort to just chill. Managing this down time was a real challenge and I had to learn to live with it.

The early days was ok…then it followed up with frustrations and restlessness. For you high performance folks out there, you would understand. Still my mind and body was having none of my attitude! It’s almost my mind and body telling me to go ahead with whatever I want to do, just leave them out of it. Oh oh 😦

No point being rebellious about it, so just embrace the down time and manage myself better. At least I do not add on to the frustration. Wakakaka. And learn to laugh while I am at it 😀

Few days ago, I thot I was recovering and was ready to drive out of the pit stop at top speed….then my engine stuttered. Arrrrrgh! Back to the pit stop. More waiting and down time. Tick tock tick tock! Reminding myself at all times to smile, laugh, rest, etc.

Today am feeling the signal that am ready to leave the pit stop. This time, am being wiser. Gonna leave the pit stop casually before gradually increase speed and momentum. So far so good…..easy does it 😀

See ya’all soon at F1 race track aka life!

 

 

The PERFECT Boss

The PERFECT boss. Wauzers! Won’t it be a dream come true (according to the minds of employees).

Wake up! There ain’t no perfect boss(es)….only bosses who think so of themselves. Hey bosses, yeah you….reality is we are all flawed. The matter is the degree of our flaw. In my opinion, bosses who think of themselves as perfect, are likely the most irritable, short tempered, unrealistic, etc. individual.

There is only one ever PERFECT being….past, today and tomorrow. That is our GOD!

So let us all just wake up and stop playing God. We are mere human beings….mortals….flawed from the day we are born. We can minimize our flaws but never be perfect. Bosses, just as you cannot find the perfect employee, neither can you ever be the perfect employer.

“PERFECT” bosses are often identifiable by…

1. Super high regards of oneself, often characterized by words like “why can’t they be like me”
2. Employees are somewhat insignificant
3. Tendency to command instead of communicating
4. Has sharp tongue (often condemning and critical) and blocked ears (never listens)
5. Lonely

All said and done, our office need not be a battleground between boss and employees. Our battleground out there….in the marketplace. Our office outta be place of acceptance, motivation, recharging, etc.

Let’s make ALL our days a little better by

• Accepting each other as we are
• Focusing on each other’s strength, rather than flaws
• Communicate Communicate Communicate
• Employers and employees is a team (don’t deny this). We are a team. Team means each of our strength helps to cover each other’s flaw.

 

 

Wall *Whack*

Conviction has driven me the past many months, accomplishing much to my surprise and satisfaction. Am most grateful for the breakthroughs. However, I have come to a realization that it is not possible for a human being, machines included to be performing at max level without needing a break or “service” period.

Of late I feel like my machine aka mind and body has hit a wall! Yes, wham! As much as I tried to push on….kinda like driving over a road hump, it is not possible. I hit a wall! All circumstances accumulated, biz and personal has had my mind and body shout “enough!”

So what are my options now?

REST! PAUSE! SELAH! … pray

So am listening to my mind and body. Taking things easy. Not gonna put too much stress or pressure on myself. Just gonna go for a stroll, not stop completely, but a stroll. Once the break or service period is over, will be able to go full speed ahead again.

Sometimes we are too ignorant of our body and mind that we stubbornly push on…..until we breakdown. The consequences can be bad… So wisdom dictates we be exercise common sense and pace ourselves until we are ready to fly again.

As someone famous once said, I will be back 😀

TUNNEL Vision. TUNNEL Emotion

Had experience on numerous occasions speaking to tunnel vision people. Frusrating it may be, but bearable. BUT when it comes to tunnel emotion people….well, let’s just say even one time is once too many.

Tunnel emotion people are simply too emotionally narrow, limited, easily offended. All they tend to see or feel is negativity. They are not able to comprehend the fact that even a coin has 2 sides and do not bother to try to understand the other side of the story.

For one to grow and mature emotionally, mentally, spiritually and even as an employer/employee, we cannot afford to have tunnel vision, especially tunnel emotions. It is a tremendous baggage that will hold us back….perhaps make a few enemies (not by others but us making enemies of others).

Life offers us choices. If we are given the freedom to choose, why can’t we choose wisely? The answer is obvious. Taking the path of “I am like that” is just a lazy excuse.

So guys and gals, life is short. Let’s not make excuses not to be a better person. Choose to be the better person!

I Said NO

The world is full of temptations. What are some of the biggest temptations for an entrepreneur?  I would have to say success, recognition, fame, money, etc. How many actually look beyond these? Why are these so important? Does the reason go beyond “self”?

Anyway, am not talking about these today. Exercising caution and being careful not to tread on anyone’s toes….one of the most important word an entrepreneur has to learn is #NO. We tend to immediately embrace anything that will inflate our ego. Nothing wrong with that right….or is there. This very much depends on the values we carry.

Heard of the adage “Less Is More”?

As of now I am literally at the crossroad….do I want to spell out precisely my thoughts and risk offending some people?

Let’s see if I can rephrase my words…. If someone is to offer you something in return for money though it’s “packaged” otherwise, would you accept? In other words, you are actually receiving it because you paid. Yet you go into the world proclaiming that it was not paid. Does that jive with your values or is it conflicting?

In my opinion, the world (except the minority) would not know the truth and thus you can continue dancing and basking in  glory. Yet the most important person knows…..who? YOU! Yes you/me know the truth. Are we cheating ourselves by believing in a lie?

I have been put in this situation time and time again. Each time without fail I have rejected them all….simply because it conflicts with my values. Recently I find myself such a situation again. This time the offer came from the top echelons of society. Wauzers! I never thot this would come from them. Because of the status of this person, nobody would ever question the validity (they know the truth in silence). Talk about strong temptations.

Well, after an evening of consideration, prayers and seeking the counsel of trusted friends I said NO! I turned the offer down. No doubt some folks may call me a fool but better a truthful fool than a lying glory.

As I prayed, am reminded of men whom God has sent my way…..who has shown me that their success and everything else needs no validation from anyone. They are super rich, super successful and yet remain completely anonymous. That’s to be respected.

WAITING TO BOOM

We are not waiting for something bad to explode. We are however waiting for something good to explode. An explosion of blessing…

Waiting………………………………………. starting to feel irritated? Humans, particularly the current generations are not born to wait. Everything has to be instantaneous – food, money, happiness, results, etc. Waiting is often associated with negativity.

But if one reads the bible, waiting is good. The right waiting that is…..that is brought and initiated by the Lord.

• Waiting builds character
• Waiting builds perseverance
• Waiting allows us to refocus
• Waiting helps clear our mind
• Waiting teaches us obedience

Personally, I have waited about 10 years, well not all waiting. There were some laziness somewhere in there too (naughty me). As the pic says, there are decades where nothing happens. As sleeping beauty was suddenly awakened by a kiss, I too suddenly awoke (not kiss for me ya, LOL, but my Lord Jesus). My awakening was not just the opening of my mind and heart but was filled with #conviction.

Even after being awakened, I still had to…..yes you guessed it… WAIT! I tried many things. I tried to push. Tried to hurry. But nothing came to past. Then as I settled down to wait, my waiting ended. Ironic eh? Yes, when God moves, He moves! Suddenly I had weeks where decades happen. My world was full of progress and productivity. Wauzers! Good thing my hair remained intact with the speed I was travelling in.

So dear friends, do not despise your #waiting period. You could be prepped for much greater things to come. You could even be given a break time (down time) to freshen yourself before progress hits you. You may not have time to rest then.

LOVE The Nasties

It is almost without effort all of us can love someone sweet and supporting. But can you love someone who considers us transparent, irrelevant, unimportant, 2nd class?

Being someone who is well networked (I consider myself so, to some extent), unavoidably I will come across the full spectrum of characters. Most are nice but few are the born with their noses on their forehead.

Pardon the pun or slightly strong remarks but it is said without prejudice. I have come to appreciate those in the category of #nasties. Some characteristics of nasties are:

1. Consider themselves than you (that’s why many a times they are rather arrogant and often treat others as the “invisibles”)
2. Only want to be associated with people with titles, wealthy and big companies

Many years ago, when I am still not so endowed with wisdom and maturity, this would have unnerved me or even discouraged me. However, I thank God that He has built me in my chacacter thru the years such that I am not flustered when in the midst of these people. In fact one of the ways I was built was to be consistently placed in the presence of these people.

My very nice friends are a great encourager to me in my journey but the nasties are an even greater motivator to me. They exist to teach me the lessons:

1. Do unto others as you want others to do unto you
2. The higher you climb in success, the more humble you should be
3. All are fair and equal in the eyes of God
4. Today’s nobody can be a somebody tomorrow, vise-versa, a somebody today can be a nobody tomorrow
5. Appreciate ALL people (nice and nasties) for they are here to teach us valuable lessons

So remember this….the next time you are faced with a nasty, appreciate them. Learn from the experience and be a better person in the future.

pssssst ::: send the nasties a thank you card when you get to your journey. Hey, they contributed to your success.

Enjoy!

I Am a Daydreamer

Some folks perceive daydreaming to be negative, others positive. What about you?

Well, am unashamed to admit that I am a daydreamer. Nothing wrong about it. Daydreaming is actually quite good to the body and spirit. Analyse this…..when we daydream, we are transported into a world that is safe, full of possibilities, we are in position of strength, etc etc etc.

The positives in our daydreaming is a stres buster and spirit lifter. When we return to the real world, it is not an anti climax but we outta bring with us the positives and leverage on it to boost our mind and emotions. The wise one else said, if the mind can dream it, it can become a reality. So let us approach it with the question HOW to achieve our dreams, not IF we can achieve it.

For myself, when I am in distraught, I will enter into daydreaming. I draw strength from the dreams and visions and use it to give myself a leap in the real world. 

So the next time you daydream, don’t criticise yourself over it. Be glad that you can still daydream. 

Enjoy your dreams my good readers….

Prison of Unforgiveness

In this modern times, we see many who preach but not live it. It is so sad and frustrating to see this everyday.

It’s almost like people are being hypocrites. They say, share, speak but fail to live it themselves. They forgot that the loudest testimony is a living testimony. People may hear for a while but people remember most from what they see.

This is a hurting world. Look at the reports in the papers and see what’s happening around the world including our own backyard, I.e. own nation/family/friends. The world needs lots of #love and #forgiveness. Yet for pride and selfish reasons, many are unwilling to love and forgive. It’s a whole lot of tic for tac.

Unforgiveness holds us and the other party prisoners. Forgiving is not easy, this is a fact. It requires effort and sometimes a whole bunch of energy. However it is possible. Forgiveness is not just a word or speech. It is to be lived. To have forgiven means to have released yourself and the other party from all offending thoughts and emotions. If you are still being offended occasionally from past memories,etc, then you may want to be honest to yourself — “have you truly forgiven?”

Life is a series of imperfections. We are imperfect. The only perfect being is God. If He is able to extend grace, mercy, love and forgiveness to us, how much more should we do likewise unto others?

You can live a life of freedom and victory today. Decide!