Happy new month! Wishing you open doors and abundant blessings this September; let it be #ASeptemberForRemembrance. Here is a recap of August’s #ExcerptsFromTheWeekendBite (now bi-weekly) on Twitter.
Firstly, we spoke about #StartingOver
Starting over is simply beginning again. Trying out something new or employing renewed effort at what you do. For some, they are two dreaded words that imply difficulty and delay. While others cannot fathom even a remote possibility of success with same.
Should the thought of starting over make us afraid or actually bring us new hope? It presents a fresh opportunity to do things better and succeed where you failed at first.
Some will rather stay in the worst situations because of the fear of the unknown. I believe a common saying is 'The devil you know is better than the angel you don't know'. The uncertainty tied to the thought of starting over is enough to keep such people where they are. Thus, many only get a fraction of what is in their reach; they settle for less because they are too afraid to try starting over.
You may have a job that hardly covers your transportation expenses and despite your education and experience, you chose to stay, rather than take the risk of starting over with a business of your own. The idea of job security is heavily overrated especially in a country like Nigeria. It makes trained lawyers with great grades and several years at the bar settle for a salary, the equivalent of about $200 a month, because of the certainty attached to 'regular pay'.
For you, it might not be a job, but a no-good relationship. You might chose to ignore all the signs and abuse and hold on to a false hope of a future, because of your emotional, monetary and perhaps physical investments.
Whatever the case, wake up and smell the coffee. Do a proper assessment of your situation and decide for yourself whether you are where you are meant to be. No matter how far you've gone down that road; if it's a wrong one, you need to get yourself off it and try starting over on the right track.
You can do it if you try.
Then we spoke about the need to #Persevere
When you begin a journey or start something over, you are bound to meet various forms of challenges on your path. These challenges may come in the form of rejections, limitations, stagnancy, failure, slow pace and many more.
But what do we do when faced with this? Do we summon courage and push again? What if even after we do this, things still seem difficult? Do we just quit and run away, thinking we'll live to fight another day? Or do we suck it up and persevere?
It might be difficult, you might feel distraught as a result of the failures and losses but don't give up. Joy comes in the morning!
Sometimes you just need more information or a better strategy. Or maybe it's not just the right time. Maybe you need to speak to someone with a bit more experience in that area for some guidance and just pray. Whichever case, you must persevere.
Your future is too important for you to give up now. If you have a conviction, persevere, cos #somethingsgottagive. When the time is right and all things are rightfully in place, your success will break forth like the dawn and you'll thank God that you were able to #persevere.
Persevere to the very end,
persevere my dear friend,
to life's struggles do not bend,
until you reach your desired end
In summary, there is a time to try starting over and a time to persevere, it is wisdom with which we tell the difference. A proper assessment of your situation is critical. Don't be afraid to take a dive and when you do, ensure you swim all the way. Don't get out at your first chance because the water seems cold. A little sunshine is all you need to warm it up and that is sure to come!
Wishing you all the best this month.
Cheers!
©LAW Afolabi, August 2015.
