Just Do It

After speaking to a friend, I was reminded just how much fear was impacting my progress in life.

You see years of pulling myself down had taken its toll on how I interacted with people and what I thought or felt I could say or do. It also made me build a self-limiting wall, guarding me against anything that might want to shake me out of the comfort of not speaking out.

Here’s an example:

I can be very opinionated within my quarters (my safety place among people that I know and are comfortable with). However, take me out of that scenario and I become an observer. Even if I want to contribute to a discussion, voice my opinion or thoughts on a particular topic, or speak out regarding something I may not agree with, I still find myself shrivelling back in fear.

There have been a number of times I have wanted to tweet something and then at the last minute just as I’m about to hit tweet, I delete it and forget about it for fear of rubbing people up the wrong way.

I then justify my actions by saying  “I probably wouldn’t have made that much of an impact anyway”. What difference can a drop make in an ocean, right?

Yet, there lies the problem, the fact that I keep feeling that my ‘little’ can’t make that much of a difference, or my voice shouldn’t be heard. On top of that, I really don’t want to have to feel the pain of rejection (rejection of not being accepted or understood).  

Nevertheless the truth, which my friend reiterated is that I would never truly be free until I stopped worrying about insignificant nothings.

I need to constantly remind myself of why I’m doing this and not lose focus and be distracted by the cripples of fear.

I need to forget about how I will be perceived or whether or not people will understand me, because no matter how small, I have a platform to impact people’s lives for the better.

So what is it that you're afraid of?”

Pause. Think about it, and when you’ve got the answer, then ‘Just do it’.

Do the very thing that makes you quake in your boots, because no matter how scared you may feel at the time, that action will very likely make a much bigger impact than you can imagine; leaving you wondering why you didn’t make moves a lot sooner.

God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love & a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7), so I WILL speak out when & where necessary.

Please watch the video below where I VOICE my opinion on a particular issue that i’m passionate about, and let me know what you think.

PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK TO VIEW VIDEO

https://youtu.be/0rgq6ZHrT30

Everyday Curveballs

Coined from when the pitcher in a baseball game intentionally causes the ball to swerve off-track, comes the popular saying: “When life throws you a curveball…”

This statement is then followed by an encouraging one-liner, aimed at easing the pain of an unexpected event that has occurred, an often-painful deviation in life.

These situations, such as an illness, failure, redundancy, or even the loss of a loved one, can be very traumatic and cause a lot of stress.

Nevertheless, very little emphasis is placed on the mundane everyday happenings. Happenings such as missing the bus/train/flight, indefinitely being placed on hold by our mobile phone providers, having to stay back in the office, or getting stuck in traffic.

While these seemingly everyday ‘curveballs’ are (rightfully) overlooked and deemed insignificant in comparison to major events like those mentioned above, these mishaps build up stresses that can affect the rest of the day.

Additionally, depending on how we think or react, they can cause the same kind of damage to our minds and overall health if not dealt with.

Although easier said than done, primarily we must realise that ‘our reaction’ to these circumstances are pinnacle to how things will go on the pitch (field).

Our decision in those spilt seconds, not only determine how we feel for the rest of the day (season), but can indirectly affect those around us as well.

Our decision determines whether or not we hit that curveball.

So the question is, when things don’t quite go our way, how do we ensure that it doesn’t negatively affect us and mess up the flow, because lets face it, certain periods in life can be challenging.
Fancy words no longer impress and inspirational statements and quotes no longer inspire as they used to, because it’s no longer hypothetical or theory. THINGS have become real.

Everyone deals with situations differently, but what I do know is that the hidden God-given strength infused into our very fibre, will literally pull us through.

You may not understand what’s going on around you, but trust that you will get through it.

This has seen me through a season that was not only unexpected but also rough.

Remember the experience of hitting a curveball, will make you more confident to handle other situations that may arise. You’ll also be better equipped to hit those everyday curveballs without a hitch and have that ball sailing through the air.

      

PLEASE VIEW THE ACCOMPANYING VLOG BY CLICKING THE LINK BELOW:

https://youtu.be/7GzFGCJ1a7U

Tainted View

There are different ways we can view things, but only one perspective really matters, the right one.

Many of the views we hold today have been tainted or distorted, and are being passed off as the truth, when in reality they couldn’t be further away from it.

Viewing something from another angle or with a different lens changes the perception we have of that particular matter, and the issue that was so prevalent, will no longer be a cause for concern.

A shift in perspective breaks through the cause and effect cycle in motion, and things will begin to change to fit the new view.

You see with a tainted view, things look darker, bleaker and less attractive, but once the lens has been changed you’ll begin to enjoy the beauty of what was always around you but oblivious to you at the time.

As you watch this vlog, think to yourself, "what lens have I been looking through?", and if a wrong lens has been tainting your view of life, then its high time you invested in the right lens. It will bring about a clearer image, ultimately leading to a better more confident life.

PLEASE CLICK ON LINK BELOW TO VIEW THE ACCOMPANYING VLOG:

https://youtu.be/VCCZaaZBxwo

What the Tortoise has, that we all need

Reminiscing on some life lessons learnt from a recent trip I took, I was reminded of the story, ‘The Tortoise and the Hare'.

The story goes a little like this:

Tired of constantly being jeered and belittled by the arrogant Hare, the Tortoise challenged the Hare to a race.

Predictably, the Hare sped off leaving the slow Tortoise behind, and rather over confident in his ability to win the race; he decided to take a midway nap. 

Upon waking, the Hare smugly sprinted towards the finish line, only to realise that slowly but surely the Tortoise had managed to overtake him during his nap, and went on to win the race.

  

The END!

Now there ARE many lessons that can be deduced from this analogy, from how the Hare’s arrogance proved to be detrimental to his victory, to the wisdom and grit shown on the Tortoise’s part. 

Nevertheless, I want to shed some light on a key factor that can very easily be overlooked: the ‘power of perseverance'.

The Tortoise would have persisted in his pursuit, even though winning seemed like an impossible task.

Spectators would have scoffed at the idea of him crossing the finish line before the unquestionably faster Hare.

Thoughts of doubt very likely crossed his mind, but he would have quickly replaced them by re-focusing on the objective - his desired end result.

The track was probably harsh against his inner shell, the pressure on his feet oftentimes overbearing, and the heat from the baking sun overwhelming.

Despite it all, he would have consistently pressed ahead fuelled by the force of his dogged perseverance. 

Just like Mr. Tortoise, sometimes you need to challenge yourself to change the status quo, or what is expected of you. People may make you feel inadequate, and society may have labelled you, but YOU need to persist in shutting them out.

For years I thought I was at a disadvantage to my peers, as I didn't quite look the same and so accepted the label that was constantly chucked at me. This led to me developing a negative mindset regarding myself and what I could do; inevitably limiting my accomplishments.

Having recently taken on a different perspective, I now try to act upon what I know to do, no matter how daring it may seem.

Little by little, I know that progress is being made as I diligently head towards my purpose.

The Tortoise ran his race at his own pace, so just like him, we must not compare or measure ourselves against the speed of others; which only serves as a distraction. Remember that the race is not for the swift*.

If you don't like where you are, do something about it. Get out of your comfort zone, and change your environment. This will help you see differently, which will change the way you act. You cannot do the same thing, and expect different results.

Regardless of whether or not the tortoise had a strategy to winning; after analysing the pompous character of the Hare, and hoping that he would indeed take that nap.

Or whether he just took a chance stirred by the irritation of his situation, one thing remains true: He MOVED and then he WON!

This my friends, is what perseverance looks like, and this is what the Tortoise possessed that we all need.

*Ecclesiastes 9:11 

*Image Credit: EveLivesey.deviantart.com

Please click the link below to watch the accompanying vlog:

https://youtu.be/g-LBJ09x6MY

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