Move on

WHEN the year draws to a close, people normally take stock of their lives to assess areas of success and disappointment, hurts and thrills, as well as dreams and realities. For some people, it’s a job they got, a fatal motor accident, graduation from college, a lover who dumped them, promotion in the office, etc.

I believe that no matter what happened, the essential thing is how we respond to the occurrences of our lives. Until a person dies, there is no final point of arrival. Even that, as a Christian, I know that there is life after death. Irrespective of what our experiences have been, there are two devils we need to exorcise from our lives – sense of complacency and seat of dismay.

SENSE OF COMPLACENCY
WHEN a husband stops sending those romantic text messages to his wife as he used to do when they were courting; when an employee starts going to the office late after the confirmation of their appointment; when a politician begins to talk thrash to the populace simply because he won an election; a student gets an A+ and begins to relax – that is complacency. We all desire to successful but success could be your greatest barrier to living in continuous fulfilment. Many people fold their arms and cross their legs when they achieve a feat but we need to recognise that every level of success is the beginning of a new phase. The bane of success has been the difficulty to go beyond our success. Yes, we must celebrate but we need to move on. Getting a first class at college is wonderful and worth celebrating but the question is, “What am I gonna do with my degree?” “What about a postgraduate qualification?” So you got that juicy contract – hurray! But you need to execute the contract. That girl said yes, very well! But now you need to nurture the relationship.

As we take stock of our lives, we should take note of the good seasons and celebrate but we must not stay there. We must think that there are higher grounds to cover. We must see beyond our current successes and pursue the possibilities of the future. Complacency would only engender stagnation and mediocrity in your life.

SEAT OF DISMAY
EVERY now and then, things go contrary to our expectation. Some of these unexpected situations hit us so hard. If you go through a series of interviews for a job and you don’t get the offer, it could be disheartening. Or you find your man with another lady. What about losing a loved one – Ah! That’s heartbreaking.

Helen Keller (1880-1968) lost her sight and hearing before she turned two. Nevertheless, she managed to learn to communicate. She observed that, “We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world.” That is how she interpreted her disabilities. It’s ok to be dismayed, disappointed or disgusted. But note that there is life beyond disappointment. There is life beyond the guy who disappointed you. You can retake the test later. Don’t settle in your defeat. You need to dust off your mind and make a determination to move on. If you failed once, it doesn’t mean you will fail again. Even if you have failed a million times, you must be upbeat that you will not fail forever. Surely there will be light at the end of the tunnel. See beyond your current hurts and press on for a brighter future.

Each time something goes wrong, remember that something can go right next time. As we make a transition into a new year, I urge you to leap into the year with renewed determination. Rekindle your mind and reach for the prospects of the year.



© December 31, 2009 by Terry Mante

MAXIMISED TALENT

If you are hungry and you don’t eat, you will continue to be hungry although there may be food in front of you. Similarly, if you don’t harness your talent, it does not yield any benefit to you. I have observed that the reason people find life miserable or unfulfilling is seated in their inability to make the best use of their talents. A Junior High School pupil asked me, “Terry, do you think it is better to be a doctor or a lawyer?” I gave her my usual answer, “It depends on your natural inclinations – talent.”

The point is that no one can reach significant heights without effectively deploying their talent. In my book, Attitude is Everything! I put forward that the use of your talent “can make you a world best. All over the world, people have made names for themselves in different endeavours of life. Sports people, politicians, musicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, preachers, painters, engineers, authors, teachers, entertainers, lawyers, sculptors, medics… have excelled and gained fulfilment by unleashing their talents.”

If you want to be truly satisfied and fulfilled in life, my principal suggestion is that you get yourself engaged in something that offers you the opportunity to make use of your talents. Using your talent allows you to express your uniqueness to the full. For me, that is the highest level of freedom and fulfilment; when you can demonstrate your uniqueness.
You must not keep your talent in cold storage. Step out with confidence and deploy your talent!


Terry Mante
© 2009. Accra, Ghana