When Jesus made a profound statement that the poor will always be among us, He was reiterating an idea God had already established in Deuteronomy 15:11. It’s a fallen world, and the law of diminishing returns has the capacity to leave many things impoverished. Lack of money is the lowest form of poverty called material poverty. The power of poverty does more than strip a person of financial gain. Today, let’s see why we all need deliverance from poverty so we can walk in the fulness of His glorious riches.
We have already discussed spiritual poverty so let’s discuss what poverty does to the soul; our emotions, will and mind.
Emotional Depravity
Beyond the physicalities, poverty can greatly decay one’s soul. Our soul is a makeup of our mind, will and emotions in the very least. You may not always identify how poverty incapacitates your soul. Having no money in your pocket should not and does not automatically mean you should be depressed. Immediately you lack, the lack itself is not the problem. It’s the fact that you allowed it to completely override your emotions.
Once you’re emotionally distressed, you cannot hear God well. You give more room for doubt. Things become harder than it looks too. There were times you had absolutely nothing and you were completely fine. You did much better than the days you had little but were worried. I’m not lying. Never allow anything to steal your joy. If you’re only joyful when things go well, it’s risky. If your emotions rise and fall with the circumstances of life, it’s as though you’re tossed to and fro.
Let the enemy know that nothing can take your passion away. Nothing can steal your joy. If your emotions are saying otherwise, you choose to believe in God’s Word over your emotions. You’re allowed to be concerned but not allowed to be worried. You’re allowed to be sad but not allowed to be depressed. Don’t let poverty take you on an emotional rollercoaster as though the world has ended. God has come through for you before so have that assurance. Count it all joy when you go through tests and trials. Don’t allow your spirit to be crushed.
No Willingness
Poverty attacks your will. How many times have you sat in a conversation where the problems of this world was being discussed? Problems of your nation, your continent, your institution, your family, your community, etc were being discussed and what was the conclusion? Learned hopelessness. It doesn’t cost anything to be hopeful so don’t let poverty take that one from you. People condemn Nigeria by identifying its numerous problems and then conclude that nothing will ever change. Stop sharing ideas and plans with people who are always telling you what you can’t do. You have no idea the things that are possible.
If you have no willingness to fulfill destiny, don’t be surprised if you don’t. A willing man is more dangerous to the kingdom of darkness. The enemy knows in most cases, they can’t fight you boot for boot. So they deceive and scare you into not being willing anymore. There’s a curse in your family. Are you willing to have a change of story? You are stuck in an addiction. Are you willing to be free? Your marriage is fallen apart. Are you willing to fight for it? Because if you’re not willing, you cannot be helped. You have self-sabotaged your destiny.
One couple don’t have money and are willing to keep going. Another one divorced because there’s no money. It’s not the circumstances per se; it’s how you approach it. The enemy has been attacking your willingness all this while. He knows that if you give up, it’s easier for him. He is trying very hard to make you unwilling. No situation is impossible. There’s absolutely nothing in this world that someone hasn’t survived. Be willing to fight the good fight of faith. Be willing to reconcile with your spouse any time there’s a misunderstanding. Have the willingness to wake up everyday and show up at the arena of your destiny, even if your little actions today are not showing any signs of fruition. A willing man is a winning man!
Scarcity Mindset
It’s not a good thing to be poor for a long time. It changes your mindset so quickly. You view yourself as a victim. Anything can happen to you at will, and you accept it as your reality. You’re unable to think long-term because you’re trapped in a short-term survival disposition. You cannot thrive if you’re always trying to survive. You’ll think this victim mentality will make you humble but no, it will make you entitled. Anyone who can help you (which is everyone else except you) is looked upon with contempt. Scarcity mindset will make you think that someone’s success means you have failed.
If the enemy comes to take something from you, you don’t fight him. You rather thank God that at least he didn’t take everything. If your boss cheats you and decides to cut your salary in half without any pre-arrangements, you accept it as God’s Will and thank God because some people work hard and aren’t paid. It sounds humble but it’s not. How about those who are favoured and didn’t work for what they were given? If you keep comparing yourself with someone worse than you, you’ll keep getting worse off. Poverty will cause you to settle for less and still complain that there’s never enough.
Don’t walk through life as a victim. You are more than a conqueror. You’re not immune from the vicissitudes of life, yes. Things will get hard sometimes. Life could be tough. You’ll lose on some days. Good people will die, and some wicked people will never be punished. You’ll be broke sometimes but don’t be poor. Have a rich mindset although you have an empty account. Be willing although it looks like there’s no way out. Be anxious for nothing. Anxiety has never solved any problem you’ve ever had so stop confusing being concerned with being worried.
If your soul cannot be wearied by poverty, you have already stepped into the abundant life reality.
Poverty is the lack of any good thing, the depravity to not attain it and the ignorance not to detect your need for it. Ignorance itself is a lack of knowledge, a form of poverty. Poverty takes many forms. Personally, the worst form of it is having something good in abundance and not benefitting or seeing the need for it. Do you understand how complicated that is? You can have something in abundance and not see its relevance until you lose it.
See, once you identify the extent of poverty, you’ll hate it completely. In no way should we embrace or defend any form of poverty. One of the systems of the world is poverty. It’s a weapon fashioned to cause many to fail and fall. Because we live in a fallen world, limitations are everywhere. There’s always a problem, a need, a lack. There seem to be endless possibilities of evil but limited definitions of good. Thus, the spirit of poverty is a tangible part of the systems of this world. You cannot go through the vicissitudes of life without encountering poverty.
The Spirit of Poverty
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus became poor so that we can become rich. There are several dimensions of poverty and the most serious of them all is spiritual poverty. We were created to be rich towards God. We were made to have a rich relationship with God. Once we take God out of our lives, we are like fish outside water. God spoke to the earth to produce trees, the skies to produce birds, the sea to produce fish and Himself to create humans. God is our national habitat. Outside of God, we step into depravity.
In Isaiah 61, we see that the Messiah came to bring the Gospel to the poor. In God, we have all sufficiency in all things. In God, we lack no good thing. Immediately sin came into the picture, poverty became an environment. Thus, poverty has a spiritual component to it. God does not have need of anything. He is All-sufficient. That is the aseity of God. If you don’t realize your need for Him, you’re the poorest amongst all. If this kind of poverty is not what you want to first get rid of, you have no business reading on.
In Psalm 69:22-23, David prophetically prayed a deadly prayer against the wicked; the material prosperity and good health of the wicked should cause their eyes to be blind towards their need for God. The end goal of this life is to be extremely rich towards God. We need to break free from anything that seeks to deprive us of God, even if it includes good things. The enemy does not mind if you prosper as long as you don’t prosper in this area. Prosperity in every other area apart from this is meaningless.
The Mindset of Poverty
Poverty is not only spiritual, it is mental. There’s a mental component to it. If someone has lived in poverty for so long, giving them a lot of money will not solve anything. Poor people are quick to ask for money when they meet rich people. Remember this when you become wealthy; philanthropy does not solve the problem of poverty. Jesus Himself said that the poor will always be among us. It’s a mindset. Give them everything physical and they will still remain poor. Poverty has a technology of turning gold into dust.
If you want to bring someone out of poverty, it’s best you train their minds early on. Education is one of the cures of poverty. That’s why wealthy people will rather build a school in their village than to distribute cash. However, don’t ever be discouraged from helping the poor and needy in society. It’s one of the things written all over Scriptures, and it pleases God. That notwithstanding, if it’s your motive to bring them out of poverty, tackle the roots and not the fruits. Otherwise, it becomes a sinkhole for your wealth. The mindset of poverty is so strong that you don’t realize how normalized it is.
When some poor people become rich, it shows. They lack discipline. Money controls them and amplifies their weaknesses. They don’t see money as a tool. They see it as a god. They scramble for things they never had, enjoy the pleasures of sin they couldn’t afford and make mistakes they cannot repay. Then they are back to square one. This has happened to many NBA players. They grew up poor and ended up poor after retirement. You cannot have more money than your level of wisdom and financial literacy. You cannot be richer than your mindset. Eventually, your finances fall back to the level of your thinking.
The Effects of Poverty
One time I looked round at my environment, and I saw so much filth. In the midst of the filth were all kinds of food sellers. Filth is normalized in our minds because of poverty. Mediocrity is accepted in our workplaces because of poverty. Office workers can compress all their work done into one hour, and yet, they were on their phones for five. No one can complain about their work ethic because the money being paid them is not even enough. As long as artisans are paid, they don’t mind doing a mediocre job. Motivation rises and falls with money. This is all the doing of poverty.
Tell me why you save your meat until you’re done eating? Why are you not taking good care of yourself? Because you can’t afford to. Poverty. If the only thing that is stopping you from doing something you know you should do is money, it’s the mindset of poverty that’s affecting you. In our world today, we think the only reason why we go to work is because of money. Meanwhile, it has not always been so. When I wrote why the world system is all about money, I explained how the world has changed because of that. See, if someone can afford your release clause (this is a football term), they can get you to do whatever they want. Why? Poverty mindset. Don’t have a release clause!
Ghana is not a lawless country. Africa is not an orderless continent. The inability to enforce law and order is as a result of this same decadence. The police department is not paid well, so just an extra tip can cause them to overlook all sorts of offence. They have families to feed, remember? Everyone wants to become a politician, not because they have the country at heart, but it brings them closer to the national cake. The people complaining can be silenced by a few dollars, and those still making noise are doing so because they are not benefitting from the corruption. Corruption exists because of poverty, be it material or moral poverty.
The Weapon of Poverty
The ups and downs of life are many times manipulated by poverty and mammon. If money can change your theology, then poverty shaped your upbringing. The system can be designed to make the standard of living better for everyone, theoretically. It’s all a matter of distribution, and we have talked extensively about Kingdom distribution. Practically, the system is designed to keep masses poor because poverty makes one a slave. One of the few ways to rule over a fellow human is to make them poor. Once they are dependent on you, they are enslaved to the very system destroying them. A society where everyone is financially independent is difficult to manipulate. So poverty is used as a weapon by the elite to control the masses.
As long as Africa remains poor, there are many who benefit. Africa is not poor by accident. It’s by design. Many corporations and international institutions benefit from our poverty, and make sure our system is designed to keep us poor. All the humanitarian aids they lend to us is meant to destroy our industries and keep us dependent. When leaders who challenge the system come on the scene, their associates are still manipulated by extravagant amounts of money so they can destroy the system from within. This has happened countless times. Poverty is a weapon fashioned against Africa. We are not financially free as a country. We are not economically free as a continent. Our political freedom is therefore a mirage. Such a paradox; rich in natural resources, poor everywhere it matters.
If the only reason why you’re committing a sin is because you lack money, that’s the poverty system working against you. Single people sleep with married people and they know it’s wrong. They are not even enjoying themselves. It’s money they need. The systems of the world can make you a slave because of poverty. Release clause have caused girls to off pant. If not for poverty, why will you ever accept something from a stranger? Poverty sets people up for greed. Poverty fuels a lot of envy. Our efforts to avoid one sin causes to justify another sin. The love of money is birthed in many because they tasted poverty and swore to make it by hook or crook. Therefore, they became crooks.
Why will you spend all your life doing a work you hate, and is known to destroy people’s health before they reach retirement? To escape poverty. Anything that puts one in survival mode will cause them to think about today at the expense of their tomorrow. There’s a poverty you can taste and selling your soul to the devil becomes a valid temptation. Do you think it’s normal to sacrifice your loved one for money? Poverty is a weapon fashioned against your destiny. It coerces people to make many wrong choices because they were trying to avoid many wrong choices.
So you see? Poverty is one of the underlying causes of many sins. What is enjoyable about sleeping with a man old enough to be your grandfather, if not for poverty? That man will rather marry a woman from a rich family and think that by that choice, they have escaped the hard life of poverty. The reason why money has so much power in our world today is because of poverty. Money is man-made, remember? Poverty has indeed become the sole reason for critical decisions of life; it’s determining what courses children should do, who they marry, where they stay etc. all in an effort to escape the decadence of poverty.
We have more to discuss for the whole month of May… The habits of poverty The control of poverty Moral poverty Emotional depravity Lack of will & willingness The victim and slavery mentality
A lot of people live a mediocre life, not because they aim high and miss but because they aim low and hit. Whereas the Main Character Syndrome is a noisy disease, inferiority complex is like the other extreme that destroys more people than we think. Pride is a garment that easily looks ugly on anyone who wears it. It is false humility that people wear with pride and still get praised for it. False humility is true pride. Today, let’s expose it quickly!
What is inferiority complex? Biblically, I’ll define it as seeing yourself less than how God sees you, and settling with that mindset. Starting small is fine. Humble beginnings are good. Staying small is not. Not expecting growth is a disease. There’s no great person who does not have a mindset of greatness, even before they saw results. Inferiority complex is seeing small and thinking small, even though greater is He that is in thee.
Exposing Inferiority Complex
Inferiority complex; seeing things closer to you, including yourself, as small and only seeing things afar as great. You only admire greatness because it’s far from you. When it’s finally near you, you reduce it to your level. When a friend shares a great idea with you, you immediately belittle it. If a great person you so admire comes close, you unconsciously look for flaws so as to undermine them.
Another variation is condemning great people you don’t know, and thinking your ideas (which you never work on), are better and greater. It’s easy to castigate leaders because you’re not one. Once you start to take responsibility as a leader, you’ll appreciate the leaders you have gone ahead of you. Acting unimpressed does not make you great. Acting responsibly does.
One reason for inferiority complex is the idea that God has placed an embargo on your destiny and that’s why you don’t want to expand your business or grow beyond a certain scope. For that, we’ll discuss the difference between boundaries and limitations. Don’t equate stupidity to spirituality by thinking mediocrity means humility. Instead of being transformed, we cover our inferiority complex with spirituality. Yet, we want to be unexpectedly catapulted into greatness without process. Meanwhile, building momentum via diligence provides a surer outcome.
Another reason for inferiority complex is that “God has not given me specific instructions to follow”. Because of this, we confuse waiting on God with the mere passage of time. While you’re waiting, make sure you’re going about your business. Jesus picked disciples who were already productive. You can’t be doing nothing in the name of waiting on God. God uses all our experiences, and none of them goes to waste. Paul was a tentmaker and God made him build the church. Peter was a fisherman and Jesus made a fisher of men. David was a shepherd boy and God took him to shepherd His people. Even the devil does not use lazy people.
Boundary vs Limitations
First of all, you need to understand the difference between these two. God doesn’t place limitations on us. What He places are boundaries. Eg. One is called to be a missionary to a village and the other is called to pastor a megachurch in the city. Those are boundaries. Yes, you’re not permitted to do all things but do you know that “little” God has called you to do? It’s not little at all. Don’t underestimate it. Do it greatly. If you’re called to the village, take over the village by storm. Nobody has a “little” role to play in the Kingdom. Always remember; God has never called anyone to do anything small. You are calling it small but God isn’t. He will do great wonders with anything small.
It’s just like the parts of the body. Each part of the body has their unique ability and function. If the hand tries to do what the feet is designed to do, it will naturally struggle. Now there are parts of your body that you cannot live a second without. There are also others that when missing, you’ll still be alive. You need to have a heart but you can live without your thumb. However, do you know how important your thumb is to your entire body? Belittling the one talent God has given you is false humility. God has not placed a single limitation on you. It’s only from one tree you cannot eat. You can plant more trees. You can replicate the garden all over the earth. There are no limitations, only boundaries.
One huge limitation in inferiority complex is thinking it’s about us. So all this while, you think it’s about you. That’s why you want something small; a nice house, a good car, a simple family and you’re good to go at this point in life. My dear, don’t let life bully you. What God wants to do with you goes beyond you. We are called to disciple nations, remember? There’s the personal, family, community and national level. Very few people take care of nations. You should be able to lend to nations. Have that mindset. There are widows and orphans and so many problems in the world. Let God raise you as a deliverer, a judge, a king, a prophet, an apostle, a shepherd, a saviour etc. so He can work with you to solve problems in the world.
Decisions Determine Destiny
So if God has placed no limitations on you, it means within the boundaries He sets for you, there are endless possibilities available to you. God is sovereign, yes. What He set was your boundaries, not your limitations. Then He gave you freewill by His omnibenevolence. Therefore, how far you reach is determined by you. The decisions you make will determine the scope of your destiny. How much you can take will be determined by your capacity.
God is a God of abundance, not waste. He gives according to your abilities. That means two important things; if God gives you something to do, that means He knows fully well that you can handle it. It also means how much He can give you is not only determined by Him, but by you. He does not force anything on anyone. He is more than willing to give; it is your capacity to receive that determines what you receive. Therefore, be diligent! Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.
So you see that your destiny is not cast in stone? God did not create robots. He created you to participate. Don’t get me wrong; what He has written concerning you in your books is established. However, it is not rigid. God intentionally left some things open so you can participate. There are a lot of freewill decisions you can do within the boundaries of God’s Will for your life. Therefore, in areas where God does not give you specific instructions, obey the general instructions of the Word and you’ll still be in alignment.
Spiritualities & Physicalities
Superspirituality is inferiority complex in disguise. Because tell me why you want to use spirituality to do something you can do physically. God does not do magic. Has anyone’s teeth been brushed by angels before? Instead of taking action, we want to send God on an errand to do it for us. Spiritual things are done spiritually. Physical things are done physically. Of course, there is always an interplay between the two realms where something done in the spirit affects the physical realm and vice versa. However, it’s laziness and often diabolical to use spiritual means to do something physical.
Apply for the job. There’s nothing wrong with actually applying. Those who didn’t apply for the job they got actually applied for other jobs. Because of the fear of failure, we don’t want to try and fail since it’s easier to shift the blame to God when nothing is happening. Propose to the lady. God has given you the sign, given you the desire and given you the opportunity. Why are you telling God to tell her for you? Be bold and ask for that request. It will be given to you. You’ve prayed and hit a note of victory. Continuing to pray for an answer you’ve already received is a prayer backed by fear. Take action!
We pray for God to show us what to do. That’s participation. We pray for God to give us an idea. There’s definitely something we can do physically. Praying for God to do something you’re supposed to do is usually a hidden symptom of inferiority complex. God wants to raise us. He wants to make you bold and courageous. It’s toddlers who are always pointing for things to be done for them. If stepping out in faith sounds like a false doctrine to you, that’s inferiority complex at work. Stop sending God on errands. He will do only what He can, and will never do what you’re supposed to do. Otherwise, you’ll never take responsibility. What a Father He is.
Doubting God, Believing satan?
When God appeared to Gideon, He called him a mighty man of valour. Gideon saw himself as far less and had settled for that. We saw the symptoms at play; blaming God, because that’s the easiest thing to do. Everyone is at fault except you because you have “great ideas” of should-haves and could-haves but zero responsibility. When it comes to your destiny, the devil has no say on how far you go. Only you! Believe God. He made you. He knows you, and predestined you. Trust Him. He is the Truth. What He says concerning you is faithful and true. Why are you comfortable doubting Him?
If God says one thing, we doubt Him for so long and keep asking Him for affirmation. If the devil says one stupid thing, we don’t even doubt it and we run with it like it’s Gospel truth. God says “a city set on a hill cannot be hidden”. Why have you put your light under a basket to accommodate the darkness? How many times should He tell you to start the business? Start early so you can fail early and succeed well. If you believe the whispers of the devil, you have robbed yourself of your own destiny. The best the enemy can do is to suggest. The final decision is in your hands. Whose report will you believe? As long as you pay attention to satan, you’re guaranteed to remain small. Let the great God make you great by His great Word.
It is the Word of God that will renew your mind. Once you believe what God says about you, you have already stepped into greatness even before manifestations confirm. If God has told you He will give you a private jet, believe Him while you ride the bike. Inferiority complex is wishing for greatness and making mediocre decisions and thinking by some magical favour of luck, we will find ourselves at the top. Even the kingdom of darkness does not operate that way. In fact, our corporate world does not operate that way. It’s only inferiority complex that will cause a person to think like that. If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.
Mindset Shift
You can become small by accident but nobody becomes great by accident. Anything you get by luck cannot be maintained. Eg. If God has told you He will give you a private jet, you’ll ride a bike, a motorcycle, a car and a bus but still have that vision ahead of you that is predetermining your path. As aforementioned, God does not do magic. You’re renting now, but you know that as you keep building momentum, you create an landing space for God’s promised blessings to manifest. For you, it may look like David came out of nowhere to kill Goliath. However, David was over-prepared before the day of his manifestation. His mindset shifted long before the manifestation.
Expecting the private jet while you’re still renting is nonsensical. Jet fuel alone will cripple you at this level of capacity. Stop believing in some magical favour. God does things beyond human logic but God is not illogical. Expecting great blessings out of the blue on something you’re doing in a small way with a small mindset is believing in magic. You’ll get heart attack when the blessings even land because it will be way beyond your capacity. Somehow, we forget that blessings need to be maintained. A blessing you can’t maintain becomes like a burden and a curse, which will cause you to blame God later. Thus, God will not cast His pearls before swine or give what is holy to dogs.
See the truth of the matter is, the only person belittling you is you. Heaven highly adores you and hell highly esteems you. That notwithstanding, how you see yourself is more important than how anyone else sees you. If you think you’re small although God says you’re great, you’ll be small. When God gives you a mandate, think from Heaven towards earth and not from earth towards Heaven. You are truly seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. You have dual citizenship, and you cannot do heavenly assignments with earthly thinking. God wants to give you ten cities but He will give you 5 talents first. May He find you as a good and faithful servant who can be put in charge of many. AMEN!
It is so easy to create a platform via social media. You can do that with zero resources, zero credibility, zero track record and zero backing from Heaven or even hell, and be deceived by the little traction you get and conclude that you’re doing something. Thus, the average person is most likely to suffer from main character syndrome, even in Christian circles. Not everyone is a Moses or an Elijah or a Samuel. Not everyone is going to be a CEO, the next hottest thing in town or a household name. In fact, there’s a 1% chance you’re going to be the face of a generation. Yet, everyone seems to think that that’s their destiny.
It’s the disease of the world, the pride of life. Every footballer starts their career wanting to be the new Messi and have the kind of career he had. Meanwhile, Messi himself did not even start life with that mindset. There’s a thin line between being courageous and being arrogant. Being arrogant will only cause God to resist you rather than exalt you. That’s the kind of pride that brought Lucifer crushing down. It’s not a blank cheque to dream big. There are many things outside of your boundaries you should never seek. If you do, it is covetousness.
If you read the Scriptures, all the “main characters” “shied away” from being the main character. David was just a shepherd boy in the field of Bethlehem. Moses was trying to convince God he shouldn’t be the one to deliver the people of Israel from Egypt. Jeremiah was looking for an excuse not to be a prophet to the nations. Jesus chose fishermen and made great destinies out of them. Everyone chosen did not count themselves as qualified. Today, we are the ones desperately telling God what He should do when He has already predestined our lives before time immemorial.
Remember, God did not use Joseph until he died to the main character syndrome. In the dispensation of the church, the focus of God is to raise a people as one person who has reached the full stature of Christ. “We all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. That notwithstanding, a few predestined people have been chosen to sit in particular offices to equip the rest of the saints in the work of their ministry. They are not mediators. They are servant leaders. They are not celebrities. They are frontrunners.
Heaven will be full of surprises. Why? The woman who sweeps the church, who was never in the spotlight, will be wearing a glorious crown. Anna the prophetess, the one who looked like she was wasting her life away in the temple, will be rewarded tremendously for standing in the gap for a generation as she prayed the Messiah into birth. It’s not about being in the spotlight, but about following the light on your path. As great as Elijah and Elisha were, they were not predestined to be authors of any Scriptures. As honourable as Moses and Daniel were, they were not in the lineage of Jesus.
When men remember history, they cannot remember a team; they only need a face. So we know names like Sir Isaac Newton, King David, Diego Maradona, Shakespeare, Alexander the Great etc, but these people had men. They weren’t lone rangers. Sir Isaac Newton said, “if I have been able to see further, it’s because I stood on the shoulders of giants.” As a result, we think that the greatest are the most remembered. We forget the words of Jesus so quickly. Remember, what God calls a success (like a 33-year old dying naked on a Cross) is not what men call a success. Jesus Himself said John the Baptist is the greatest among all born of a woman. Think about it!
Heaven does not weigh men according to their fame, possessions, achievements and escapades. Heaven judges our good works according to the Will of God predestined beforehand that we should walk in. Any other thing I do outside of what is written in my books is of no use, really. Therefore, we are not here to do it all. We are here to do what God predestined for us to do. Once you find your place, your people and your purpose, pour out your best to purposely do all you can to bring pleasure to the One who predestined you. Because Heaven will not reward popularity; God will reward those who played their part even though the spotlight was never on them.
Thus, you’re here as God’s masterpiece, prepared beforehand for good works that you should walk in them. Your main objective is to please Him, not “look good” to your generation. If you are to be a missionary to a village in His books but you rather prefer to be a pastor of a megachurch, you have missed the point. We need to know this. Exploits in this Kingdom is not generic. Killing Goliath is exploits. Being thrown in the lion’s den is also exploits. Being saved from death is a testimony. Dying for the Gospel is also a testimony. It all depends on what is specifically written in your books.
The main character syndrome in the Body of Christ is as a result of how we see the purpose of our lives. We see it from an individualistic perspective. However, the purpose for your life is simply a tiny bit of the bigger purpose God is wanting to achieve. In other words, there is a purpose God wants to achieve, and you, other people, angels, events and sometimes even animals interplay to bring that purpose to life. If you have an individualistic view of your destiny, you’ll see yourself as the main character in life. Locate yourself in the cooperate destiny within the Will of God and you’ll play your role faithfully without envying what another is doing.
Andrew is the one who introduced Peter to Jesus but at the end of the day, Peter is well-known, given a more prominent role and even had the privilege of writing Scripture. If Andrew was to see it from an individualistic perspective, he can become envious, bitter and feel cheated by God. Meanwhile, Andrew is among the 12 given a special reward in Heaven. If we are all advancing the same kingdom and bringing glory to the same God, wherein lies the envy? Stay in your lane and run your race. It’s not a competition.
See, we need to redefine what we think greatness is. Yes, we are all great and will do great things, but not according to a generalized worldly view. Joseph secured a place in Egypt for Israel but Moses delivered them out. If you don’t believe me, think about Jesus’ purpose and count how many people, events, angels and even animals came together for God’s purpose to be fulfilled. From Abraham to David to Anna to Simeon to Mary to the fish with coins in its mouth to the donkey to Simon of Cyrene to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea to His 12 disciples all the way to you and I.
See the purpose of your life as part of the jigsaw puzzle. We all have individual unique callings coming together to accomplish the bigger picture of God’s purpose. Therefore, if I’m Joseph’s brother, I actually need Joseph to succeed because his success is tied to my destiny too. If I’m Esther, I need Mordecai. If I’m Ruth, I need Naomi. If I’m Ezra, Nehemiah is not my competition. He’s rather a contributor to the same overall destiny of God in my generation.
What God wants to do with you didn’t start from you and won’t end with you. If you fail, posterity will suffer because of you but God’s grand plan will come to pass regardless. Therefore, play your role wherever you find yourself. Die to the idea of becoming great in the eyes of your generation. You haven’t failed if your generation doesn’t know you. You’re not here to be known by men. You’re here to know and please Him who sent you here. May we not crave for what God never gave us.
As we have discussed this superiority complex, it’s necessary that we balance it by talking about inferiority complex. Otherwise, it may look as though greatness is a crime, thereby exalting false humility. To be continued…
It’s yet another night. I’ve been sent to buy something, and I decided to take a stroll with Bezalel, my guardian angel. He almost always follows me everywhere I go, for he was sent to me the very day I was born to help me accomplish God’s plan for my life. That night I asked him, “what message does Heaven have for me today?”. Bezalel decided to share an observation angelic beings have made concerning humans. “We are surprised by your inconsistency. In Heaven, everything is consistent. Nothing ever falls out of place.” I can’t say same for earth.
It’s true. When you observe animals, you’d be surprised at how consistent they are. They basically do the same thing around the same time everyday. No holidays; no sign of laziness; no sign of boredom; no complaint. So when something is wrong, you’d quickly notice. Imagine a bird feeling too lazy to fly today. Imagine a cock not being in the mood to crow. Have you seen an ant give up? The thought of it sounds absurd. How about a peacock not proud of its feathers? Or a human not in the mood to work?
Bezalel was right. Humans are ridiculously inconsistent. It’s not a matter of just getting tired of things, it’s a matter of not being able to carry out something till it’s accomplished.
This is a long read but can you simply and consistently read till the end though you don’t feel like it?
Animals and trees give consistent praise to God. Trees wave in awe of Him. Birds chirp and tweet of His goodness. Dogs bark at the smell of His sweet aroma. And then there’s humans. He promised God something last two months but he doesn’t care about it anymore. She is feeling reluctant to even read the Bible nowadays. He doesn’t see the need to attend church services anymore. She is in a good season so her prayers and praise have drastically reduced.
So how do we stay consistent in the things that matter?
First of all, do realise that God is consistent. His character is flawless. Until you believe the consistency of God, you would find it very difficult being a Christian and walking with Him. He is consistently in love with you, consistently watching over you. He is consistently caring for your needs.
This is the meaning of unconditional love. Love is consistent. Anything that stops or shifts in the wake of conditions is not consistent. I have given you one key of Consistency. Anything that is unconditional has infinite potential to be consistent. God’s love is not based on conditions. That’s why His love is consistent. Every excuse arises from a condition that stops the flow of Consistency. Think about it.
Consistency or Consistent Inconsistency
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT
Though the word “consistency” does not appear even once in the Bible, the above verse captures it wholeheartedly. “Always”. “Never stop”. “All”.
Start small and be consistent till the end. It’s better to start small and be consistent than to start “boom” and stop before it even begins to count. Consistency is not about what you have to do. You already know all those things but don’t do them. “I have to start exercising.” “We have to communicate more.” “You have to open up.” “I have to go on a diet. My stomach is getting bigger.”
Consistency is about breaking instructions, tasks and have-to-dos into smaller, simpler tasks that can be done for a long time to come. Start small. The little things will add up. It is better to eat two bowls of rice everyday for a year than to eat 365 bowls in two days. Both sum up the same number of bowls but one is healthier, more realistic and natural. The thing about consistency is that there will always be something we are consistent with or consistently doing. That’s right! Your habits. Therefore, it’s either one is consistent or consistently inconsistent. There’s always a routine to everything we do, and it will shock how long you’ve done a particular activity in your life.
I’ve given you another key. Consistency is inevitable. You’ll always be consistent at something. These are your habits. Your second nature. Things you do with minimum logic and effort. So the question is not whether you’re consistent or not. The question is, “what are you consistent in doing?” Have you noticed that we are mostly identified by what we are always consistent with? “The girl who is always laughing”. “The guy who comes to sit here on Tuesdays”. “The guy who knows how to write.” What do you choose to identify yourself with? Be consistent in that!
Thessalonians 5:16-18 shows us things we should always be consistent at; praise, prayers and perseverance. It’s not a suggestion. It’s a command. You cannot be a victorious Christian without being consistent in these. They are not one-time events. There are lifetime commitments.
The Secret of Individual & Cooperate Consistency
“…for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:3-4 GNT
If you faint in the time of adversity, your strength is small, Proverbs 24:10 says. Trials don’t come to destroy you. They come to reveal you. That’s why I’m talking about what you consist of. It is what is within you that will enable you to stand firm.
To be consistent, don’t rely on motivation and emotions. Rely on purpose and necessity. In other words, don’t do stuff because you feel like it. Day one, you will feel like it. One day, you won’t feel like it. Whenever you push yourself to do something though you don’t feel like it, you develop endurance. Read the Bible verse from James 1:3-4 again. When your endurance carries you all the way without failing??…that’s consistency!
Consistency is from the Latin word “consistentia”, which means “standing together”. The singular form of the word, “consistentem”, means to stand firm. This illustration of a tree being “consistentem” in the midst of the storm, or the entire forest “consistentia”, really captures the root meaning. It’s all about what it consists of. Before we can stand together, we must individually be able to stand firm. So the first question is, “what are you made of as an individual?”.
Aside from the individuality, God is also interested in the cooperate group. Inasmuch as God is going to judge us individually, God will also judge us based on the groups He placed us in. If you can stand firm individually, it is your duty to support others in need in any way you can because our destinies are interconnected.
In Revelations 2 and 3, Jesus commended and rebuked churches as a whole, not individuals. The cooperate group is also important. Your Consistency must drag someone else along. It shouldn’t be just you. In fact, it is much more easier if the group is checking up on each other to keep on being consistent. We both know how important this is. May God help us. It’s about time God taught us how to be consistent 🙏
Breakthroughs don’t just happen. They are fought for. In the Kingdom, every breakthrough follows a pattern of alignment, not ambition. You cannot sustainably breakthrough where you haven’t honoured the process. But there’s more—before the breakthrough, there are three crucial stages that God walks us through to Break out, Break up, Break in and only then… Break through. Everyone loves the sound of “breakthrough,” but what if you break through when you haven’t first broken out, broken up, or broken in? What happens when a man ascends too early? What happens when a door opens before you’re ready? The answer is simple: what was meant to be an elevation becomes your downfall. Let’s take them one by one.
Break Out – Leaving the Enemy’s Camp
“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 6:17
Before God ushers you into anything great, He first calls you out of what is familiar into what is peculiar. Israel had to break out of Egypt before they could receive Canaan. You cannot sit in Pharaoh’s palace and expect to inherit God’s promises. In the same way, many are asking God for fruitfulness while still camping in the territory of compromise. That’s not how this works.
If you don’t break out of the enemy’s camp, your breakthrough becomes a trojan horse. You may step into a new place, but with old chains still on your feet. You’ll carry the language, loyalties, and lifestyle of Egypt into the Promised Land, and soon, the land will vomit you out. You can’t bring your old self, old ways and old thinking into God’s Kingdom. That’s why many rise in influence, wealth or ministry and crash—because their hearts never left where God once called them out from. They were gifted, but not equipped. That kind of breakthrough is a trap, not a triumph.
Breaking out is a spiritual jailbreak. It is when you consciously refuse to remain in systems, mindsets, and environments where the devil is king. You cannot seek results over righteousness and expect to see God’s glory. Before the prodigal son received restoration, he came to himself in the pigsty and said, “I will arise and go to my father.” That’s the break out moment—when you refuse to be defined by the prison of your past.
2. Break Up – Severing Every Tie with Sin and Stagnation
“Break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD.” – Hosea 10:12
Breaking out is one thing; breaking up is another. You can leave Egypt, but Egypt might still be in your heart. Breaking up is when God deals with the residue. It’s when He cuts off every entanglement with sin, with soul ties, with bitterness, with every loyalty to darkness that refuses to let go. If you didn’t break up with sin, fleshly habits, or demonic alliances, your breakthrough will expose you, not exalt you. Elevation magnifies character. If you didn’t deal with the weights in the secret place, they will collapse you on the stage.
You will stand at the gate of influence and find yourself drawn back by what you refused to crucify. Lot’s wife entered the open gate of salvation but turned back in her heart. She escaped Sodom but didn’t break up with it—and she turned into a pillar of salt. Many have received platforms and titles only to become statues—lifeless, ineffective, and silenced by their own compromise.
There are some people and habits you don’t negotiate with—you break up with them. If God is going to trust you with the next level, He will first test if you are willing to sever the weights of the previous one. Every breakthrough is preceded by a divorce from what disqualifies you. Don’t romanticize your chains. Don’t glamorize your Egypt. Break up with whatever holds your heart hostage, so you don’t return to the same sin after you’ve tasted His mercy.
3. Break In – Entering the Door God Has Opened
“For a great and effectual door is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” – 1 Corinthians 16:9
After you’ve broken out and broken up, now comes the breaking in. This is where many stall, stay and settle. The door may be open, but the enemies still stand there. Due to your understanding of the jurisdiction of the devil, you should understand that just because God has spoken does not mean the enemy shouldn’t come and attempt to stop you. Just because God gave you a prophecy doesn’t mean the enemy should sit idle while you step into it.
If you bypass the process of breaking in, you won’t last long at the top. You may have gotten the job, the mic, the marriage, the ministry—but you skipped the resistance training that makes you strong enough to handle it. That’s why the children of Israel lingered in the wilderness for 40 years instead of 40 days. It’s not as if they couldn’t enter the Promised Land; they were not trained for battle to occupy it. Because while the door was open, you never developed the muscles to stand in it. The adversaries you avoid in training will defeat you in battle. God doesn’t just want you to breakthrough. He wants you to endure after the breakthrough. And for that, process is non-negotiable.
Breaking in requires discernment, warfare, and boldness. When Israel crossed the Jordan, Jericho was standing in the way. The door was open, but the wall was high. You’ll need faith to break into what God has already handed over to you. Don’t ask for open doors if you’re not ready for opposing giants. Don’t pray for access if you’re not willing to possess the land. Break in like David facing Goliath—with a stone and a word from the Lord. Break in like Joshua, marching around the wall. Breaking in prepares you to sustain your breakthrough.
4. Breaking through & Becoming a Channel for Others to Breakthrough
“And the breaker goes up before them… they break through the gate and go out by it. So their king goes on before them, and the LORD at their head.” – Micah 2:13
Now comes the breakthrough—but not before the other three. This is where the chains are broken, but not just for you. You now become a breaker for others. You don’t just break in for yourself; you break through for the generations coming after you. You’ve scaled the mountain. You’ve fought the giants. You’ve survived the refining. And now, you burst through the stronghold that once seemed immovable. But here’s the secret: what you call breakthrough, Heaven calls maturity. You didn’t just receive a testimony—you became one.
The breakthrough is not just about open doors. It’s about transformed hearts. It’s about finishing the race with scars that prove you didn’t give up.
A premature breakthrough is not progress—it’s a setup. If you didn’t let God break you out of worldly systems, break you up from sin and weights, and break you into your ordained territory through faith and warfare, your breakthrough will backfire. So let Him take you through every stage. As you go through the breaking, He breaks you. Let the breaking prepare you for the building. Let the pruning precede the planting. Let the wilderness shape your character before the throne tests your heart.
Don’t force the breakthrough. Prepare for it. If you’re praying for a breakthrough, ask God to prepare you to break out, to break up, and to break in. Because God doesn’t hand breakthroughs to people still romancing their bondage. He trains warriors in the wilderness and leads them up with purpose. So if the season feels heavy, trust God. Break out. Break up. Break in, and the breakthrough will find you already standing in your promised place—ready, refined, and victorious.
Whenever God creates, He embeds in His creatures a dire necessity to depend on He the Creator. Thus, the weaknesses of any creature that does not depend on its Creator is exposed in their self-dependence. The relevance of a shoe is when it is worn. The essence of a cup is when it holds liquid. The importance of a creature is when it is useful by its Creator.
The intended use of a product is predetermined by its manufacturer. The product is designed in an intentional way to meet its designed purpose. Ephesians 2:10 puts it this way; “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them”. If a product is used in a function outside of its intended purpose, its weaknesses are exposed. I can’t use a remote to drink soup or use a spoon to comb my hair. That aside, any electronics created has a weakness. When there is no electricity, the electronics degenerate into uselessness. When there is no electricity and your phone goes off, what again can you use it to do?
Did God create man with weaknesses? If you have understood the first two paragraphs, you can now answer the question truthfully. If all things were created through Christ, all things can only be purposeful and useful in Christ. Also, whatever the manufacturer didn’t prepare you beforehand for you walk in per design is a zone where you have weaknesses and malfunctions. Ever since sin and evil entered into the world, we all have been subjected to weights as we deal with our infirmities and frailties.
Everything God created is only perfect as long as it fully depends on God always in every way. Another way of putting this is; since God is the only Being who does not need to improve, every other being falls short of God and is therefore weak. If there is any point where we are not depending on God, infirmities and frailties come to play. For you to understand how dire this is, let’s explore some human frailties and infirmities. If you lived for 500 years on earth, you will see how weak humans are as they helplessly repeat mistakes and errors.
Human Wisdom
Do you realise the kind of logic we operate in the natural? People throw stones and expect flowers to return. When the stone boomerangs to hit them, they become angry that such a system is in place. People do evil and expect good. We sow bad seeds and expect good fruit. I’m pretty sure the angels look at us everyday and are confused. We complain to God to take control and then refuse to leave it in His Hands. We destroy our resources and expect God to bless us. It doesn’t add up. The sad part is, we are blind to this reality.
The wisdom of this world (from the prince of this world) is high above human wisdom. In other words, the devil and the forces of evil are wiser than anyone who has all human wisdom. Unlike the Wisdom from above which is in the spirit, human wisdom is in the flesh while worldly wisdom cannot go higher than the soul. Look at the kind of logic the devil uses to beat us; “oh just do it one last time”. Sometimes, the devil can sell the same lie to us for us to continue in the same sin for many years. “It’s not a big deal”. That’s the beginning of alcohol addiction for the next 15 years. “I can choose to stop when I want to”. That’s how a lady can sleep with married men for 8 years. We are not smart at all. As I said, stay on earth for 500 years. You will see that there is nothing new under the sun.
We as people will analyze and throw away any good idea someone comes up with but we will never come up with ours. We all know what is wrong with something but we don’t know how to do it right. Everybody is so good at identifying problems but have you heard people propose solutions? We explain into detail existing problems and propose oversimplified unrealistic solutions. People blame those at the top until they get to the top. They either do the same or even worse. We don’t know any better. Most of all your actions in your marriage life will be a copy-and-paste of what you saw your parents do. If you are a girl and your mom insults your dad when she’s annoyed, you may not like it now but it has been modelled for years and embedded in your brain. If you don’t take intentional actions, you will repeat it.
Human Foolishness
We are so malleable. Our brains believe something to be true based on frequency. Do you know how unbelievable that is? If you continually see or hear something over and over and from time to time, you will believe it. This would have been an excellent ability in a world where there is no evil. We would have been like sponges, absorbing everything God. We were created to be images. Whatever picture you set before you will soon be reflected by you. This is how we ought to look unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). God, knowing this human frailty, instructed the people of Israel to make necessary decisions to continually remind themselves and their children of God’s laws.
The foolishness of God is taking the most unlikely things and glorifying Himself in them. The foolishness of man is refusing to acknowledge the existence of God. Dude, even the devil doesn’t doubt that. I’m very sure animals don’t doubt that too. Do you know how hard you have to convince yourself that everything we see in nature came into existence by some random chance? Cmon, even crocs was designed by someone. Look at how long ago the world was made. We are still naming new discoveries. We still see new kinds of creatures from the sea till this day. How wise do you need to be to realise we don’t know it all?
Human Pride
There is nothing uglier than the least of us acting proud. It will shock you to know that some of the people who have so much that you’ll think they would be proud are not even proud. It is those of us who have started to see something small. Human pride is ugly. God made us out of dust. Without God we are literally dust. Wherein lies our pride? How many years will you even live on earth? Our need for pride is as a result of our weak wisdom and foolishness, because there is no good enough logic to hold our pride. A poor proud person thinks by simply doing good, they deserve to be rich. Why are you sowing corn and expecting mangoes?
Pride is the cardinal sin, the ultimate one. It is the sin that keeps you in sin by making sure you don’t see the destiny-eating virus of your sin. It will keep you from acknowledging your mistakes, how much more your errors? Human pride can convince you that you can make it without God. It can convince you to even do the things of God without the help of God. Even worse, it can convince you that God cannot do without you; God needs your help; God needs your praises and worship, as if God didn’t exist before creating us. Pride has made God our servant who must do all that we want. We command Him to do our will and blame Him when things don’t go our way.
Pride can convince wicked people that nothing bad will happen to them. That is what Psalm 10:6 says. Pride makes us think that evil always goes unpunished. It also makes us think there is no benefit of having a good heart and doing good. Pride will teach you that people who make it in life are reckless, arrogant people who use humans as carpets. It also teaches wicked at the top that there will be no consequences from their wicked actions. Eat and drink, Charley. Drink the tears of those suffering. Pride goes before a fall, indeed. How can someone ever doubt the justice system of God?
Sexual Immortality
Our weaknesses have close ties with our strengths. A phone’s relevance is when it is charged for use. Its weakness is its irrelevance when it goes off and it cannot be charged. Since we were created for God’s pleasure and for intimacy with His Son, sexual immortality is one of our greatest weaknesses, generally. Men have fought wars for breast. Nations have been buried and dynasties have ended. Great men have fallen because of Delilah and Jezebel and Eve and Herodias and Asherah and Babylon the Great. Yet, every human born thinks they can make the same mistake and still see a different outcome.
This weakness is so fundamental to our makeup that God advises us to flee. As Archbishop Benson Idahosa will say, “you can’t improve on God. If God says flee, flee. Don’t be speaking in tongues”. Who are you to think your story will be any different if you are always near sexual temptation? Proverbs 6:32 says you lack understanding and you destroy your own soul when you commit adultery. The devil saw this weakness and built a stronghold in this area. Once you step into the current, it will take you further than you want to go. Yet, just like Eve we want to taste and see. If you fall to sexual immortality, you join the long list of those who failed to flee. Flee and be free.
The sad thing about sexual immortality is that the cost far outweighs the pleasure. A bad 2-minute decision can result in carrying a burden for a lifetime. It can even result in carrying a transgenerational curse. Imagine being born with a curse lingering over your head for the past 20 generations because your ancestor committed a 2-minute sin. Oh hoh! Yet, when sexual immortality is lurking in our corridors, we play cool and think we are special. Run! In this generation where it gets easier by the day to fall into this sin that any other generation before us, it is foolish to think this form of temptation won’t come banging on your door once in a while. The battle to stay pure before marriage becomes a war to continue to keep your marriage bed undefiled.
I didn’t plan on writing a part 2 for this one but it is needful that I show you how vulnerable we are and why the best in God’s sight are only the best because they stuck to grace. I also want to show you how God deals with our infirmities and how Jesus experienced our infirmities when He became man. Sounds like there’s a part 3 already. After this short series, you and I will know that relying on ourselves for anything is a mistake. We were not created to be independent. We were created to depend on God always at all times by all means in all ways.
From the moment we take our first steps, we are compared to our siblings, cousins, and even neighbours’ children. “Why can’t you be more like your sister?” or “Look at how well your friend’s son is doing in school.” These phrases, though well-intentioned, often sow seeds of self-doubt and insecurity in the hearts of young ones.
Yet, amidst the challenges posed by comparison, there lies a resilience born out of necessity. Growing up in an environment where comparison is the norm toughens us, especially after we realise that the comparison made was false. From then on, we don’t rely on external validations. We realise opinions are different from facts, and we embrace our authenticity rather than trying to be people-pleasers. Of course, that usually comes off as rebellion and stubbornness until we are accepted for what we are as young adults.
Take, for instance, the story of Ade and his younger brother Tunde. From a young age, Ade was always compared to his brother – academically, athletically, and even in terms of behaviour. While this constant comparison often left Ade feeling inadequate, it also fueled his determination to succeed. He pushed himself harder, studying late into the night and practising tirelessly on the football field. In the end, Ade’s resilience paid off, and he earned a scholarship to university, breaking free from the cycle of comparison that once held him captive.
However, this ritual of comparison – although had good intentions and produced good results in the long run – is still a wrong way of nurturing, with all due respect. While it may have instilled resilience in us, it has also perpetuated a culture of judgment and unrealistic expectations. Many of us still carry the scars of childhood comparisons, battling feelings of unworthiness and inadequacy well into adulthood. Also, we grow up trying to prove a point when there should be no point to prove to anyone but ourselves.
Being a substantial part of childhood traumas, not everyone overcomes its negative insinuations. Some parents may think they may have done their best when all the children may have in their hearts are resentments from needless comparisons that produced engraved episodes of emotional abuse and shouts, punishments, petty complaints, lack of mercy and appreciation of efforts. These episodes play from time to time when triggered by certain situations. These very episodes produce a feeling of low self-esteem, self-hate, timidity, low self-confidence, and inaction.
As we look to the future, we must break free from the shackles of comparison and embrace a new paradigm of acceptance and encouragement. The next generation deserves to do better because they know better – our children deserve to grow up in an environment where their worth is not measured against that of others but celebrated for its uniqueness. Imagine a home where siblings support and uplift each other, and where parents nurture their children’s talents and aspirations without pitting them against one another. That is the building block to a community where success is not defined by external standards but by personal growth and fulfilment.
It is up to us, the torchbearers of change, to create such a world for the generations to come. Remember, children can easily identify when they are being discriminated against. They can sense their lack of favour, and instead of working to please you, they affirm all the weaknesses you shout at them. We must lead by example, challenging the status quo and fostering an environment of empathy and support. It starts now. Let us celebrate each other’s achievements, big and small, and lift each other in times of struggle.
In doing so, we not only break free from the chains of comparison but also pave the way for a brighter, more compassionate future. Let us be the change we wish to see in our homes, our communities, and our continent. Only then can we truly thrive, unburdened by the weight of comparison and liberated to reach our fullest potential.
As the year draws to a close, there’s a powerful tradition that often goes overlooked: the need to review the year. In the fast-paced world we live in, taking the time for introspection and self-assessment is a crucial step towards personal growth and fulfilment. One reason why you are not growing is that you don’t set objectives to reach your New Year resolutions, and most importantly, you don’t review your resolutions at the end of each year. Now, let’s explore the significance of yearly review, drawing wisdom from three online self-help books.
Consequently, it’s easy to get caught up in the past or future, neglecting the present moment. “The Power of Now” emphasizes the significance of living in the present. Reflecting on the year gone by allows us to identify positive and negative patterns that may have shaped our experiences. Practical solution: Set aside dedicated time for reflection every day, journal key moments every week, and identify areas for growth every month. This will help you track your personal progress. In fact, the detriments of not doing it result in remaining stuck in old habits, and missing opportunities for positive change.
Building Resilience through “Mindset” by Carol S. Dweck:
In the quest for self-improvement, mindset assumes a pivotal role. Dweck’s book delves into the dichotomy of a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset. Through reviewing the year, we gain insight into our responses to challenges and setbacks. In order to practically address this, take the time to evaluate your reactions to adversity, recognizing areas where a fixed mindset may have impeded your progress. “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will take you there”. A fixed mindset may have caused you to miss an opportunity that would have catapulted your growth. Well, nobody will admit that they had a fixed mindset; not until they review their year. All in all, what options did you have and what is your opportunity cost on the major decisions you made?
Gratitude is a powerful force that can transform our outlook on life. Thus, “The 5-Minute Journal” encourages daily reflection on positive experiences. Reviewing the year helps us recognize and appreciate the blessings amidst the challenges. Practical solution: Create a gratitude list for the year, acknowledging both big and small moments of joy. After realizing all your mistakes, there are definitely some good deeds that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Who helped you, who did you help, who do you regret not helping and who have you taken for granted? Write a simple thank you message to all the people on your list and wish them a Happy New Year.
As we stand on the threshold of a new year, let us commit to the practice of reviewing the year gone by. Drawing wisdom from “The Power of Now,” “Mindset,” and “The 5-Minute Journal,” we can embark on a journey of self-discovery, growth, and gratitude. The detriments of neglecting this reflective process are the missed opportunities for personal development and the potential for repeating unproductive patterns. In reality, the benefits are immense—increased self-awareness, resilience, and a profound sense of gratitude that can pave the way for a more fulfilling and purpose-driven life. Embrace the transformative power of yearly reflection and step into the new year with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. Happy New Year
If I had to choose between being real and being perfect, I’d choose being real.
The more you try to be perfect, the more you lose yourself. In our unending chase after perfection, we lose our identity and take on the identity of how things ought to be. How things ought to be is not fully in our control, and perfection is not meant to be chased. The more you run towards it, the farther it runs from you. Trying to make everything perfect will only make things imperfect.
Can you simply be yourself? That’s perfect! It’s effortless, unpretentious and un-exasperating. That’s it. The more you “be” yourself, the more “perfect” you become. Maybe that’s what perfection really stands for; true authenticity. Fully being yourself without any impurities of external influences. Authenticity is the ultimate perfection.
Isn’t it amazing that for all people who have ever lived, are alive and will ever live, there is only one YOU? There is nobody like you and there’ll never be anyone like you. That’s true authenticity; a kind of perfection that can only be divinely orchestrated.
Yes, you may have the same nose as your parents, the same handwriting as a stranger or even the same interest as a friend, but you’re unique and there’s none like you. Yes, you have flaws and shortcomings and have zero talent in certain areas, yet no one comes close to being you.
They can be like you. You can be like them, but your idiosyncrasy is one in 7 billion. None can be compared to you. So why do we try so hard to live like someone else? Let no one pressurize and intimidate you into being someone you’re not. Love who you are just the way you are.
Is it possible to live in a reality that is out of place with our present circumstance? Are we supposed to allow ourselves to go through the incumbent emotions triggered by our brain due to the nature of present circumstances or we are supposed to “fake” a positive reality till we “make it”?
The brain releases negative emotions a few moments after a negative experience. Any further negative emotion from then on is self-inflicted. Self-inflicted because we continue to dwell on the negative image our senses fed our minds over and over, thereby releasing the negative emotions over and over.
Emotions are Symptoms
Pain is a symptom. Anxiety is a symptom. Depression is a symptom. Whatever we feel are symptoms, insignia. It’s not the actual thing. It’s a reaction to the actual thing. The chemical reactions in our system are the same for everyone but how the reaction manifests differ from one person to another. That’s why people cry when they are sad, hurt, angry or even happy. Same reaction, different circumstances. The body will release different tears in these different circumstances but that’s not the point.
The goal is not to stop yourself from feeling any negative emotions ever. That’s insane. In fact, it has been scientifically proven that it’s necessary to feel both positive and negative emotions occasionally instead of feeling either of them all the time. What we can do is to channel that negative emotion into positive action. That’s the real deal. Elizabeth Scott, MS said it this way, “Managing negative emotions is more about embracing the fact that we are feeling them, determining why we are feeling this way, and allowing ourselves to receive the messages that they are sending us before we release them and move forward”.
Stopping yourself from feeling hurt, disappointed, grieved or simply down is not emotional intelligence. It is avoidance coping. It can heavily backfire if we don’t tackle it. It’s like hunger. Hunger is a symptom, a sign that you need to feed your body with food. Avoiding the feeling of hunger and doing nothing about it creates more problems. If you kill the symptom, the underlying problem still persists. True emotional maturity is allowing yourself to feel the feels but not letting it change your mindset and stance into a negative reality.
Arrogance and confidence are two different traits that are often confused with one another. Confidence is a positive trait that is built upon experience, knowledge, and self-belief. It is the belief in one’s abilities and the ability to approach a situation with calmness and poise. On the other hand, arrogance is a negative trait that is characterized by an exaggerated sense of self-importance, entitlement and an overly high opinion of oneself. Arrogance is often accompanied by a condescending attitude towards others and a tendency to belittle the opinions of others.
Imagine a group of colleagues working on a project together. Two colleagues, John and Herod, have different approaches to their work. John is confident in his abilities and comfortable with taking on challenges. Herod, on the other hand, is arrogant and tends to put down others’ ideas and opinions. In a meeting, John presents an idea for the project. He does so with confidence, explaining his reasoning and how it aligns with the overall project goals. He also acknowledges that there may be areas of the idea that need refinement and welcomes feedback and input from his colleagues. John is confident in his ability to contribute to the project but also recognizes that he does not have all the answers and is open to collaboration and feedback.
When it’s Herod’s turn to speak, he immediately dismisses John’s idea as impractical and inadequate. He then presents his own idea, which he touts as the only viable solution. Herod is arrogant and unwilling to consider alternative viewpoints or feedback from her colleagues. He is not open to collaboration and instead expects everyone to fall in line with his own perspective.
In this example, John’s approach is an example of confidence. He presents his idea with conviction, but also acknowledges the possibility of improvement and is open to feedback from his colleagues. Herod’s approach, on the other hand, is an example of arrogance. He dismisses others’ ideas and opinions and is unwilling to consider feedback or alternative perspectives. This creates tension in the group and may ultimately hinder the project’s progress.
Here are some key differences between confidence and arrogance:
Source of Belief: Confidence is rooted in real experience, knowledge, and skill. It is a realistic assessment of one’s abilities and limitations. Arrogance, on the other hand, is based on an inflated sense of self-importance, regardless of actual experience or skill.
Attitude Towards Others: Confident individuals are open to feedback and criticism, and are willing to learn from others. They respect the opinions of others and are often collaborative in their approach. Arrogant individuals, however, tend to disregard the opinions of others and believe they know better than anyone else.
Approach to Challenges: Confident individuals approach challenges with a willingness to learn and grow. They take on new challenges with a sense of optimism and enthusiasm. Arrogant individuals, however, may see challenges as beneath them or not worth their time and can be dismissive of challenges that do not align with their personal interests or goals.
Empathy: Confident individuals have a strong sense of empathy and can relate to others. They are able to connect with people from different backgrounds and experiences. Arrogant individuals, however, tend to lack empathy and may come across as cold or aloof.
Communication: Confident individuals communicate assertively, expressing their opinions and ideas with clarity and conviction. However, they also listen attentively to others and are open to feedback. Arrogant individuals may dominate conversations and disregard the input of others, leading to communication breakdowns and misunderstandings.
Emotional Intelligence: Confident individuals have a high level of emotional intelligence, which allows them to manage their own emotions and recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. Arrogant individuals, on the other hand, may lack emotional intelligence and struggle to connect with others on an emotional level.
Impact on Relationships: Confidence is often seen as an attractive quality that draws people to an individual, while arrogance can be off-putting and alienating. Confident individuals tend to build strong relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation. Arrogant individuals, however, may struggle to maintain healthy relationships due to their dismissive attitude towards others and tend to take credit for successes.
In summary, while both confidence and arrogance involve a sense of self-belief, the key difference lies in the source of that belief and the attitude towards others. Confidence is a positive trait that grounds itself in experience and self-awareness, while arrogance is a negative trait that has its basis in a sense of self-importance that disregards others.
When Confidence turns into Arrogance
Confidence and arrogance can be difficult to differentiate, and the line between them can be blurred. Generally, confidence becomes arrogance when it crosses the line from self-belief to an exaggerated sense of self-importance and entitlement. Here are a few examples of when confidence may become arrogance:
Disregarding Feedback: Confidence involves believing in one’s abilities and being willing to take risks. However, when a confident person consistently disregards feedback and refuses to consider alternative viewpoints, it can come across as arrogant.
Belittling Others: Confident individuals respect the opinions and contributions of others. However, when confidence turns into arrogance, individuals may belittle or dismiss the ideas of others, assuming that their own opinions are superior.
Overstating Achievements: Confident individuals are proud of their achievements and are comfortable sharing them. However, when confidence becomes arrogance, individuals may overstate their accomplishments or take credit for the work of others, assuming that they are solely responsible for success.
Entitlement: Confident individuals are aware of their strengths and are comfortable advocating for themselves. However, when confidence becomes arrogance, individuals may feel entitled to special treatment or privileges, assuming that they are above the rules or standards that apply to others.
In summary, confidence becomes arrogance when it manifests as an exaggerated sense of self-importance, entitlement, and disregard for the opinions and contributions of others. While confidence is an admirable trait, it’s important to recognize when it crosses the line into arrogance and take steps to address it. Always remember this; boldness with humility is confidence; confidence with pride is arrogance.
