So, after months of continuously putting it off, I finally decided to get my drivers' license. I'll admit; I was terrified... terrified of making a mistake, terrified of failing, terrified of causing an accident, the list goes on and on to the moon and back.
But I decided to toss my fears out the window and do it anyway. The phrase that comes to mind when I think about my experience is 'roller coaster ride.' And here are a few life lessons I got from my wise driving instructor.
1. The first step to success is to simply "show up"
You can pray, plan and strategize 'til you're blue in the face, but all the planning and praying in the world will not make you successful unless and until you SHOW UP. Show up for that exam you've been dreading so much. Show up for that intimidating job interview. Show up for your first day of school.
It's wonderful that you've been practising, rehearsing and getting yourself ready all this time - well done! But there comes a time when you must get up, dress up and, you guessed it ....SHOW UP! David would have never killed Goliath if he had decided to stay home or hide behind the bushes like the rest of the Israelite army.
Similarly, you won't get that promotion unless you drag yourself out of bed, take a shower and go to work - even if you'd rather watch TV all day. You won't get into that sports team unless you go for try-outs. Sure, it's scary and unfamiliar, but you can't run from challenges forever. At some point, you need to go out there and face your fears head on.
2. Just because it's right doesn't mean it's automatically gonna be easy
Many of us go through life expecting things to be smooth sailing just because they are right. But the cold, hard truth is: you're bound to face a whole lot more opposition doing the right thing than you'd face doing the wrong one.
Take one of the USA'S greatest Presidents, Abraham Lincoln. In 1832, Lincoln lost his job, failed in business in 1833 and had a nervous break down in 1836.7 years later, he was defeated in the nomination for Congress and lost renomination the following year.
In 1849 he was rejected for the post of land officer and was defeated for US Senate in 1854. He was defeated for the nomination for Vice President in 1856 and was defeated yet again for the post of US Senate in 1858. He finally won the US Presidency in 1860 after a myriad of flops and failures.
Anything worthwhile will never come easy. When the world knocks you down, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.
3. Don't expect to know everything all at once
One of my greatest flaws was trying to do too much too soon, expecting myself to go from pathetic to perfect in the blink of an eye. Consequently, I'd get frustrated and just about throw in the towel every time I made a mistake. And my driving instructor would calmly say, "It's better to learn slowly but effectively, than to rush and learn nothing at all."
A lot of us have that same weakness. We set unrealistic goals for ourselves and drive ourselves way too hard ...so hard that we soon fall apart. It's important to remember that life is a journey, not a competition. Pace yourself, give it your best shot and enjoy the ride. Life is a lot like a car - if you move too fast, too soon, you'll crash and hurt yourself, and possibly, others too.
4. Don't take correction personally
So you showed up for that first day of work, algebra lesson or audition. You'd barely been in the room for 5 minutes when you were told that you filed the paperwork wrong, your math calculations were inaccurate or your performance wasn't up to scratch.
I'm sure we've all had a few of those days. Days when we just seem to get everything wrong. Days when we're told, "You can do so much better", "You're slacking" or "You really need to pull up your socks."
Before you storm off and quit, remember that correction is an essential part of learning. If at first you don't succeed, try again...and again...and again. Even the Pros were beginners at some point. Ask Beyonce, Bill Gates and even President Barrack Obama. You can either let criticism keep you from your dream or use it as a stepping stone to success - your choice!
Above all, don't let fear keep you from your dreams. Aim high, dream big and work hard. The best in life awaits you!
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Friday, 17 January 2014
What are you missing?
You discover that your dream car guzzles fuel and leaves you broke almost all the time... That glitzy outfit makes you look like a scare-crow, and those designer Italian shoes pinch your feet so much you can't help but limp when you walk. I'm sure you're wondering where I'm going with this.
Well, life is a lot like that. Sometimes we spend so much time coveting what's in the shop window that we fail to appreciate what we already have. We obsess over movie stars, our boss or the girl next door so much that we ignore the people closest to us...
Our fantasies blind us to the consistent, never waning efforts of our loved ones. We take for granted the people who look after us when we're sick, those who remember our birthdays every year, those who never forget to say 'Good morning' and 'Good night.'
We shun once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to study or volunteer because what we really want is a magic potion for instant success.
"If only I was a Kardashian, Beyonce or the child of a US President," we think to ourselves.
We wish we could have Jack's job, Sarah's family and Nick's wealth. But we never stop to consider the fact that perhaps, Jack's powerful position leaves him with no time for any kind of social life, that he often has to spend nights alone in the office crunching numbers and writing lengthy reports.
We overlook the fact that Sarah's family life may not be as rosy as it looks from the outside - that perhaps there are many horrendous fights and buckets of tears that are shed behind the four walls of her house.
The thought that rich Nick may be drowning in a sea of loneliness despite his great wealth doesn't even cross our minds. We conveniently forget that all that glitters is not gold. We want what is out of our reach and completely disregard the beauty that surrounds us everyday.
So, this is a reminder that: Before you get taken in by what's in the shop window, look around you and appreciate what God has given you. Be thankful for your house - someone out there lives on the cold, dusty streets.
Be thankful for your family - someone wishes they had someone to come home to at the end of the day. Be thankful for your life - someone is writhing in pain on their death bed.
Make the most of your days as a student, secretary or volunteer. There are millions of men and women, boys and girls who spend their entire existence dodging bullets and would practically give ANYTHING for an opportunity to sit in an algebra class or office meeting.
Cherish your loved ones. Sure, they make mistakes - but who doesn't? When you open your eyes and heart to all the amazing things in your life, you'll realize just how blessed you are.
In closing, remember: If the grass looks greener on the other side, the water bill is probably higher too.
Live, Love, Learn! The best in life is waiting!
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