Our Choices Define Us

Born on March 24, 1840, Frances Jane Crosby (Fanny Crosby) became blind at the age of six. Raised by her mother and grandmother, Fanny's father died when she was just a year old. However, Fanny never allowed her situation take the better side of her. Fanny enrolled in the New York Institute for the Blind where she learned how to sing, play the piano and guitar. She eventually became one of America's most famous and prolific lyricists with over 8,000 songs averaging over 100 hymns per year through her life time. Her songs are still being sung by Christians all over the world today, some of which include: "Blessed Assurance", "To God be the Glory", "Praise Him, Praise Him" and "Jesus is tenderly calling you home". Fanny's choices defined her and today, she is one of the most celebrated lyricist even after her death in 1915.

"The happiest people in life don't necessarily have the best of everything. They just try to make the best of everything" - John. C. Maxwell

In life there are two kinds of people, those who make things happen and those who watch them happen. Those who make things happen are those who have through the years, changed the course of human history. They are not contented just by watching others do it, they get it on. I have resolved in my life to be one of those people. There a few things we have to get right before we can be one of those who make things happen.

Attitude

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain" - Maya Angelou.

John Maxwell defined attitude as an inward feeling expressed by outward behaviour - the outward projection of what we feel inside. Attitude colours every aspect of a man's life. "It's like the mind's paintbrush" - John Maxwell. The result you get out of situations and circumstances are often as a result of your attitudes. Every aspect of your life has been and will be affected and influenced by your attitude - past, present and future. If your attitude in the past has been very negative, its high time you began dealing with it because it can determine the direction for your future. Your attitude affect your choices and your choices, your future. No wonder, John Maxwell referred to it as "the difference maker". Your attitude can make the difference in your life. Think about it!

Stop blaming others

Often times in life we blame others for our past mistakes, pains hurts and regrets. John Maxwell in his book "Attitude: the difference maker" said:

Early in life you don't have the many choices. You don't choose where and when you are born. You don't choose your parents, your race, genes, health. Everything you were and nearly everything you did were not up to you. But the longer you live, the more your life is shaped by your choices. You now decide what you'd eat, who you will marry, whether to finish college and what you will do for a living. You now have responsibility for your life; hence, you can't and should not blame anyone for your decisions.

It's high time we took responsibility for our own actions, decisions and direction in life. To effectively live life, we have to own it. We have to be responsible for it. We have to stop blaming others for our failures and choose to try again when we fail. Yes, you heard me right - choose! We have to create options for ourselves. Don't fall into the trap of believing if something does not work out, then its the end. There is no end until you have defined one for yourself. Make the right choices that would define and determine your destiny. Stop blaming others, it will get you no where.

Remember, choices define us!

Feeling Inferior?

I was listening to a lady speak today and she said "reputation matters only a little in the definition of who you are." In other words, how people see you is not and never the definition of who you are. It is how you see yourself that matters. How you weigh yourself. How you value yourself. What you think you are worth. Some people might say how your creator sees you is very important. We are all driving at the same point. What matters is not what people see you as or what people say about you.

While I was thinking about this topic; I discovered two quotes that I am still yet to recover from;

"A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is"
“Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” - Abraham Lincoln

What I feel is the heart of these quotes is that our character is what makes us not what people think of us. In other words, its high time we started building great character. Its high time we put aside wrong doings for the good ones. Then, we can stand no matter the criticisms. Then we can stay solid in the face of challenges. Reputation is never the real thing.

The heart of this post is for those feeling inferior one way or the other. I recently came to New Zealand and started training with a local football club. I know very much well how good I am in soccer but ever since I came to New Zealand, its become as though, the last few weeks I've spent here were my first time of touching a soccer ball. Everyone in my soccer team think very little of me. Although most of the things we do in training sessions were things I last did when I was in the University in Nigeria but those little piece of skills don't define my footballing self. I know who I am on the pitch. I am confident that when there is a match, I will bring people on their feet screaming and singing my praise because I know that stuffs I've got on my inside - I know what I am made of.

If you are having that feeling as well - peradventure in your workplace and it looks as though everyone else knows better than you do; maybe its in ur class in school where it looks as though you are the 'dullest' of all - you just never get anything right; it could be in your ministry, others sing very well and yours is always offtune and never ontune; maybe its in that vocation, everyone always get it right except you. Com'on those things don't define your reputation. What define's your reputation is what you think of yourself. You are failing at it now does not mean you are worst at it. What it shows is that you need more time to get yourself right. Stop feeling inferior.

I've once heard about a failure that contested for different kind of posts in his life time and people called him a failure until he became the United States President - Abraham Lincoln

I've once heard about a man in whose innovation was tagged "toy" and now in the 21st century its the technology no one can do without - Alexandra Graham Bell

I've heard about a man that made the first car and he was accused of being out of his senses; Guess what, that same car no one can do without in our world today - Henry Ford

If only you would not give up! If only you will stay on! If only you will keep on keeping on! If only you would not lose hope! If and only if you will never stop believing... Your time of manifestation is here!

- (c) Le Dynamique Professeur

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

Sometimes in life the situations we pass through look so hopeless such that we just can't bring our minds and heart to believe we would ever be able to make it out alive and whole. The truth is that no matter what difficulties you might be going through in life, its only but for a moment. it definitely would not last your whole life time. I was recently taking a walk in a tunnel on my way to work and I kept on reflecting on that phrase, 'there is always light at the end of th tunnel' and loads of things kept on running through my mind.

1. In the tunnel is so much loneliness: Many of us have either gone through or presently going through such moments where we feel so lonely. It just does not seem anyone cares about whats happening to you or whats going on in your life. It just looked as though you are the only one going through troubles and hard times. Its looks as though what is happening to you is the worst thing that can ever happen to a man in his entire life... Its a tunnel experience.

2. In the tunnel is so much fear: As I navigate my way through that tunnel, I notice although as safe as my environment was, I still was sort of feeling scared. The way the cars coming into the tunnel made noise as though a bomb would just blow up any moment. All I could not wait to do at that time was to get out of that tunnel real fast. Its not a pleasant experience I know... Moments in your life where no matter how much hope others around you share, you just don't see a reason for hope in your own situation. Fear has crippled every atom of faith left in your being. Times when no matter what you destination holds; you just can't seem to grasp where your current location leads because of so much fear... Its a tunnel experience.

3. In the tunnel is darkness: You just can't see anything pleasant. All you see around is a wall that makes up the tunnel. Nothing has a meaning. No vision to behold. Nothing to hold on to. Nothing to capture as an artifact of hope whatsoever. You just lose yourself, hopes, dreams, future to your situation and circumstance. You are moving forward and its like getting to the other end is such a long journey... its a tunnel experience.

Dear Reader, what I have come to tell you today is that there is always light after every tunnel experience. Light is defined as the absence of darkness. In other words, at the end of the tunnel; fear, confusion, loneliness, insecurity and so on, disappears. If your situation is a tunnel experience, I have brought you good news today - just keep walking. Don't stop believing. Keep moving. Keep on Keeping on. Keeping on stepping. Ensure continuous momentum. Don't give up! There is always light at the end of every tunnel. I know many, even when they see a light, they are still think maybe its a train that would come crush me down... No, its the fear of the tunnel that has deposited that thought in you. Keep on moving my friend. You will soon make it dear. After the night is day and after dark is light... Cheers!

Le Dynamique Professeur

"WHILE WE BREATH WE HOPE AND WHILE WE LIVE WE DREAM"

On the 5th of November 2008, History had its course on the lives of many. Forty years ago, one man named Rev Martin Luther King (Jnr) died on a course because of a dream he had. Here and now, that dream has surfaced. Indeed, dreams come through. If a man has a dream, even if he goes down to the grave, his dream will still be alive fighting hard to break to lime light. Barrack Obama, many might not agree, is the fulfillment of that dream today - forty years after.

Its a dawn of a new America, One Nation, United. Its a dawn of a new era of Hope and outstanding movement towards restoration of all that has been lost in the country. When that man in question stepped on the podium today, his first four words touched my heart "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE". The reason for this note is not to celebrate one man over the other but to make every reader of this believe in their dreams. If you have stopped dreaming, its high time you carried your pillows for a good sleep again and start getting those dreams back; if you have stopped believing, its high time you beat your chest with hope and start seeing impossibilities becoming possible.

Obama made a statement at the closing seconds of his speech that also touched me; "while we breath, we hope..." he said I then added mine "while we live, we dream" . Beloved, as long as we are still on this planet called earth, its high time we noted its a planet where dreams come through. A man can die but his dreams can never die. One thing that amazes me is whether a dream is positive or negative, its hard to stop it. Hitler almost had his dream of wiping out the whole Jewish race off the earth if not that God stopped him. How much more if we dream good and positively. It will sure come through.

Let me end this with a scripture I believe was fulfilled before all of our eyes today "Whatsoever is born of God, overcomes the world..." If your dream is born of God, it will sure overcome all hurdles (race, religion, sex, whatever). DREAM BIG because no dream is too big. DREAM WIDE because no dream is too wide. DREAM DEEP because no dream is too deep to come through. God has shown to us through Obama today and the whole world seats to watch what I call "THE AUDACITY OF HOPE"

Thanks for reading.

- Le Dynamique Professeur

Lighten Up Someone's Day And You Wont Get Anything Less In Return

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."— Albert Schweitzer

Wherever you are this week, do all you can to lighten the flame within someone. Don't put out the flame of others by discouraging words but rather give them a big smile showing that you care with unlimited hugs to brighten their day.

Also dont let anyone put out your flame with any discouraging words or attitude. Stay alive, all smiles and happy cos this week will sure be the best week ever! trust me!

- Le Dynamique Professeur

TIME AND CHANCE II

I got this little from a friend's note on facebook today and I thought its necessary I make it the part two of this topic we've been on; Time and Chance.

"Imagine there was a bank that credited your very own account each morning with a large sum of money. But, it carried over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deleted whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out all of it, of course! Each of us has such a bank. Its name is - Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it makes a new deposit for you. Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against the 'tomorrow.' You must live in the present on today's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!

The clock is running. Make the most of today. And remember that time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. But today is a gift. That's why it's called The Present!"

Perhaps one of the reason why time has worked so much for people is because of their ability to use their time effectively. I have heard people say many a times that time management is an oxymoron simply because they feel you can not manage what you can hold but I must confess I don't agree. Sure! one of the good ways to be successful in life is to be able to use one's time effectively because time itself is an opportunity (chance). Once your breath is gone, the opportunity of time is lost, so maximize it while you have it. Time and Chance are phenomenon's that determines the destination of lots of us in life. How we use the time given to us on this earth's surface would determine what we would be of us, our reputation, by the time we are gone out of this world.

Think on these things...

STAY TUNED!

TIME AND CHANCE

I have come to find out in this world that we live in, that there are two things that determines the success of a man, they are TIME and CHANCE. Some other people refer to chance as opportunity. Being a christian, recently I was studying my bible and I came across a verse of the bible that states; "I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all"

The man that uttered those words was called Ecclesiastes - the preacher. Just like he discovered then, a long time ago, I have come to look around me and I have found that its undoubtedly true. So many people are not succeeding in ventures they have embarked upon today, not because they are lazy or have not worked hard enough; its just that time and Chance has yet to found them. While I was in school, I see boys and girls studying as if they were books themselves but in the end, the most playful in class comes out to be the best - how would one explain that? Time and Chance.

However, Time and Chance have come to some people's favour in time past but they just fail to leverage on it; they fail to take advantage of it; they just were too busy to see its their turn. I do tell people when they say 'opportunity comes only but once' that opportunity do not come but once but comes in disguise each time it comes. As a result, some people have lost numerous opportunities to making it in life. How then can one make effective use of time and chance? How then can one not be a victim of Time and Chance? How can one discern opportunity when it comes in disguise?

Watch out for the next post - Only on LE DYNAMIQUE PROFESSEUR'S BLOG.