How often do you get tempted to take stock of things that are not working out for you or things that you feel or think might be wrong with you?
When things don't seem to go as planned or expected, we begin to focus on our flaws, weaknesses, limitations and focus on the negative situations we are into or negative comments thrown at us by people.
You begin to question why certain people act or react the way they do to you, or say some negative things to you and about you.
This makes you begin to think about every possible thing you feel or think is wrong with you.
In fact, you may tend to think that nothing good can come out of you or from you.
You begin to gradually internalize the negative situations you find yourself in, perceptions and the comments people throw at you and then accept them believing that's just the way you are or who you are. I have been in situations like this too.
I've been tempted to have such thoughts too but again, I give God the glory for the grace to have learnt and mastered the art of shutting down negative voices in my head or the negative actions, reactions, comments or pronouncements people make towards me and this is due to the simple fact that I know the God I serve and what He says about me.
Of recent, I traveled home and on the day I was to leave and come back to Jos, it was as if one won't get a vehicle and I needed to get back that very day.
Every vehicle we got, would give one excuse or the other as to why it won't take us. Two other vehicles we later boarded at different times asked us to highlight for one reason or the other.
A journey that was suppose to have taken off by at most 8am lingered on till about 11-12pm but as God would have, we finally got a vehicle that was ready to leave at that time even as late as it was then.
Just when we were about to leave, the last driver who had picked and dropped us back was about to make a negative comment like, "You guys should think about this journey ooooo cos..."
But before he could complete the sentence I said to him " Keep quiet." He still wanted to proceed with the negative comment I repeated "keep quiet." And yours truly he kept shut.
After he kept shut, I said to him, "Why don't you also think it this way that God does not want you to take us on this journey but has brought just the perfect driver for us" The man remained mute till we left the park
Though I got to Abuja at about 3am but the journey was smooth and sound. There was no itch at all. In fact God indeed brought the perfect driver at the end of the day for us because this particular driver was was very friendly all through the journey and was known by almost all the military men at the check points who let us go easily.
Now, in such a situation, it would have been very easy to just conclude that God wouldn't want you to embark on that journey because of all the delays and disappointments and then accept it as it is as well as accept the negative comment the man tried to make.
But we tend to forget that for every delay, there is a reason and that is because, God has a perfect plan for you. He has the best in store for you. He sees the end of thing even before it begins.
When you find yourself in perceived negative situations, you've got to be first your own motivation. First of all encourage yourself with what God says about you in every situation before people begin to give their opinions of you or the situation you are into which may may turn out to be false or wrong.
People's opinions about you and the situation you are into does not have to be your reality or define you but what you decide it to be.
Just because things are not working out for you now just as you have hoped does not mean it won't happen but when it happens, you would see that it happened just at the right time because God makes all things beautiful in its time.
Listen to your inner voice and believe that everything works out for good just as God intended it to be. Take your eyes off your flaws, imperfections, what you perceive not be going on well for you or what is wrong with you.
Never loose sight of that beautiful imagination in your head of how you dream your life to be as long as it is in line with God's will for you.
When in such situations, all your mind needs is a strong dose of encouragement on daily basis to keep you going else you could fall into depression.
Condition your mind to think only the positive things just as the Bible admonishes in Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
There will always be challenges, difficulties and some hard times, but we must find the courage to encourage and motivate us and the best way to do this is going to God's word. Every answer we need to every situation is right there.
Be first your own motivation. Self-motivation is the best kind of motivation you can ever give yourself to reach your desired destination and goal in life.
It is the most important tool or skill you need to be successful in anything you do and it also improves your emotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence is being able to recognize and manage your emotions as well as the emotions of others. While self motivation is the force that propels you to do things as well as enable you reach your goals.
The relationship between self-motivation and emotional intelligence is being able to understand ourselves, relate with others well and being able to reach our desired goals in life.
You may not win every battle but you can win back your sanity to win the war. To gain back your sanity and win the war is to be able to be your own motivation first.
Joel 3:10 says "Let the weak say I am strong." It did not say tell the weak he or she is strong. This is speaking to yourself in positive ways when facing diverse challenges.
It is telling yourself that all will be alright and things will go well even when it doesn't seem like it or when no one is there to lend you a helping hand.
You are full of vitality and the determination to face any challenge. If you set your heart to achieve anything, you can do it. All you need is self motivation, consistence, persistence and discipline.
The people you count on today won't always be there for you tomorrow so you need to self motivate by cultivating and drawing from your inner strength.
Those who had even promised to be there for you in one way or the other could come up with one excuse or the other as to why they won't be there for you as promised. So, you've got just you to keep going on.
Maintain your self-confidence. Trust God and believe He has the best reserved for you. Believe the negative situation or comments is not your reality and you will bounce back strong and better.
By the time you are able to cultivate the habit of self-motivating and develop your self-confidence then you would realize that even when you are hard pressed on every side, you won't be crushed, perplexed but won't be in despair, persecuted but will never be abandoned by God, struck down but not destroyed - (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
Quote for the day - "Whenever I am in a difficult situation where there seems to be no way out, I think about all the times I have been in such situations and say to myself "I did it before, so I can do it again." - Idowu Koyenikan
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