FOLA OJO FROM PUNCH
I have run into people with differing shades of personalities and behavioural attitudes. The most dispiriting behaviour is one that comes from a person with low self-esteem. People with low self-esteem lack confidence about who they are and what they can do. In their expressed fear of making mistakes, they dig a deeper grave making plenty of errors. Low self-esteem people always believe they are not competent enough, not good enough, and not well-liked enough. But in this week’s treatise I admonish anyone reading; and who falls into that behaviour category: you are better than you think; and far better than what anybody calls you.
It is easy for people with low self-esteem to become an echo chamber of demeaning words other people speak about them. Quickly and unconsciously, they slide into cuddling nauseating negative narratives spread around regarding their persons. With their own hands, a fecund environment that permits belittling and disparaging spoken words to blossom is created. These words then grow and germinate into an oak tree of stumbling blocks that rules their lives. Unfortunately, in many instances, persons who look down on themselves are sincerely better in skills and potential than what people caricature them to be.
There are times you may be made to believe that you don’t have a lot. You have a gazillion much. Your certificate they call small can give you much. Your knowledge in a particular area they call small and insignificant is all you need when you water it in wisdom. Anybody who tells you that you don’t have much surely doesn’t have much wisdom. You have a lot that can fetch you more than enough that can make you fulfil destiny.
Do you know why the elephant throws his weight around in his big, strong, and powerful body? He is very confident God gave him the attributes to defend himself. Do you know why the lion creates fear with his bigness and rattling roaring voice? He is bold and knows that God gave him the roar as a defence. Do you know why the cheetah can turn his remarkable speed into a defence from killer beasts? He knows the worth of the attribute, and that’s why none can catch up with him in a dash. The eagle as a bird cannot run as fast as the cheetah, but she can fly. Her soaring ability is a defence from those who want to hold her destiny hostage. As the snake crawls fast on the grass, its ears pick up sounds. Do you know why? It is because God gave it the hearing ability as a defence against threats to snuff its life out.
What about you who think less and worthless about yourself? God has given you the brain to be creative as you design a path for your talents to take you to places and into palaces. That’s your worth. That’s your value. That’s who you are. That is your defence against poverty, and against any seen or unseen threat set to fight your glorious destiny.
Are you one of God’s created beings who have no clue of your true worth and value in life? Are you one who sells yourself cheaply to those who should be running errands for you? Are you one who surrenders yourself to be mastered by those you ought to master and mentor? Are you numbered among men who beg for handouts while the Creator has woven you to be the one handing out to help to lift lowly men and women out of the miseries of life? My friend, you have what the world is seeking after. You possess the fruits that bring the juice to the tables of kings and queens to drink from. You’ve got the preciousness in that voice designed to whisper into the ears of presidents telling them which way to go as they rule as they obey. You have the weighty words that lift the weight of oppression and repression off the bruised and beleaguered shoulders of citizens sitting in mires and misery. You are better than you think; and far better than what anybody calls you.
