WORKING WITH YOUR PRESENT Since I can’t erase my past and all that it gave me. My future also is what has not come; then I work with my present and make my present a true success. To do that, I must appreciate the gift of today and make it the best for my life time. In Today Matters by Dr John C Maxwell (I recommend that book for you, but you mustn’t put this one down not until you’ve finished it), explained so much on the power of using today and making it a masterpiece. And something in it captured my attention. Here’s it: Today is the most important day of my life Yesterday with its success and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever. The past is past Done I cannot believe it. I cannot go back and change it. Today. This moment. NOW It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have Tomorrow, I will not worry about tomorrow Today is what God has entrusted to me It is all that I have. I will do my best in it. I will demonstrate the best of me in it--- my character, giftedness, and abilities— to my family and friends, clients and associates. I will identify those things that are most important to do Today, and those things I will do until they are done. And when this day is done I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow, Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help. Then I shall go to sleep in peace…Content3 Appreciating the gift of today is needful especially when you relate your past with your present. It spurs you into becoming grateful and understanding that only the present gives you the key to unlocking your tomorrow. I believe the advice of John Kotter, “Most people don’t lead their own lives—they accept their lives”- will help us. Do your best to look at your present in these areas: IT’S OPPORTUNITIES: There is a common knowledge that “opportunity comes only once” I disagree with that. Many don’t. But whatever bias we may have about opportunities in today, we cannot erase the fact that every of our present has some opportunities in them. Every day is an opportunity, so opportunity never comes once. I remember utilizing a golden opportunity of getting training in Project Management. Initially it was very challenging but despite the cost, it gave me handsome returns and provided more opportunities to prove my capacity. IT’S CIRCUMSTANCES: Circumstances defines life. They seasons someone’s life time, determine so much about life and what it will stand for. Racial discrimination of the 60s and 70s defined the life of Rev Martin Luther King Jnr. It helped shaped his visions for tomorrow and perspective for live as well as his passion and ultimately his sacrifice. And for Isaac Newton, Charles Babbage, Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday, Timothy Berners-Lee, Les Parrot, Steve Jobs, Steve Woznaik, Bill William Gates, Earl Nightingale, Pablio Picasso, Michael Archangel, Christopher Columbus, Nelson Mandela, Chukwuemeka O. Ojukwu and many others- the harsh, cruel and impossible situations they met defined their lives. Amazingly, they embraced the challenges of their time and made meaningful contributions into their generations. I think that is the best anyone can do with his or her present time—LEAVING A POSITIVE MARK TODAY! No circumstance no matter how tough should be overcome you, rather be in the overcoming end. You do this by embracing the advice of National Best Seller and Family Life Coach Dr Steve Ogan, “You can turn every of your mess into a message” It is a clarion call for faith, that “God can do what men can’t”4. Yes He can! Just like Sam Nunn said, “You have to pay the price. You will find that everything in life exacts a price, and you will have to decide whether the price is worth the prize” Think about that IT’S IMPROVEMENTS: Present improvements explain the truth that there was once an old system. When you look at the speed of transformation going on at different aspects of man’s life and society; you will appreciate the power of improvements. About a thousand years ago, no one thought of a sharing blade. Men’s beads were tousled and awkward. I once read that men before the invent of the blade, used sharp edges of the stones to cut their excessively grown hairs, only the elites tried using sharp edges of knives. But Gillette improved on the old system of shaving and shaving accessories, opened up the men into the business of looking good and handsome. The glory in man became evident as they shave and keep their beads trim and trendy. Business Executives that have adopted the “paperless office” taught by Software and Business Expert Bill William Gates in his best selling Business at the Speed of Thought; are experiencing high returns and increased productivity. Every right improvement is worth embracing and working with. IT’S ADVANTAGES: Similar to the improvements of your present, is the advantage it has. King Solomon of ancient Israel once preached “Don’t long for “the good old days,” for you don’t know whether they were any better than there!5 There’s no better way to say this than the understanding that the future is better than your past; but today has so much advantages which are inherent and make everyday a unique day. One of the advantages of the present is the internet. IT’S INNOVATIONS: I believe you know about Google, Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, Blogs, Twitter, Opera Mini, Internet Explorer and other social media networks. They all are innovations. Timely innovations of young people, who wanted newer approaches to solving problems and bridging the digital divide of their present generation. Innovations are very pivotal in today’s successes and progress. Today’s innovation is worth leveraging. And when leveraged, it saves man a lot of his time and energy. It is invigorating and expands horizons while refreshing the knowledge base of people. By using present day innovations in Word Processing, I can write this book and effectively transform my manuscript into professional documents fit for publishing. And the same is with my use of blogs and the social media. I encourage you to look around and discover the so many innovations in health care, academics, lifestyle, faith, finance, business, transportation, leisure and tourism and a lot of others. When you do, leverage on them ethically and wisely and save yourself of so much waste of energy, time and resources. By working with today and the opportunities, circumstances, improvements, advantages and innovations—you expand perspective and outlook to life. And when you do that, you can now enjoy your future! Let’s keep going. From the Book LIFE JACKET by OBIKE C. CHIMA Twitter: @ObikeChima Call: =2347064725840
Posted on: Mon, 15 Jul 2013 16:52:37 +0000