Category: Encountering New Experiences

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8

The scripture above reminds me every time I read it that it’s really hard not to sin. But it’s hard for anyone to be around persons who think that they are better than others and that they have a right to be critical . Being righteous means being morally right, good or excellent. I know that when I rank students profile for their report card everyone wants to get As for excellent, but its always a question of do they deserve the rank. Then there is self-righteous which means, seeing yourself as superior to others, being holier-than-though or even hypocritical. No one therefore wants the title of self-righteousness based on those descriptors…

Sorry… We are all Guilty!

Even as I write this post I am being critical of others. The good thing is that I know this, I acknowledge it as a fault and I am committed to working on being less so.

The shocking thing is that we are all guilty of being self-righteous. When we take credit for doing something, then we forget the words Jesus spoke in St. Luke chapter 17, especially verse 10 where Jesus instructed his disciples:
So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

It’s hard for many of us not to take the credit when things go well and everyone is telling us how wonderful, or how great we are. When things are not going so well then it must be someone else’s fault. We are the innocent victim of this person or that person. We had absolutely positively definitely nothing whatsoever wrong. I am sure by now you get the sarcasm but just in case you missed it, I’m pointing it out. Sometimes we go too far. We begin to think that we are in a battle with God and he has allowed us to be in the terrible position. Often times it is easier to blame others when things do not work out in our favour.

then there are those who casually sit in judgement of others. We all have done this, so please do not try to remember that one friend who does this nor should you look at the person close by. We can judge others because:

1. We have never lied
2. we have never done a thing, a day in our lives that we are NOT proud of.
3. we have never killed, stolen anything
4. to avoid this list getting longer, in essence we are good through and through.

As a result, we have earned the right in all or in some situations to be judgemental, to tell everyone else when they are not doing the right things. But woe unto the one who tries to tell us that we also fall into that category.

Passing Judgment is not being righteous, it simply proves that we are not perfect that we have flaws that we hide behind when we judge other. While we can be intelligent, generous, kind, patient and forgiving. We are also, vacuous, mean, unkind, impatient and very unforgiving. It’s just that we often times refuse to acknowledge our imperfection. Though making wise judgements can be good when we need to be critical of certain situation, we are often times too quick to cancel people we feel in some way are lacking based on our finite assessment. For all of us who are quick to cancel others, is that always the only choice we have?

I recently came across a [blog] that listed 13 signs you are a judgemental person and sadly friends I am terribly judgmental. SoI want you to look at the list below and see if you are. If you are, don’t worry, we all have the opportunity to grow and change and just keep in mind what Romans 3 verse 23 says:

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

13 Signs You’re a Judgemental person

1. You believe that everyone is out to get you.
2. You expect other people to be consistent all the time.
3. You struggle to see beyond a person’s flaws.
4. You easily skip to conclusions.
5. You struggle to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty.
6. You’re intolerant of people unlike you.
7. You’re generally pessimistic about life.
8. You tend to believe people are either ‘good’ or ‘bad.’
9. You struggle to truly appreciate or see the beauty in others.
10. You have low self-worth.
11. You feel anxious around other people.
12. You’re suspicious and untrusting.
13. You have a strong inner critic who judges you.

Don’t be caught on the wrong side of right:

“There’s never been a true war that wasn’t fought between two sets of people who were certain they were in the right. The really dangerous people believe they are doing whatever they are doing solely and only because it is without question the right thing to do. And that is what makes them dangerous.”

― Neil Gaiman, American Gods

You’re Still Early… It’s Only May!

Well it is another month again. It’s the month of May! Though it is not my birth month, I believe that this month holds the promise for great things. So get ready for may blessings. There is so much to celebrate – most importantly life. While I neither have time or fingers to type all that will be celebrated this month, here are a few…

There are so many good things happening in May. May begins smile month in Britain! how many persons knew that? In May many celebrate Mother’s Day, and you need to make sure that you celebrate those women who have mothered you, not just the one who birthed you. Take the time to appreciate all that that this woman or women have done to make you into the person you are. It’s also child’s month in Jamaica and other countries and child’s day is celebrated around the world. It’s also the time when teachers are recognised for their hard work and overall genius in and out of the classroom.

And then there are days in the month that are internationally recognised:

1. May 3: World Press Freedom Day
2. May 5: African World Heritage Day
3. May 16: International Day of Light
4. May 16: International Day of Living Together in Peace
   
5. May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Do you know of any other celebrations or observances? what else can we add to the list above? Let me know below.

It is apparent that there are many things to celebrate and recognise this month. Make sure that you take the time to recognise the achievement of others as you forge ahead in claiming all the wonderful things waiting for you. May your May be blessed!

change the world by changing you. It has to start somewhere!

I sat and asked a very important question: how can I make an impact? I realise that I am no longer comfortable being among the crowd, going to work, going back home, waiting away the time. I’m ready for a change. So today I speak change into my life. That means I have to get off my increasingly big butt and do stuff!

Easier said than done…

Easier said than done; and it’s true. It’s easier to say you want a change than actually making changes, venturing into the unknown. Before you even make a move a thousand and one doubts assail me. Who am I kidding? What are you going to do that you couldn’t have done before? aaaah that pesky little devil’s voice can be really annoying. And crippling. The best course of action is to take action!

Now my idea of changing the world was to do something grand. Something so big that everyone can see that I am doing something! Who wants to hide their light under a bushel?

Alas change does not come that swiftly or easily. So I sit here still wondering how I am going be a part of a change that will not only benefit me but those within and outside my circle.

Then out of the blue a eureka moment; a light bulb goes off. Well change takes time doesn’t it? Rome certainly wasn’t built in a day was it? So I recognised that I got to start small. I have to start by doing the little things that count. Positive things, like smiling more, being a little more willing to help and being more positive in my words, actions and thoughts. Give someone a hug and a compliment instead of just doing so im my head.

Starting small pays

It also pays to appreciate the little things that you have and celebrate the small victories, even when no one is around to see them and celebrate with you. Identify those things about you that you do not like that you recognise that others do not like and make one change at a time. Make sure that you have a plan! I repeat, make sure you have a plan. This is crucial to the success of any venture. And if you know you are a chronic procrastinator like me, make sure to have a friend (really good friend that is), who will help you to be more accountable. But the most important thing that we all need to remember is that change is an uncomfortable process. Therefore we need to really get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

So as we go about the business of change, my advice is for us to have fun embracing the change that is coming our way.

i believe in you

Have you ever said the words above to someone? When they have lost faith in themselves and you desperately want them to get back on track. Has anyone ever said those words to you? Certainly I have said themor something similar to students past and present, family and friends .

Now, how often do you say these words to yourself?

When you say or hear those those words, do you considered what they truly mean; what message is being transmitted? when you say them you are telling that person, hey I have faith in you and your ability or abilities. And guess what, I will support your dreams and ambitions.

The believe in something is a phrasal verb, and there is another concept in believing in something. When you believe in something or someone it means you are convinced that person or thing exists. So along with believing in that person or thing is the understanding that you believe in what they represent and their purpose.

Your life is the fruit of your own doing.  You have no one to blame but yourself.

Joseph Campbell

Now another question is how many of us believe in ourselves? I am sure that a lot of us would immediately shout yes. But before you answer the question, answer the ones below I came across at the website learnstreaming.com.

• Do you often feel the need to explain yourself?
• Are you indecisive and then doubt your choices when you do make a decision?
• Do you find it difficult to accept compliments?
• modify your behaviour based on what others think?
• Do you often find yourself on the defense?
• Try to cover up your mistakes?

If your answers were mostly yes, then it means you still have some way to go in believing in yourself.

It’s easy for us to believe in others than ourselves. Yes it’s a hard pill to swallow but it’s true. Really, we mostly cannot relate to (Narcissus). It’s easier to because often times we have very little confidence in ourselves and our abilities. We are unable to see what others see in us and when they tell us we choose not to believe because we have convinced ourselves that we are protecting ourselves from being disappointed when these great things they see in us do not manifest.

Believing is a choice

Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely

Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

Another way to think about this, is to tell ourselves that believing in yourself is a sign of choosing to reject self hate and embrace self love. How can you honestly believe in the value of someone else if you are careless with yourself ? Ultimately, you are going to be careless with the persons who are around. We need to really believe in ourselves and practise positive affirmations. We can begin by acknowledging that we are worth the time and effort needed to nurture our potentials and live our purpose. We need to trust that God has given us all we need to do what we ought to do, even when we walk a path that is different from those around us. you always have the choice to believe the good versus the bad. To believe in yourself or not. Choose wisely.

Finish strong and you’ll always win

Kevonstage



Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.


1 Corinthians 9:24

Starting is easy when you finally decide to. However, where it really gets interesting is when Mohammed must decide whether or not he wants to meet the mountain! Of course I take this from the age old adage, “if the mountain will not come to Mohammed then Mohammed must go to the mountain”. What this is really saying is that if your will does not prevail as the ultimate choice then you must submit to an alternative. Let’s unpackage this.

We want to move on. We can see just ahead the new path we must take and we want to take it. But, before we can start on that new path, we need to finish this course. We are almost there, it’s almost finished – but not quite yet. For the impatient ones among us we begin to burn our bridge before we have finished crossing and risk falling to our demise – unintentionally of course. Many of us do not realise that it is the last 20% of work that requires 80% of our total effort to make the whole enterprise complete.

Many will start fast, few will finish strong

Gary Ryan Blair

I recently reminded my students that they will have to consider that many of the persons who they will leave school with when they graduate, will not be around them forever. They will leave together, but they will not stay together. It takes time to really understand what this means but after this discussion I did hear some of them reflecting on this truth that many find incomprehensible now. The friends you can’t go a day without talking to now, one day you will go days, then months, then years without seeing or talking to. As you run your race and you look to the left or the right, you begin to realise that some have dropped way behind or have opted out of the race completely. What will you do? Will you wait for them to catch up or will you join them on the sidelines. Also, consider that when many have left us we still have our race to complete, when we fail to maintain the pace others set for us we still have to finish the race the best we can. There is nothing that is guaranteed in this life; you won’t be the same forever, you won’t live in the same place, or be around the same people, love the same things and the list goes on. What is clear is that we all have a purpose and if we want to see it through then we have to ensure that when all else fails, our will and drive to finish our race is never compromised.

Is the Mountain Friend or foe?

We started at the mountain and there we shall end. The mountain can be viewed either as positive or negative. Moving forward, always look at the mountain as your springboard to success. A mountain can be the thing that tests and sharpen a spirit of survival; a testimony of your spiritual and mental growth and maturity. When you begin a race you don’t know the rest stops you will have to make but the mountain is always in sight and to meet it and experience it is to be at your optimum. It is where you will find your perfect self from your imperfect experiences.