WHAT YOU KEEP IN MIND, WHAT YOU ENCOUNTER — THEY ARE RELATED

Author: Abdulwahab Abdulkarim (Prof. Karimous)

“Change your responses if you don't like your outcomes” was one of the fine admonitions of Jack Canfield while he advocated his 25 success principles. And in life, for the things we do, the routines we take part in, the courses we study, etc., the outcomes we desire are somewhat tied to the intention or the mindset we created just before we embark on them. How we re-act thereafter tells everything.

Once upon a time in 1994, the Northridge earthquake brought on a CNN reporter to interview some drivers commuting to their respective workplace. Because the earthquake had taken a substantial part of the road leading to the city, what was a one-hour drive became a two-three-hour drive. One such driver, when asked how he fared with the traffic, exploded thus: “I hate California. First there were fires, then floods, and now an earthquake! No matter what time I leave in the morning, I'm going to be late for work. I can't believe it!”.

A second driver, when asked same question, said “It's no problem. I left my house at 5:00 AM. I don't think under this circumstances my boss can ask more than that. I have lots of music cassettes and my Spanish-language tapes with me. I've got my cell phone. I have coffee in a thermos, my lunch — I even brought a book to read. So I'm fine”.

Obviously, sometimes we are the drivers of our own problem or misfortune or depression. We condition ourselves in the negative mindset, but we expect the positive response. The way we condition our minds, the negative thoughts we harbour, ..., all have resultant factors in anything we may experience. This is nonnegotiable. Should we keep our minds positive and optimistic, what stops us from garnering the better outcome we desire?

TO STUDENTS OF KNOWLEDGE

In the meantime your results unfold, something incontestable is that you're either impressed or depressed about them. In which case, do not fret. Accept the grim reality. Take the blame and work proactively for something better. Not accepting the blame for your performances may deprive you of salvation: so because you feel someone else is responsible. Quit from the blame-game clubbers.

Did someone write the exams on your behalf? Why do students believe their examiners could have victimised them? It is often easy to pin blames on someone else. However, it is ideal we stopped looking outside ourselves for answers to why we haven't gotten the results we want. The danger therein is better imagined.

Here comes an intriguing story told about a man who was out walking one night and came upon another man, down on his knees, looking for something under a streetlamp. The passerby inquired as to what the other man was looking for. He answered that he was looking for a lost key. The passerby offered to help and got down on his knees and helped him search for the key. After an hour of fruitless searching, he said, “We've looked everywhere for it and we haven't found it. Are you sure you lost it here?” The other man replied, “No. I lost it in my house, but there is more light out here under the streetlamp.”

Therefore, will you rather not address the exact place where the problem lies?

Some students, from their first day in school, probably due to to miss-orientation, already made up their minds that they're not first-class students. Some will brazenly argue that B.Sc. is B.Sc. Nonetheless, there is someone, somewhere, in the class, they revere as a scholar!

What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve” — Napoleon Hill.

If you look apprehensively, these scholars are the students you don't see buried in deep studies. They're often barraged with voluntary works: They jump from one tutorial to the other. In reality, however, this hallowed set only possess a different working psychology.

That the lecturer is the lord of sadists or an emeritus professor or a nobel laurel, why should you drop so intimidated to conclude that you can't register a grade A in the course? Come to think of this: You believe your instructors ate up the A's and B's, but you are saddened anytime you see that you already expected. Why do you choose to hurt yourself?

Interestingly it is a different kettle of fish for the scholars.

“The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it” — Michelangelo.

In general, to have the right mindset is to have the right results. To look on the bright side of things is to see the possibility in everything. Your subconscious guides you just in the direction you've written the programme into it: Who aims high gets there, who aims nowhere gets there. Ultimately we found solace in the words of General Wesley Clark when he said, “It doesn't take any more energy to create a big dream than it does to create a little one”.

[Abdulwahab Abdulkarim is a sub-editor of the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ilorin chapter. abdulkarim6644@gmail.com]

I must confess ur intellectual endowment is second 2none. we all need inspiration once in a while. job well done

Thank you for your words, Donemmy