I was chatting to one of the South African cabinet ministers on the plane the other morning and we got onto the subject of the repatriation of the bodies to South Africa from Nigeria of those that were tragically killed in the collapse of a hostel at the Prophet Joshua’s stronghold in Nigeria.

I inquired from the minister as to whether or not someone was going to be held accountable for that tragic event. He replied by telling me that the Prophet had too much “power”. I asked him what he meant by “power”. He replied that with the eminent elections in Nigeria no one wanted to “stir the pot” so to speak.

I then suggested to the minister that if the Prophet was stripped from his title, how much power would he really have?

 

THE FALSE IDEA OF POWER

It always amazes me how the world in its mass ignorance assumes that “power” is embedded in titles, money, education, investments, cars, houses, clothes, fame, etc.

Sure, if you have all those things then people may listen to you and could even respect you, but it is a false idea of power.

Please underst and that “power” is not on the outside.

If the person, who relies on their fame, to make them powerful for example, were suddenly to lose it all, how powerful would they really be? Oscar Pistorius is a case in point.

We see it with so many of our political leaders who just can’t let go of their titles. It is, however, incredible that when they no longer have the title they are like empty shadows – often very lost.

 

YOUR POWER IS WITHIN YOU

You can make the difference to your life and to the lives of others. If you are waiting for someone or something else to make the difference in your life, you could die waiting.

STOP WAITING and realise that YOU have the power to make the difference.

What is this power?

What is this power that makes you so powerful?

What is this power that drastically changes people’s lives?

What is this power that brings about real freedom?

What is this power that requires one to be brutally honest with oneself?

 

RESPONSIBILITY!

Your power is simply this – YOU CAN CHANGE ANYTHING WHEN YOU STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.

Late President, Nelson M andela, said it all so aptly at his inauguration as South Africa’s first freely and democratically elected president, “for with freedom come responsibilities”.

The world’s mass think that freedom is freedom from responsibility.

Stephen Covey summed it all up in one quote. “Your ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside of yourself will affect you.”

 

I have always taught that one can never change and will never change until they become AWARE.

We need to be aware of the fact that things will never change in our lives until we accept the responsibility to change them. Most people would rather blame others, circumstances, government, spouse, weather, God, dog, cat, etc. for their lot in life rather than accept the responsibility to do something about their lot in life.

 

NO MORE LIES

Okay, so now you know. No more excuses. No more pointing fingers. No more waiting for someone or something else to make you happy.

You are responsible for your life, your happiness, your moods, your relationships, your well-being, your world.

You are now aware or are you?

Galileo said, “you can’t teach anybody anything. You have to let them discover it for themselves.”

In other words, only when you internalise the message and accept the responsibility to act on the message will you learn anything.

John Maxwell suggested that, “Most people would rather change their circumstances to improve their lives when instead they need to change themselves to improve their circumstances.

I trust that you would agree with his statement? When you do and act on it you have become aware.

 

TAKE ACTION NOW 

Mark Batterson said, “You are only one defining decision away from a totally different life.”

My friend, make that decision

today,

now,

this very minute,

immediately,

to become extraordinary. No more excuses.

 

LEAVE ME A COMMENT

I look forward to hearing of your wonderful experiences as you take back your responsibility. This is your power.

Let me know in the comments below which one of the following three you find more challenging to do:

1 – Internalising that power is from within and not from outside sources

2- Setting goals and plans to achieve your goals

3- Keeping a positive attitude

 

Take charge, take a chance, design your own life, don’t be puppets, live your life with passion and have fun because life is fun!

Your friend,

Dave Boreham