Closing the GAP...

Wow, not sure I want to write about this...it's so hard to confess one's opportunity areas, especially if you had 365 days to make up and you still missed out on some things. I guess this one is going to be a very brief one, maybe I'll just discuss/write about personal development, self realization and/or focused improvement...that might make me feel better, at least for now.

I hate to admit it but I try more than once on too many things, loose focus, go back to self defeating habits one too many a time. I am strong willed, have a very strong sense of self belief, but it doesn't work on the little issues of life where its  most needed. As the word of God (and Swtzy) says "...it is not by power nor by might...", another good one can be found in Ecclesiastes 9:11 which reminds us the strong don't always win.

I don't have to meditate all night to know where I failed in 2009, NO!, the focus is why and reasons obvious. Truth is as I type this, I am using the opportunity to reflect about those little challenges I had to try more than once on and why, a lot of things are running thorugh my mind, I will list them down for further reflection, a reality check now, and later, as well as (maybe) help someone somewhere like moi.

So, why did I try more than once so often? This could be attributed (but not limited) to the following:

1. Too much trust in myself, over-confidence in some cases
2. Wrong association
3. Temporary (albeit costly) loss in focus on my spiritual life
4. Emotional challenges
5. External factors...the environmental push
6. A weak will...yes, sometimes I forget to remember my strong personality

So, what are the potential solutions?

1. Firstly and most importantly, trust God (not self): 
2. Improved focus on spiritual development, listen to messages (spiritual and motivational), go to church, get and stay close to a spiritual mentor.
3. Deal positively with boredom, do some positive time utilization (e.g., blogging, meditation, reading, e.t.c.)
4. If it does not help you be better, get rid of it!
5. Do not allow your environment and people to get at you, always draw positives out of situations (Nigeria is not the worst place to be, people are still making things happen here)
6. Look into a mirror, stop blaming the next person (be it in your love life, work, family, e.t.c.)
7. Focus on the big picture, don't go for the proverbial 'bowl of porridge', it is never worth it on the long run.

I am feeling better and stronger already, praise God, guess it's a great new year after all...

Remember WHO you are and WHAT you want to be, don't give up and do not let anything and/or anyone discourage you. IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD!!!