A few days ago, I completely missed my turn while driving to the induction ceremony of my cousin. It took me about 45 minutes to retrace my steps and extra liters of petrol (gas). Considering the fuel scarcity situation in Nigeria, this is not the time to “miss your road,” using the Nigerian slang.
As soon as I realized my mistake, I knew I had to choose my response carefully. Because how I reacted would determine my mood at the event, and probably throughout the day, and more importantly, my peace. One of the things I vowed to retain in these times is my peace and oneness with God: A restful mind devoid of hurt, anger, and irritation. And I must deliberately choose to do things differently each time.
“Do not waste one moment in regret, for to think feelingly of the mistakes of the past is to re-infect yourself.”
Feeling is The Secret, Neville Goddard
ALL THINGS WORK OUT FOR MY GOOD
So, I paused the message I was listening to and decided to enjoy the journey. I realized I had not taken time to “see” the road. It dawned on me, that I had come as far as about 15 minutes to Wumba, where I spent 11 months for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). I expressed gratitude for having come this far. After all, two years ago, I had declined an invitation to visit the same place because I considered it was too far from me. Some minutes later, I saw the NYSC camp where I spent three weeks in 2010. I had tears in my eyes as I realized that God had brought me far since that time. I reflected on the different events in my life, the good and the bad, the losses and gains of the past years, and more importantly the growth. This “mistake” helped me to reflect on God’s faithfulness over the last 13 years since my NYSC days and I was grateful to Him.
Anyway, I got to the event, and I was just on time. I got to the venue earlier than my uncle who invited me. I had the opportunity to get a good seat close to the window, and I used the time to watch the college students. I noticed their youthfulness, zeal, vibrancy, wisdom, and the energy with which they clapped to celebrate the graduates. Eventually, it was a good day for me.
I HAD A CHOICE
Why is this even important to count as a blog post? Remember, this is my open journal, a place where I share my insights, learnings, and musings with you. But this is not the reason, it is because I learned that I had a choice. How I react to things or people is entirely my choice. Something similar happened in 2023 when I missed my turn because I was listening to a message again (LOL). I was carried away with the message and did not realize it until almost 20 minutes later. The mistake changed my day as I went from being excited to being tired. I condemned myself for losing my focus and remembered how it had happened before because I was not paying much attention to the road. But this time I flipped it and decided to “see” good only. I chose to be positive and to “see” the environment. There was a lot to be grateful for even when it looked like things went wrong.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
We can be positive even when things are not so good. We have a choice to let go, forgive ourselves, and heal early. Otherwise, we may be swallowed up in self-pity, anger, bitterness, and self-loathing. Unfortunately, the more negative feelings we give out, the more of it we get. This affects subsequent events in our lives which further worsens the negative feelings we are having. It is a self-perpetuating cycle. The fuel for more of it is the feeling, and this outcome is our choice. A feeling- negative or positive, feeds on itself to give birth to more of it.
“Whatever you feel, whether good or bad, determines your frequency, and you attract the people, events, and circumstances that are on the same frequency.”
The Power, Rhonda Byrne
Ever wonder why they say, be joyful? Because joy births itself! When we give out joy, love, hope, etc, we get even more joy, love, and hope. Events happening work together to bring us more of these positive feelings. Being joyful births more of its kind and being loving births more love for us. The moment I decided to flip my reaction, I started to notice important things that I missed while driving just a few minutes earlier. In addition, I had an amazing outing. I did not miss out on the beautiful band at the event; I loved the excitement of the inductees and the joy of their parents, and I was grateful for my parents as I remembered my induction into the medical profession in 2009.
I thought this post would encourage you always to flip the switch and turn the light on. Choose not to walk along a familiar path- a familiar way of thinking, reacting to circumstances and doing things. You have a choice. Life does not happen to you, you happen to live, deciding how it should look. The most important lesson is this: the more negative energy we emit from our thoughts and feelings, the more negative circumstances we attract, and this will continue until we break it. The same principle applies to positive feelings.
“How you feel in any one moment is more important than anything else, because how you feel right now is creating your life.”
The Power, Rhonda Byrne
This is the year to flip the switch and I know for sure; that it will be a rewarding one.
I believe in you.
Yours truly LIVE-ing
Titilayo.