STEP OUT, STEP UP, STEP IN

Some things cannot happen and situations will definitely not change if we continue to stay at the same place or location, and in the same situation, condition, practices, lifestyle and conduct. You might be familiar with the famous “sheep tied to tree” story. The story portrays a sheep that was tied with a rope to a tree. When it was loosed from the rope after a period of time, the sheep stood at the same place, being oblivious of its freedom and liberty. Like the situation of the sheep, many people unfortunately, have become stagnant in life. What then is the problem? It can be understood that first, some of the people have their minds bound to the current circumstance. Second, they accept the negative situation as reality and normal. Third, they feel comfortable in the circumstance and their present environment. Fourth, they fear being re-arrested by similar situations that might unleash deeper suffering and punishment on them. Fifth, they fear conditions outside the present territory would be more difficult than their present circumstance. From all these perspectives, such people like the sheep, live in illusion of situation around them. Self-deception is dangerous and deadly. It is not wise to over blow one’s own potentials and opportunities, however, to under-estimate yourself is pre-requisite to defeat in life. It is worse if the limitation is self-inflicted.

Several people have different perceptions about life. Some people believe that “life is struggles” so one must struggle. This view makes life's struggles a normal episode in life. Whiles it has soothing effect because the individual does not relent in life but rather push on; it also has the potency to make an individual settle for less. Such an individual becomes sluggish in pursuing a life that is struggle free. Some people also believe “life is war”. If it is, such people must fight their way through and out of everything. They fight their way through jobs, relationships, family and marriage, business and anything that will make life pleasant for them. Some people also have the concept of “don’t worry, be happy.” By this view, they always look for things that make them happy, but this can be an illusion and an individual may be deceived to live in unachievable frenzy. Life cannot always be about being happy. This article is intended to provoke anyone who is dissatisfied with his current status; anyone who is struggling because a coven of poverty and low life and anyone who intends to make positive impact on the world. After reading, you should be ready to break free from the “business as usual mentality” that only leads to defeat and misery in life.

 Those who dare to challenge the status quo will set new records for others to emulate.

~EKs Quotes~

Nonetheless, life is a mixture of everything. There are times one needs to struggle to step out. There are moments to fight your way to step up and some moments are so exciting to step in. A balance view of life yields success. Although it’s important to hold a world view, being fixated about a particular world view cages one’s mind and ability to step out, step up and step in. Several people, due to various family, racial, religious inclination, level of education, social status, and business and social experiences are boxed in some form of cage. These background situations impose limitations on their abilities to step out into lime light. Some people are kept in the dark of innovation and development. They hold ideologies that are extremely restricting and inimical to progress. Their potentials are inhibited. Such may be people that are endowed with skills and talents that communities, countries and the world at large require for progress and development. They hold the tool of change and betterment of lives. They hold the keys to joy, happiness and prosperity of themselves, their families and institutions. Unfortunately, their abilities and capabilities are hidden by circumstances within their control and some beyond their level of influence and ability.

Unfortunately, some people are comfortable with mediocrity. They settle for less and are mean in all their dispositions. First, this kind of predisposition is a sickening mentality. The reasons for this are not farfetched. They might be exposed to an environment that does not see the need to advance the situation of the society. Some also have parents, mentors and friends that do not see the essence of moving on to the next stage of life. They are full of negativity and speak evil of everything that leads to progress in life. Some religious groups even believe by advancing in life such believers cannot make it to heaven because they will fall from God’s grace. Another challenge is that some people who fall in this category lack the ability to see beyond what they see. They cannot fathom that life, their businesses and institutions can be better than the current situation they see. This thwarts their abilities to study hard and be engaged in activities that has huge potential of bringing transformation and change. They think negativity, see negativity and talk negativity, and backwardness. To overcome such situations, one needs to be healed from such enigmatic mindset. Next, they need to appreciate good and beautiful things. Also, they need boldness to confront the status quo. Further, they need to align themselves with people who are forward looking and are full of positivity. In addition, such people need the Spirit of “positive craziness” to forge ahead of life and any competition. Finally, they need to be pragmatic in their approach to step out of any backward, negative, and delusionary mentality.

Those who accept everything as normal in life cannot add value to or an inch to improve their lives.

~EKs Quotes~

Stepping out is not a mere mouth talk. It calls for decisive and determined forward looking steps. Being able to move ahead of others is not a repeated game concept. You need to hold your dream of advancing in life so strong and firm in your mind. You need to search out resources that will enable you escape the hard conditions of poverty, nonentity and low life. You need to step out of any inhibiting hole that cripples to ability to impact your world positively. Any employment in life that devalues your life than advances it is not worth it. Get out of that friendship and group before your life is torn apart. Don’t allow any enslavement because of money, fame, recognition and popularity to incarcerate you into the hard conditions of ‘Sobibo’. Step up your game now!

When doors and opportunities are opened, one needs to step in. It should however not be surprising that some people fail to step in at the right time in spite of opportunities and open doors that surround them. Sometimes the failure on the part of those who step in into opportunities because (1) they do not think it is for them (2) they do not think they qualify (3) they think the class or level is above them (4) they think they cannot make it (5) they think others are better than them and deserves such opportunities and (6) they think there is no one to help them through should they step in. Besides their mindset of low self-esteem which serves as the main stumbling block, such persons are sluggish and lazy in stepping into situations that can help to turn their lives and families around. Until you seize the moment and step in into new situations and challenges, your life will continue to be in circles. Challenges in terms of financial constraints, employments, failed relationship, business collapse, cheats from superiors, etc are constants in life. Only those who are able to strategize will overcome such limiting situations. By the way, inventors and entrepreneurs have always emerged from challenges and difficulties.

Stepping out, stepping up and stepping in come with cost. This should however not deter anyone who seeks to push ahead for a successful and prosperous future. With this mindset, the world is your village. You can do anything and everything with ease. You can liberate your family, affect your community, transform and impact your world, and beautify your life. What’s important is to hold your vision firm in your heart and clear in your sight; look for information that liberates from any cage and devise strategies to step out of any limiting circumstances. You also need to recognize the potentials in you and seek ways to improve on your abilities. It’s in your hands. You hold the key, you’ve got the power – step out, step up and step in. Take action now!!!

By 

Ernest Kwame Affum (Dr. EK)

Author, EKs Life Tunes