By Noah Mangwarara.
(News Of The South) – Many people following different pursuits in life fail are limited by the fact that what they feel like doing hasn’t been done by someone else; they seek acceptance by the majority, notably family members, workmates or even close associates. They fail to realise that the rock from which they are hewn is totally different from those from whom they are seeking consent. The manner in which we are wired is so different such that relying in what the majority says will by no chance add value to civilization. The world demands and calls for those citizens who are not necessarily driven by the majority’s order of doing things.
In nature, there is no way you can ever see a dozen eagles in the sky by themselves. Eagles don’t flock; the largest number that you can ever come across is five. The majority mindset doesn’t drive them and they stand to fly to lofty places because that’s the only things that can be done. Making a difference in the world demands defying the odds even if no one else is agreeing with your manner of thinking. Even Mark Twain had this to say in this regard; “There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded.” It is better to chose the high places that are less crowded and which allow you to see with better clarity the goings on in the world beneath.
Great results are not accomplished by large groups of people; in most cases, the majority is proved wrong. When the biblical Moses send twelve men to the land of Canaan to spy, ten out of twelve came back with a bad report. These ten men were driven by a negative attitude that only sees issues from a pessimistic front. They were defeated long before they attempted to conquer; finding solace in numbers. The fact that a thousand people do something wrong will never make it right. The fact that a particular leader has been voted by the majority of the electorate doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best; it could merely be a case of the competition which is not competitive. In the worst class, there is always a winner. Rather be judged by your own standards which are far higher than all and sundry.
Everyone who heard the report from the ten spies who were send out to explore the Promised Land felt that the ten had the best message because they were in the majority. It however emerged later how wrong the majority were. The report of Caleb and Joshua stood the test of time. The world may ridicule you because you are not going by the wind but it doesn’t mean that what everyone is saying is right. It could be wrong outright. It is paramount therefore to check closely on those people who surround you. Even if the majority would go by a certain route, don’t fall by their way without fully assessing and determining whether it’s the right thing to do.
Even if the majority won’t go with you, never be way slayed by what they say or do. Keep moving forward and you stand to make a difference in your time. Understand your purpose and stick to it hundred percent. See every situation in a positive thrust regardless of what the world might think or say. You are one of a kind bearing in mind that “A small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” (Margaret Mead)
There are certain things that the world regards as impossible not realizing that anything that is not yet authenticated or proven may never be so. This is because there are some people who are good at proving that the majority can be very wrong. Helen Keller was such an amazing woman who proved beyond doubt that the majority can be wrong. Being visually impaired, deaf, and dumb, those limitations didn’t stop her from achieving her dreams. Helen never made excuses, she made things happen instead. She is a constant reminder to all and sundry that anything is possible. What might be regarded as impossible by the majority never turns out to for a person who is determined to pursue their dreams to the bitter end. Despite her circumstances, Helen Keller became a world famous author, activist, and speaker. Helen Keller became the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.”(Helen Keller)
Society has a knack of imposing limitations but those who are prepared can take off the limits. Life is just too short to blend in. The fact that you were born on your own is proof that the solution provision that you carry ought to be unique. There is no need to seek approval from other world citizens who have a duty to add value in their own unique way.
In the words of Helen Keller, “It’s a terrible thing to see, and have no vision!”
Even though she was visually impaired, she had a clearly vision than most people who had eyes. The fact that you possess eyes doesn’t mean that you see. As if that wasn’t enough, Helen had a hearing impairment and she also proved that many have ears but they lack the ability to listen. The fact that she wrote massively is proof that there was a lot of hearing and seeing that the majority of her colleagues never managed to comprehend. Great personalities are always great visionaries, possessing an internal picture of where they are going; they keep fixated on their vision.
As long as you set your mind on what you want to accomplish and focus on it long enough, you can accomplish just that. “We can do anything we want to do, if we stick to it long enough.” It has been said that the usefulness of the postage stamp consists in its ability to stick to something until it gets there. Success is likewise a function of holding on to the very end, no-matter the number of challenges that present themselves along the way. Helen Keller learnt from the postage stamp and was committed to her dream until she achieved massively.
Noah Mangwarara is a Leadership Expert & Motivational Speaker who has authored a number of inspirational and leadership books.
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