The Change We TRULY Need
Change, they say, is constant. Every being is susceptible to change. Even the most resistant to change is likely to experience one form of unconscious change, or the other, at a point in their lives. People want change. In 2008, when President Barack Obama was contesting for the Presidency of the United States of America his mantra was “Change” and, of course, we know the outcome of the elections. Presently in Nigeria, one of the country’s leading political parties – the All Progressive Congress(APC) – has won the hearts of millions just because they have promised them what they so crave for – ‘Change’. So, you see, the desire for change is not esoteric but is common to all individuals.
This want for change is not left out in our personal and interpersonal relationships. We are continually, and unavoidably, surrounded by people who we always think could do better or get better, people who we strongly believe should change a habit that we think is unacceptable. We, sometimes, wonder why a certain individual would act in an annoying manner. Employers are constantly baffled as to why their employees choose not to work better. Spouses constantly sigh, in frustration, at the thought that their partners seem not to want to grow. We all want someone, somewhere, to stop doing something we hate with our entire being. And when this doesn’t happen (probably not as quickly as we want it), we throw our hands up in the air, in frustration, asking: “why don’t you just want to learn?”; “why don’t you just want to grow up?”
But then, perhaps the conflicts we have with other individuals are not as a result of what they can’t do, or don’t want to learn, but as a result of who we are. Perhaps our own characters are so flawed that we can’t see that these people are probably better than we are. We want others to change. We coax and coerce them to do things in a way which we think is better. We don’t focus on ourselves. We don’t put ourselves in the equation of change we so badly want to implement. Maybe, just maybe, if we invested in our character, we would begin to see others in a different light. We would begin to understand that we badly need the change we want for them ourselves. Maybe that little step of introspection could make us see what or who exactly needs to change, or be changed. And maybe, if everyone focused less on changing the other Nigerian and focused on changing himself more – in character – Nigeria would not only be a changed country but a country with changed people.
More than the need for others to change, more than the need for even our country to change, is the greater need for our person to change. I want change. And I know you do too. But before we ask for change in others, let us seek for change first in ourselves.
Edit Credit: Damilola Yakubu (@DamiYakubu)
Nice
Nice writeup.
Thank you for reading and taking time to comment, sir.
Sha vote for APC.
Loooooooool. This is not a political sumtin abeg!
Great thought!
Just as the bible has said, many a times we want to remove the log of wood in the other person’s eye failing considerably in removing or even knowing we also have a speck of dust in our eyes, which obviously would have made us see the other person in a different light! This is a lovely piece dear… KUDOS!!
Well-said, sis! Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.
Wonderfully said and written. I love it. It begins with you! Be the change you want to see in the world. Start with the man in the mirror!
I’ll love to see more of this, carry go!
Thank you, Tobiiiiiiiii!
You write really well bebbeh
Awwww. Thank you, bobboh.
True. Change shouldn’t just be a watered down cliche, it’s a decision. Nice piece. Love ur Theme too. . .
I am guessing this is your first time visiting. Thanks for reading and also taking the effort to comment. And thanks for commenting on my theme too 🙂
I just hope we will all vote for the person called YOU to change, before we seek for the changes we desire in others. Beautiful write up Funke. Keep it up!
another great one there @onegreatwoman, we can only attain a state of a better society when each one admit the change starts with us but human beings will always crave for change as it is the only thing that doesnt change. kudos
It is easier said than done. I think most people have inculcated the habit of pointing fingers at others but themselved, it only takes an extra effort to do otherwise.
I hope people will look beyond the beautiful write-up and focus on the meaning of the central message which is, “remove the log in your eye, then you will clearly see the speck in the other person’s eye”.
Keep the good work (thumbs-up)