Maravi

See success where others see only failure

See success where others see only failure
By The Post
Thu 10 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT

It is very difficult to understand why some of our fellow citizens are failing to see the progress that is being made in our country.

Today, we certainly have a far less corrupt government than we had over a year ago. Today we have a President who personal wealth accumulation, through corruption or otherwise, is not his main or discernible preoccupation as it was with our previous president.

There is a new direction, a more progressive one, in the country. Things are moving in the right direction. Of course, not everything is as we desire it to be. Some things are not moving as fast as we would like them to but nevertheless, we are moving forward as a country. And what is required is the commitment of all of us to make our country a better place and ensure that the progress that is being made does not only benefit a few people but benefits all of us. And we must undoubtedly criticise wrong ideas and practices of every description.

It certainly would not be right to refrain from criticism, look on while wrong ideas and practices spread unchecked and allow them to monopolise the field. Mistakes must be criticised and poisonous weeds fought wherever they crop up.

However, such criticism should not be dogmatic, and the metaphysical method should not be used but efforts should be made to apply the dialectical method. What is needed is scientific analysis and convincing argument.

To criticise people's shortcomings is necessary, but in doing so we must truly take the stand of the people and speak out of wholehearted eagerness to protect and educate them. We need more and more people to participate in the governance of their country. More people mean a greater ferment of ideas, more enthusiasm and more energy. We should rid our ranks, ourselves of all impotent thinking. What really counts in the world is conscientiousness. Things develop ceaselessly. Every nation, big or small, has its strong and weak points.

But in times of difficulty we must not lose sight of our achievements, must see the bright future and must pluck up our courage. If you look at life the wrong way, there is always cause for alarm. It is the same way a K50,000 bill can look so big when it goes to church and so small when it goes for groceries, beer or other things. What you see depends mainly on what you look for. Some people complain because roses have thorns. Instead, be thankful that thorns have roses.

Position yourself to receive, not resist. How you see things on the outside of you depends on how things are on the inside of you. It is said that any fact facing us is not as important as our attitude toward it, for that determines our success or failure.

Don't pray for rain if you are going to complain about the mud. You and us don't see things as they are. We see things as we are. Develop the hunter's approach, the outlook that wherever you go there are ideas waiting to be discovered. When you are well-positioned, opportunity presents itself.

Opportunities can drop on your lap if you have your lap where opportunities drop. Opportunity can be missed if you are broadcasting when you should be tuning in. When opportunity knocks, some people object to the interruption. One great thinker once said, "One of the greatest and most comforting truths is that when one door opens, another closes, but often we look so long and regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that is open for us."

See success where others see only failure. Expect something good to happen - that expectation will energise your dreams and give them momentum. You will gain the advantage of doing things before they need to be done - positioning yourself ahead of time. You will enjoy ongoing success when you travel in advance of the crowd.

We believe one of the major benefits of reading great books is that they can teach us how to respond beforehand to many of life's challenges and opportunities. Great information can lead you to "dig a well before you are thirsty and plant a seed before you are hungry".

The trouble with the future for most people is that it arrives before they are ready for it. Positioning yourself to receive causes you to be ready. There are many people who didn't expect the political changes that have taken place in our country. But this is the reality they have to live with - there is a new government, a new President and a somewhat new set of politicians. Things have changed, things are changing, things will change. If you don't want to accept the changes that are taking place in our country, you will remain behind. Life is mostly a matter of expectation. You will find that life responds to your outlook. We go where our vision is.

To one person, the world is desolate, dull and empty; to another the same world looks rich, interesting and full of meaning. "Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare," says Oswald Sanders. How we position ourselves to receive makes all the difference. In Chichewa they say you can never see the sun rise by looking to the west. The choice is up to you.

The country is changing. Darkness is giving way to light; sunset is giving way to sunrise. We are moving forward. It may not be at the speed we desire, but we are moving forward. And we should never allow ourselves and our country to move backwards again. The things we detested in the previous regime must not be allowed to continue being with us. The bad laws that we didn't like, such as the public order Act, should be promptly amended. And a new constitution that fully meets our aspirations for personal freedom, economic opportunity and social justice should be enacted before the end of 2013.

And let's not forget that government of and by the people means that the citizens share in the nation's benefits and in its burdens. We must take responsibility for the fate of our country, the society in which we ourselves have chosen to live. In the end, we get the government we deserve and the life we hope for.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA, PF, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:47 PM