Discipline
It’s a Journey
One of the reasons for life and living is to have a goal, a purpose or an assignment you are working towards. More often than not, when the goal is achieved, right within that achievement, you see another goal to be achieved so you can get to the ultimate definition of your life. What keeps you going on the journey to fulfilment is discipline, which determines your actions or inactions. Our academic courses are also know as disciplines because they contain instructions to tailor us in a defined profession.
David Adegboyega
What keeps you going on the journey to fulfilment is discipline, which determines your actions or inactions.
To be disciplined, therefore, is to have one’s goal clearly in focus and pursued with determination and meticulousness. As parents, one of our most important assignments is to raise disciplined children. One of the ways to achieve this is by being deliberate in painting to your children a picture of what they should aspire unto. This is the best way to achieve discipline in children because that clear picture of their future makes discipline flow from their inside.
David Adegboyega
As parents, one of our most important assignments is to raise disciplined children.
Discipline is best Inside-Out
Discipline is better inside-out, than outside in. Outside in could be through punishment or correction; which should be done in a manner to get the child to let discipline flow from their inside. Your goal is to raise children who have imbibed sound character strengths early in life because it makes discipline flow from inside out. Children learn by pictures; in fact, we all never stop learning by pictures because words are pictures.
Therefore, one of the early pictures to paint to our children is that of godly character. They must see themselves in that picture. Of course, this places a demand on parents to be that picture of discipline and excellence. We must have an excellent mind and let this reflect in what we say and do. We must not let our words and actions be conditioned by the needs-driven world we live in. We must comport ourselves in ways that distills discipline to everyone around us. A needs-driven mindset is not patient, it wants whatever it wants now. Products of discipline are not instant; we must raise a citizenry that can wait and give the required discipline to achieve worthwhile goals.
David Adegboyega
One of the early pictures to paint to our children is that of godly character.
What our Nation will be like with Discipline
Imagine what our nation will be like when we are able to correct the needs-driven mindset that’s making young people impatient to be rich and successful. The truth is people don’t need all they think they need. Having discipline flow from inside out makes you patient to think of what you really need, and focus energy on getting it done. Wanting to do too many things at the same time makes people impatient and lose discipline. We can correct this needs-driven mentality as we raise children that have discipline flowing from inside out.
David Adegboyega
The truth is people don’t need all they think they need.
Imagine what driving will be like when, for instance, the traffic light is not working but road users pace themselves and wait for others to have the right of way. Just imagine what message has been passed to the children in the vehicles at that time? The traffic light is like the outside influence to get us disciplined. Imagine policy and law makers with this mindset; the mindset of discipline in working for the common good. Sound character strengths have the potentials to transform nations; let’s celebrate it. Let’s give it the pride of place.
David Adegboyega
Sound character strengths have the potentials to transform nations; let’s celebrate it. Let’s give it the pride of place.
David Adegboyega
Author & Sound Character Coach
+2348032015433
daveadegboyega@gmail.com
- Published in Sound Character Weekly
Homes that will Save the Nation
The Atmosphere
What essentially makes the difference between homes is the kind of words that flow in that one room, flat, duplex or mansion. It is either they are words that build up or tear down. Many a times, people do not realize this, but it determines the atmosphere in their homes. Your character status is responsible for the kind of words that flow in your home. The kind of words that flow from you is therefore a test of sound character. Husbands and wives must realize this, and ensure they imbibe sound character strengths in their homes.
Your character status is responsible for the kind of words that flow in your home.
David Adegboyega
At the end of the day, what brings true joy and peace in homes is not how much money there is; you can’t have all the money, but how much hope, love, kindness, sincerity, transparency, planning together, frank but respectful talks, and laughter there is. Couples must be very deliberate about the kinds of words that flow in their home because they create the atmosphere. See it like the air your breathe, no one wants to breathe toxic air. So if you don’t want to breathe toxic air in your home, then don’t speak toxic words. The nation is a combination of homes, and everyone carries the atmosphere from their homes to the nation. Imagine a unified atmosphere of love and joy in the nation!
The nation is a combination of homes, and everyone carries the atmosphere from their homes to the nation.
David Adegboyega
Raising Defenders of Integrity
As stakeholders in building a great nation through the potent tool of building solid homes, we must be poised to raise Defenders of Integrity. We must raise a citizenry that will stand up right. Everyone is intrinsically made right; that is why we deeply love to see things right. For example, we ordinarily do not like to see dents on a car, dirts on the street or dirty clothes on someone. Therefore, if we are made right then why do we allow a nation where things are evidently not right? It must have to do with nurturing. And this takes place at home.
As stakeholders in building a great nation through the potent tool of building solid homes, we must be poised to raise Defenders of Integrity.
David Adegboyega
So if the right atmosphere is created, the right nurture will be achieved. The converse is also true, which sadly enough, seems to be the order of the day in the nation. Parents, as custodians of homes, you should be deliberate about nurturing the children. To nurture requires time; so anything that prevents both parents from having quality time with their children should be adjusted. Parents, please find a way around it because your children would not have all the time to stay with you. Make children’s time with you count to nurturing them well so they can grow to become Defenders of Integrity.
Make children’s time with you count to nurturing them well so they can grow to become Defenders of Integrity.
David Adegboyega
Your Home Matters
Your home matters and can make a big difference. Do all you can to improve your economic status but please let it not be at the expense of sound character. Imagine your home producing a world changer like Nelson Mandela! Then you can see the power of your home and so be focused on raising your children right. The way the words you speak matter at home, so do they matter in the nation. Let us use our homes as platforms to rebuild our nation. So help us God!
David Adegboyega
Author & Sound Character Coach
+2348032015433
daveadegboyega@gmail.com
- Published in Sound Character Weekly
Humility, the True Greatness
The place to be in life is on the path of Sound Character. One of the foundational character strengths to imbibe is humility. Of course, humility is not about having a low-self esteem neither is it a weakness. In fact, humility is a strength that feeds other desirable attitudes such as tenacity, courage and possibility. Humility is living with the understanding that, at the height of all you know, there is a whole lot you don’t know. It simply puts you in a place where you do not see yourself as more important than others even when you are indisputably the best in that space.
The best leader still has much to learn and so should conduct him not only as a leader but a follower as well. Humility therefore makes you truly great because you learn more, and carry a presence that is endearing. The more humble you are, the more you can learn, the more people you can serve, and invariably the more you grow. Your greatness in life is dependent on how many people you serve.
Taking a Closer Look at You
When you think you are humble, look again! And when we look at ourselves closely enough, we will see moments when we could have been humble. The beautiful thing about humility is that there are always opportunities to be humble. So, where you have acted out of character, you simply make no delay to apologize and course-correct.
It is a beautiful and powerful place to be. Humility is a strength that feeds other desirable attitudes. For instance, when you have a challenging situation at hand and everyone around is taking things badly, this strength will help you listen and engage key stakeholders so you can get to the root of the matter. As you perfect this strength, you will resolve situations without even raising your voice.
A Potent Way to Inspire
To rebuild our nation, we need to inspire a critical mass of people to imbibe sound character. One of the phenomenal ways to inspire people is through humility. When you are humble in relating with people, you show that you appreciate their self-worth. When you show people this degree of appreciation, they open up a space in their hearts to you and the virtues flowing from you can light them up. We have nothing to lose but the world to gain when we live by humility. You may initially come across as weak but a closer interaction reveals the strength you are oozing because of your humility.
David Adegboyega
Author & Sound Character Coach
+2348032015433
daveadegboyega@gmail.com
- Published in Sound Character Weekly
Dignity of Labour
We must not fail to realize that the innovations, systems and everything we see around is a product of labour; and labour is fueled by sound character. For instance, picture a brand new vehicle you desire to have, while you admire the finished product you see, thousands of parts have been put together with multiples of thousands of man-hours spent in labour.
No Labour is useless
Imagine the hours of labour that go into making the break pads? But can you imagine the beautiful car without breaks! That is how useful and invaluable your labour is. No labour is useless, and an end in itself; every labour feeds into another to make the whole. You cannot commit to true labour if it is not flowing from sound character; because labour has got to be with love, honesty and hard work. A labour devoid of sound character is a disaster waiting to happen. No labour is useless, no matter how little what it contributes.
Labour for What?
While we emphasize the importance of labour, we should watch what we labour for. Everything we see, good or bad, is a result of labour. You must labour for the common good; you must labour for what improves the well-being of society, no matter how little it is. The unbridled desire to be rich at all cost, has led to labour in all manners of dishonest things all over the world.
While the Government in Nigeria could do better in providing an enabling environment for all, the current status has created a die-hard “survive-by-any means” instinct in Nigerians. But we must choose not just to labour in anything other than to labour in love and honesty, living just and true so we can attain great lofty heights to build a nation where peace and justice reign. This is our National Anthem.
There is dignity in labour
Knowing how important your labour is, and that it must be about the right cause, you must hold your head high no matter what it is you’re doing. While it seems some labour have been common-sized, and people in it feel a sense of low-self esteem. However, you need to hold your head high because of the value you’re creating. We need to inspire everyone to see the dignity in their labour. Your labour is not useless because you are not useless. Every labour has dignity; while your labour may not make it to the big screens, it is still to be delivered with dignity.
You need to deliver your labour with self-esteem. Don’t underestimate your labour. Imagine if no one wants to “stoop” to labour in making the breakpad of a car! You could be sweeping the streets, be the office errand boy or a security guard, the CEO, CFO or a young executive with potentials; you must never fail to see the dignity in your labour. That will keep your head high and make you deliver excellence. There is dignity in your labour.
David Adegboyega
Author & Sound Character Coach
+2348032015433
daveadegboyega@gmail.com
- Published in Sound Character Weekly