THE TRUTH ABOUT MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS, ADAGES, SAYINGS, AND PROVERBS

image via motivationalspeakerz

I have seen several people get frustrated because they followed some advice they gleaned from the pages of a motivational book, and things didn't really pan out. I think this is the core and heart of the "Aspire to Maguire" movement, a satirical body making jest of how motivational quotes and books are usually far from the reality of their readers (Nigerians). What the first group (those who get frustrated after reading and applying) don't get is that these same authors of these books never thought of writing these books to meet needs (they never even knew they'd be in the limelight today living their lives and facing circumstances as they come, only to repackage these as some life's recipe book), these books are usually borne out of a desire to look for alternate ways to make passive income not for the love of helping those coming up. 

. image via boazpower

I can never be the judge of intentions, and people should try to get whatever they can from books and tips they follow; they just shouldn't beat themselves up if, after following it, things don't pan out well for them. If you read a book and things go down a different path, you definitely have more work to do because no two events or persons are the same or will go through the same thing. These books we read are one person's encounter, the reader is another person, and you should realise it's part of a person's journey that you want; there are other parts to the both of you. That makes both the author and reader unique sets of individuals.

  I have never liked mathematics, but a part of mathematics that has always fascinated me is PERMUTATION and COMBINATION. Hundreds and thousands of combinations are borne from just a few letters in these topics. How much more the over 7 billion people in the world and many other factors that would influence these people's life and life events. Just run the possibilities in your mind and do the maths. Let's consider that while taking proverbs, quotes, and sayings. It might be different for us. For instance, a tech enthusiast might read a foreign book on tech, but they still have to factor in the Nigerian government and how anti-start-ups they might be. The ease most of the authors experience would be different if they were in other scenarios. The government is one of many factors to consider, there's our unique topography too. The normality of these people is not the normality of many other people. So what is the way out? I like comforting myself with the idea that no one knows what they are doing does the trick for me, everyone is just stumbling in the dark, getting the closest author to your reality would also help build your experiences.

It is really comfortable to not be a trailblazer and have someone already ahead on the same path with us shining their taillights at us. By the time we'd lift our heads, we'd see many other "unique" lights sharing their lights with us, alongside our light that makes us another unique light. That is what I mean when I say no two stories or experiences are the same.

  The same can be said about proverbs, adages and quotes; they can sometimes be manipulative. Often used by their speakers to suit their meanings, they will work in that light. As an Igbo boy raised in a Yoruba environment by my English-speaking parents, I have realized that there's a proverb for every situation because I am between three worlds. Proverbs like "half a bread is better than none", " a bird in hand is worth two in the bush", and "only a fool tests the depth of a river with both feet", amongst many others, all seem to subtly discourage new ventures, they all emphasize on the need to play it safe. They have been used to dissuade people from risking all they had to start or pursue their dreams. But I can bet a kidney that proverbs and sayings are saying the opposite. Examples are 'Great things never came from comfort zones", "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." etc.

While it is good to exercise caution, imagine if Jeff Bezos, McKenzie Scott, Steve Jobs, or other top world achievers who risked all they had to get to where they are today had listened to things like this. They met with things like this. Likewise, some people could have used a word of caution, which would have saved them from their flops and averted dangers. There's no rule; everyone is just trying to be as cautious as possible. 

 

But is anybody really in charge? Maybe or Maybe not. Dangote could write a book today, but most won't be able to follow because they have different backgrounds and upbringings. Some will try to follow. Donald Trump can casually talk about how his father loaned him a million dollars to start his business; perhaps he has that in writing somewhere, but how many can relate?

Sometimes, you will only follow these patterns, and that is fine. Other times, you will; they are also acceptable. The crux is to be able to live with whatever consequence that follows.

You are not living the life someone wrote in a book. If you can relate to it, great!

But remember, you are your life's artist, creating new strokes on your canvas. You are an amalgam of different experiences, culminating in one new one.

Make those choices and be proud of the outcome.

Thank you for reading

Also, check out FUNNY RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONS: CAN TWO KINGS BE ON A THRONE

What I think really happened during Christmas ( A short story), read here

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