M.A.D. PEOPLE ARE VERY RESILIENT

How come no one taught us about resilience in school? Why was it not part of our school curricula? Why didn’t some of our loving parents give us a formula to rely on when we go through difficulties, problems and challenges in life? What a pity? Did you know that resilience can be taught? Did you know that you can learn to be more resilient?

A lot of people are facing challenges in Nigeria today. From the economy to marital problems, to raising teenage children and oh, let’s not forget unemployment. Almost every day, I get the CVs of young men and women looking for work! The issues seem to be everywhere!!! How come no one told us that problems are a part of life? How come no one told us about the possibility of “Failure?” When we were kids, all we heard was that you MUST come “first” in your class. Failure was abhorred.

Whose responsibility was it to prepare you and I to deal with the issues of life? Share your thoughts? That’s why today, I sit my children down and teach them about the necessity of resilience.

NO ONE escapes pain and suffering in life. NO ONE prays for pain or suffering but guess what - no one is immune, exempt or inoculated from the things that will cause us pain and suffering - in our lives. This is not a negative prophecy!!! On a very personal note, even my Lord, Jesus the Christ, suffered great pain.

The subject of resilience is one of my top three favorite subjects in the world. I have studied it for the past 25 years of my life. In fact, in my book on Emotional Intelligence which has finally been concluded and will be launched this year, I wrote a whole chapter on “Resilience.” It took me approximately two and a half years to complete the book. As you can imagine, I am so thrilled!!!! May God be praised. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Anyway, back to the subject of RESILIENCE. My life changed about 20 years ago, when I came across a book titled “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor who found meaning in his suffering and pain as a prisoner. He was imprisoned by the Nazis for three years during World War II. During his ordeal in the camp, he determined in his mind to make some meaning out of all the terrible pain he endured. He decided that when he comes out of the camp, he will teach others about how he survived in the camp.

Are you going through pain and suffering? There are so many things you can do to deal with whatever situation you find yourself. Trust me!!!!!! There is ALWAYS a way OUT. However, in the meantime, why don’t you adopt Frankl’s approach. Look for “meaning” in your pain and suffering.

Let’s close with a practical example. Did you know that pain and suffering is one of man’s greatest allies in terms of building “godly” character? Your pain and suffering can change you for the better.

Here is what M.A.D. means:

M: Motivated Beyond Measure

A: Angry At Mediocrity & Moral Decay

D: Deep Desire To Do Great Things

Have you registered for our M.A.D. class coming up this Saturday at the Canton Concourse in Victoria Island, Lagos? See invite for details. Registration is COMPULSORY. See ya!!!!