Wole Olajide
Ups and down in life is a natural occurrence. It can also be likened as the good and bad times of life. Life itself is not a straight line graph, rather it is sinusoidal, just like the heart rate. It has a lot of ups and downs.
There is a song I grew up with by Pa Ebenezer Obey, It goes thus “No matter how hot the sun is, there will still be a gathering of dark cloud. No matter how joyful life might be, there will also be a time to shed tears..”
Both the good and the bad times of life have great value, if well managed
I read a book over 12 years ago titled ‘Peaks and Valleys’. The author, Spencer Johnson likened Peaks to be the good times and Valleys to be the bad times.
Spencer Johnson stated thus:
‘The errors you make in your good time will create future bad time. The wise things you do in your bad time will create future good time’.
SAVE RESOURCES FOR YOUR UPCOMING VALLEY:
That everything is rosy today does not mean it will last forever. Learn how to save for the raining day. My mentor in a short sermon recently opened my eyes to the scripture of how the manna ceased to drop for the Israelites after 40 years. Nothing lasts forever. When the valley moment comes, do you have the reserve to cope?
A lot of us spend money on items we don’t really need. You genuinely know it that you don’t need 3 bedroom flat for now, but you went for it anyway in order to show class. I know a few people who live alone in a duplex here in Naija but share flats with other families when they ‘japa’ because they cannot afford the rent alone over there. It is better to live within your means so that you will be able to cope when the cycle of valley arrives.
TO STAY LONGER ON THE PEAK, DON’T BE COMPLACENT
You don’t have to relent your effort or think you have arrived at a comfort zone. You need to keep the ball rolling. Keep expanding. Keep acquiring more skills that can improve you in your career. Keep strategizing on how to become the best in that industry. Keep making things better.
Don’t be arrogant on the peak, because it might blind you to see a looming valley. Over confidence can make you go back to the valley too soon.
TO GET OUT OF THE VALLEY SOON, DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT GOT YOU THERE
According to Spencer Johnson, there is a hidden good in every valley. The valley is an opportunity to grow, to create something better in life.
The valley moment will teach you lessons and it should make you better.
What you make out of your valley will determine if you will leave there soon. If you stay there and complain, refusing to act, nothing will happen.
The wise things you do in your bad time will create future good time.
The most common reason you stay in a valley too long is fear, camouflaging as comfort. A lazy person will stay long in the valley and might even die in that valley.
Make a move today and start your journey to the top.
FASTING AND PRAYER WILL NOT BREAK YOU OUT OF FINANCIAL STRUGGLE
If prosperity comes by fasting and prayer, then those on the prayer mountains should be multi-billionaires by now. You are not creating value, you are not selling a product or rendering a service, how will money flow towards your direction?
Most of our financial struggle is our own undoing. That is, we caused it by our actions and in actions. Our frivolous lifestyle when the resources were available pushed us to the current valley.