Walk The Talk

Hello again dear friends.

How was your week? Mine was quite topsy-turvy. I smile as I recall it was just two weeks ago I was talking about life being just normal? Well, Normal was not the name for this past week at all.

Talk is cheap, isn't it? I was reminded of this fact this week. Friends, I failed to walk my talk. Thinking over the week again, I wonder what led to my inability to practice that which I believe and claim that I can? A combination of emotional upsets, I think but no excuse suffices. I failed to walk my talk, bottom line.

I am comforted in knowing I'm not alone. We all fail at some point in time or the other. I am encouraged by the fact that scripture says a righteous man or woman falls 7 times but rises each time. So, failing isn't the issue, it's what I learn from my failure and the actions I take to prevent a reoccurrence that matter. It also doesn't matter whether the other parties had their own faults or not. I can't control them, but I can control me, so control me I will. One of my many mantras is - if it's going to change, it's got to start with me.

Was this the first time I've failed under similar circumstances? Unfortunately, no. However, I am pleased that this time, i was quicker to call myself to order. It normally doesn't take me very long to apologize. This time it took me longer than usual. So I did better on one side but worse on another.

This last couple of paragraphs are the last that I will beat myself up about it. It's done, I've apologized and made amends (hopefully - a wink here) and it's time to take the lessons and move on. I promise myself I will do better next time and so help me God, I will and I must. I can't go round this same mountain any more.

So what I am going to do to ensure this? I will begin to speak to myself, reminding me that I am patient, and I do not give in to knee jerk reactions. I will act, and not react. This self speak is important because I need to condition my mind and body before the day of battle. When the day of battle comes, my body and mind will respond the way they have been conditioned, not the way I want them to. To ensure that what I want aligns with what happens, the conditioning must start now.

I think I had assumed that learning and knowing the right things to do were all that was necessary to do the right thing. As I have been reminded, that's not enough. Your head may acknowledge a fact, but your mind needs conditioning to reorient and change behavior. That's why God instructs us to not let His Word depart from our mouth. That act of self-speak is critical for change to happen.

Does any one of you feel like I'm feeling? Or have felt it in recent times? Console yourself just as I have done myself. Take the lesson, take action and move on. Life must go on.

What else can be done to ensure we walk the talk more consistently? Be more deliberate about your actions, I think. Always think before any action. Just a deep breath could make a world of difference. Do you have suggestions for me and others like me? Drop a comment or if you have issues with commenting, please send me a message directly. I promise to publish whatever you suggest if you couldn't put it on the page directly yourself. We need to learn from each other.

It's a short one this week but hopefully, it was useful. I've got a jam packed week ahead but I'm looking forward to it. Busy is good, isn't it? 

I hope you have a good week, whatever you find yourself doing. Love yourself and your neighbor because by so doing you show that you love God. Blessings on you and yours. We'll catch up again next week.

Your Friend,

Olubunmi