If you live in the real world like the rest of us, there will be times that the world seems like a tough place to live. During this time you will be down on your luck. It will seem like the only vocabulary that the client has leant is NO. When you go to interviews, you will get declined. When you wake up in the morning, you don’t have anything to get excited about. Every moment of the day seems like an upward climb. Furthermore, this mountain you seem to be climbing does not even have beautiful views to console you or to take your mind off reality. Things just seem to be very bleak and there seem to be no end in sight. No sunshine to be seen left or right. As some people are known to say, same S—- …. different day. Fortunately for most of us, this time does not last forever.
While it last however, you will need to get through the day. If you have an interview to attend, you have to put your best foot forward. Put the mountains and clouds behind you. You must not only focus on the setbacks. When you only see and talk about your problems that you’re facing, then you will be negative and stressed and you won’t put your best foot forward. You need to focus on those things that will improve your circumstances. The people you interact with are not interested in the rain but they are largely interested only in the sunshine that you bring. You still need to work and you will be expected to perform. It is during this time that you will need to pick yourself up the most. You need to motivate yourself, come what may. You have set yourself goals and you have to achieve them.
Of course, you may be tempted to just go through the motion, pretend to be interested, pretend to be working… but you cannot pretend for long. It may also seem easier to just procrastinate and find excuses for not putting in the effort to accomplish your goals. You can’t do that too long however. It will soon catch up with you. Living a life that is not authentic is not to be celebrated.
Sometimes all you need to do is to realistic about what you face and then look for realistic solutions. Be honest to yourself about your abilities and what you have, then start from that moment to improve your situation. You have what it takes inside of you to be a success. But you have to start with positive thinking and positive action. If you do nothing…. Nothing happens. Find out what “free” thing motivates you…then do it daily. It may be your favorite song…on repeat. It may be talking to positive people you admire. Laugh at yourself… a lot. Stay focused on your goals and don’t give up. See yourself succeeding.
You have within yourself what it takes to get there. Find the discipline to get started and the resilience to stay on cause. After all, you were born to achieve great things and everything you need to achieve these great things you already possess. You just need to believe in yourself, get started, don’t give-up and enjoy the rewards.
ABOUT SIMANGELE TSHABALALA
Simangele Tshabalala is a social entrepreneur, founder and managing director of the Recruitment, Human Resource Consultancy and training company, Spangle Concepts (Pty) Ltd. She has been in the Human Resource field for a large part of her successful career. She has worked in various industries including retail (FMCG) telecoms, aviation and property.
