A story is told about two builders. One built his house on sand, the other on rock, a more solid foundation. If you looked at their houses externally, there was no difference. Time passed, and a storm came into their location. One of the houses remained, and the other collapsed.
At the start of 2020, we were like these builders. We were looking forward to a new decade, new beginnings, and new opportunities for our businesses. We talked about having 20 20 vision. The majority were very optimistic about life. Then the pandemic came.
Fear. Anxiety. Uncertainty. Disbelief. These and many other negative emotions were how many business owners, including myself, initially responded. Hours turned into days, and days turned into weeks. Then a phone call came to say I would have to stay home for the next 12 weeks. I had a choice to make. How was I going to use the time productively? As I spent time in personal development a lightbulb moment came.
What was the lightbulb moment? I realised attending schools and colleges teach us how to build the external walls. We are taught how to answer examinations according to a specific specification, so we prepare for university or the place of work. In university, we are taught to be critical thinkers so we can graduate with degrees. We then go into places of work and learn to obey ‘the corporate way’. BUT when are we taught how to build up our inner self? When are we taught about appreciating our self-worth?
2020, has been a year for me to have clearer vision and clarity. It has been a year of full- circle as I have had to go and face many challenges of the past. It has been a year of healing of my inner- self. It has been a year; in which I have learnt about the meaning of the word empowerment. At the core of this word is the word ‘we’. I have learnt the value of not being an ‘I’ but a ‘we’. The power of collaboration.
I have learnt you are stronger by asking for help, instead of struggling to complete tasks on your own. I have learnt about the power of community, as neighbours came together to meet the needs of the majority and not the minority. I have learnt families are understanding the benefits of having quality time together, cooking, going for country walks, playing board games, having family quiz nights virtually.
The question we need to ask ourselves now 2020 is drawing to an end. “Are we going to use the foundations of what we have learnt in 2020, in 2021 and beyond to continue to heal our inner self, or are we going to revert to building on sand?
In 2021 and beyond, let us learn to build up our inner person, so we can cope more effectively with the challenges in our external world.
