Thandile
Ambitions and goals are never a bad thing for the ordinary individual. In fact one is often encouraged to have a vision concerning what they what in life and to do what is necessary to make it materialise. The cost at which it comes is unavoidable, and what must be weighed if we are to get ahead in this life.
Motivational speakers and life coaches tell us to aim high and that the sky is the limit. All such talk is great to hear and inspiring to listen to especially when your back is against the wall. However we are seldom warned about the danger of settling. We don’t even interrogate what it is to settle. For every individual it would mean different things but if you are not rightly guided then you won’t be any wiser.
A clear understanding of the vision helps you to cut out the unnecessary and seek what is essentially prudent to your destiny. When we don’t have a clear sense of direction then everywhere would seem like a destination. Everything that comes by would seem worthy enough to pursue because we living void of purpose.
Many start well but staying well and ending of well is a true test of perseverance. It would indicate that one has been faithful to the mission, and so goal driven that not even the many distractions were able to deter him/her. Truthfully we must admit challenges will knock at our door, distractions will fight for our affection and disappointments will try to make us give up the race. After all this the decision lies with us to continue or to cave in or rather settle for less.
It’s easy to judge others for settling but until life has thrown some had knocks at you; you would have no idea of how intense the battle really gets. It is at this point that I want to emphasise that the good race is still worth running, the good cause is still worth fighting for. We were never promised an easy journey, but we have assurance that it is possible to overcome. It is possible to arise from the valley to mountain of God.
Settling for less is caving in for the generic idea of success rather than the uniquely God given model. It is compromising your standards to appease the status quo. The majority are comfort to operate in convenience; but joining them just because it’s the norm is settling for less. Most people may not care for aiming high but it does not mean that you should not.
I have lived my own life trying to distinguish the difference between being realistic about what I want and settling for the cheap imitation that is in front of me. Yes sometimes we need a dose of reality and sometimes that dose is a test to see if we will continue or give up the ghost.
To settle or not to settle is a question we should ask ourselves; have we unknowingly settled thinking this was all there is and that our visions were not based on reality. Can what we have settled for yield any greater joy; or should we look beyond our current allotment trusting that there is more and I can get more.
I leave you on that note to take stock of your life as I would mine; and hopefully we can find meaningful answers to the many questions we have. I hope we would never be deceived, but that truth would be revealed in its essence.
Love T
