RSS Feeds
Twitter
Facebook
Oma Edoja: Be What You Want To Be
Posted on | June 11, 2009 | No Comments
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you into something else is the greatest accomplishment.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
Do you find yourself being or doing things you’d much rather not, because you think you have to? I know how it feels. I used to be overweight, working at a job when I would much rather work for myself, leaving home at dawn and returning just before dusk, waking up to an alarm when I would rather wake up when I wanted, pursuing my employers’ dreams when I would rather pursue my own, going to work instead of working my dreams….. The list could go on.
I need to state here that my core-values are God, family and excellence. I also value freedom/autonomy and my health very highly. My “previous existence” therefore conflicted totally with my true self; my values and dreams were all being compromised.
Being overweight is far from excellent. And working long hours left no room for exercise, or even shopping for healthy food.
Working for others meant I had limited family time, and certainly not much freedom. Also I am a practicing Christian and church worker. My job meant resigning from church work, reduced church attendance, and little or no personal prayer and Bible study.
How could I possibly have been happy? I practically hated the way I lived.
A time came when I decided I couldn’t take any more. I was getting older, time was passing, and I hadn’t accomplished any of my dreams. I desperately hated being fat, fatigued and generally unhealthy. My children were aged 11, 7 and 1. I felt they needed a better mom. I knew I needed a better “me.”
While I would not recommend that you do the same, I resigned from my job and stayed home for a while trying to decide where I wanted my life to go. I knew God had something for me to do, but this wasn’t clear at the time.
To make it short, I took up exercising and eating healthily. I lost the excess weight, got in shape and now feel great (excellence/health)!
I now work from home, my own hours (freedom/autonomy/family time). I have always wanted to be a writer and motivational speaker, and that’s what I do now. I write articles for other publishers, for my website and web logs, and I have a motivational book in publication, with several manuscripts in hand. I run motivational workshops and do motivational speaking (following my dreams). And I usually take a break when my children are on holiday from school (family).
As for my Christian walk, I’ve returned to church work and I’m much exited about it (I’m a Children’s Church teacher). I have a lovely prayer life, now having regular family devotions with my kids in the morning (we used to make do with a quick prayer as we dashed out of the house!). I attend church regularly, with my family, and I often find time for “Bible breaks” during the day (my relationship with God).
|
|
It has never been easy following my dreams; I never expected that it would be. I have had to go without an income, as I launched my new career. I have had friends and family harrowing me about my “unorthodox” lifestyle (people who love freedom are usually quite unorthodox!)
Working out and healthy eating (not starving or dieting!) are not easy, but I love the results! I don’t have a salary “come looking for me” at the end of the month; I have to go looking for it, right from the first day of the month! And working at home means that everyone thinks you are available to chat/visit/mind their children/cook/do laundry etc!
It has taken a lot of courage, to give up the “known” for the “unknown”. But by and large, this is the life for me. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And when you do what you love, without quitting, two things happen eventually: you bless yourself and others, and the money follows you (not you following it). Not a bad deal, is it?!
Presently, I am following my dreams and reaching them, setting goals and surpassing them, staying true to my values, and having fun as I go along! It’s not a bed of roses, but who wants to stay in bed when the adventure of self-discovery is beckoning?!
You don’t have to stay in a rut. You can be/have/do anything you want to, wherever you live or whatever your circumstances. Nothing is impossible, except you decide it is.
Do you want my advice? Follow your dreams. God gave them to you; you only get one life to live them.
Copyright 2005 Oma Edoja
Oma Edoja is a published writer, motivational speaker and infopreneur. An award-winning school teacher in her “previous life,” she loved her job, and was loved by parents and students. However, her dreams and goals grew beyond the “walled classroom”. She now does what she loves, with “the world as her classroom”! Oma publishes an inspirational ezine for Nigerians. See a sample at http://up-mobile.blogspot.com and sign up for a FREE fortnightly subscription.
|
|
|
Related posts:
- Dreams Do Come True
- What If Dreams Come True?
- Pursuit is the Proof of Desire
- A Time to Awake
- Dismantle Self Imposed Limits
Comments
Leave a Reply
Latest Posts
Newsletter Subscription
Categories
Popular Posts
Sorry. No data so far.