DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO

In the book of Proverbs 15:32 KJV, we were made to understand that ”He that refuses instruction despises his own soul: but he that hears reproof gets understanding”. The truth is no one likes to be corrected but then most times we always want to be the ones doing the corrections. Growing up I was the madam-I-too-know kind of girl, I wanted to always be right, you could call me the miss perfectionist because that was what I was back then. It took me a long time to realize that I was wrong for even trying to be that.

I always made sure I corrected any little wrong or mistake someone does and I hated it so much when anyone corrected me for anything. But you know the funny thing, I would always argue that I take corrections even when people tell me I don’t. I continued ignoring the advise from people when they told me I don’t like taking corrections until this fateful day when my younger brother told me the same thing and it just hits differently. That day he did something wrong and I was trying to correct him and I told him he doesn’t likes taking corrections and he told me that I also don’t like taking corrections too.

Like always, I tried defending myself but somehow I just stopped at some point and acknowledged the fact that he has said the truth because he wasn’t the first person drawing my attention to that. He was even surprised that I accepted, lol. Hearing that from my younger brother, I couldn’t help but blame myself for some of his rebellious behaviors because I guess he must have been doing some of them because after all his elder sister is doing the same.

Ever since that day, I got to realize that when it comes to correction, it is something that no one really likes except someone who is ready to grow and become the best version of themselves and that was my goal so what is stopping me from listening to the criticism that comes my way? I thought about that for a while and I made up my mind to keep an open mind to criticism and use it to make myself the best I can be instead of shutting them all out.

I still feel a bit angry when someone tries to correct me especially when I know I’m not wrong but then I still try to look at the possibilities of me being wrong and learn instead than trying to justify my actions. Most times you get corrections from someone because they love you or because they hate you so much, so if you don’t have people that correct you, then there is every possibilities that the people you are surrounded with don’t really care about you. I feel bad when I’m corrected but now I know how much better I have become over the years since I started accepting corrections.

The truth is bitter, yes, but always seek for the truth because that’s the only thing that has the power to set you free. If you love yourself you will appreciate those that take the courage to correct you but it’s totally fine if you still want to be the perfect person but know that it only makes you a foolish person and nothing else. I was foolish for too long that I couldn’t even tell myself the truth until that day when I decided to tell myself the truth and I became free.

This is my response to the Hivenaija prompt. Feel free to check it out and share your experience.