MINDSET and the phrase “WHAT IF”

The phrase “WHAT IF” is a very powerful word that everyone of us need to think deeply, critically and put into consideration in our life. The phrase “WHAT IF” is so powerful that it can either limit us in life or strengthen us. Most people have been limited by the kind of mindset they tend to developed within themselves.

I came from a family of five, my dad has eight siblings and my mom has twelve siblings. Out of all their siblings including them (my dad and mom) none of them have ever gone to the university level, most of them stopped at high school while other at the college level. One day after my final exams (WAEC) from the high school, I sat down and was meditating on my life and I was asking myself, what will happen next? What could be the next phase of my life? I’m I going to end up like my uncles and aunties who stopped their education on the way without furthering ahead. So many questions were running through my mind but then this particular question flash up, WHAT IF I can break the limitation that has hinder my families from going to the university? WHAT IF I can actually be the first to go to the university? And so I took the bold step and walked up to my dad and hold him I want to go to the university. Without hesitation he replied “Finally”. He bought the idea even though things aren’t okay financially in the family. He was having a red Toyota camry then and he decided to sell it so he can sponsor me to the university.

(His Red Toyota Camry)

Today I’m a graduate from the university and has successfully rounded up my national Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and recognised as the first person to graduate in both families.

(NYSC)

Why did I bring up this story?

Many of us have been limited by the circumstances and situations that surround us and it look as if it’s almost impossible to achieve something positive in our life. It could be that you find yourself from poor background, difficult situations or have experience negative events in your life that may have created the mindset in you that nothing good can comes out of your life, you may have been told that you can’t make it in life, you are a failure, you are too dull, unintelligent, dump, lazy and that may have created a negative impression about yourself. Then the big question I’m asking you now is...

What if you are not those things they said you are? What if you are actually intelligent and smart? what if you are the brain behind that unsolved problem in your life, in your family and in the world at large?

I remember when I was in my primary school, I use to be one among the dull and unserious students in class. My grade is always among the least in the class. One day I did something. On the day of our vacation, our grades for the term was shared to us. When I saw my position, it was 32 out of 36 students. I quickly used a correcting pen and cancelled the 3 at the front, so the result was left with position 2 out of 36 but then I was exposed. My teacher found out what I did and I was scolded and flogged on the assembly ground and at home. The next term when we resume back to school from the holiday, I overhead some students discussing on what I did, looking at me and saying, "look at the dull, dump student that change his result thinking he will succeed". I went home and was meditating on what they said and I began to as myself, what if I’m not dump, dull and unserious as they said and so I decided to buckle up and study. To the amazement of everyone that term my grade came out 6th position out of the 36th students. Everyone was amazed at my transformation and since then till I rounded up primary and high school, my grade hasn’t dropped below 3rd position.
I was able to overcome my limitations and the negative mindset that I was dull, dump and unserious all because I was able to ask my “what if” ……

(My primary school photo)

I did my one-year service in a school at an interior, local community where there is no electricity, phone network nor good water. They even still practice open defecation. No foundation in primary education, just straight to high school. 90% of the student don’t understand English language and most of them especially the ladies don’t even go to school because they believed that after high school is marriage straight. When I started teaching them, I observed that few of the students were brilliant and eager to learn but were limited by their environment and so I and my fellow colleagues whom we were posted together decided to organize an awareness program for the student. One of those things we thought them was overcoming your limitations. Few weeks ago I received a call from one of the students that a few of them got admission into the college. What surprised me was that two of them were female who overcome that mentality and mindset of marriage after high school to further the education.

(My place of Service)

The question still remains, what kind of mindset have you created within yourself? What are those things that is a challenge in your life and it’s making itself look as if is impossible to handle?

This is what I will want you to do now. Change the negative questions of your life into a positive one. For instance:

You may have come from a poor background and have faced many negative challenges and you are wondering what if you are destine to be poor or remain wretched for life, then here is the ultimate question you should ask yourself, WHAT IF I can change the situations of my life? WHAT IF I’m not destine to be poor and wretched? what if the liberation of my family rest on my shoulders.

You may be called names like the dull, dump and unserious as I was called, but the question that should ring in your heart should be WHAT IF you are not that names that called you and it’s the opposite.

You may have asked yourself what if I’m destine to be a failure in life, in career, in business? Then you’re the question should be reversed to WHAT IF I’m destine to be great in life? WHAT IF I can actually succeed in that career, that business? WHAT IF I’m just passing through a phase of test.

I was taught in the university by my physic lecturer that Thomas Edison failed many times while trying to invent light bulb until he finally succeeded. In one of Thomas Edison quote he said that “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. _{quote Source}

If he had given room for the mindset of failure, he might not be known for inventing light bulb and we may not be able to see or discuss about light bulb today.

So!! I urge you today, change your mindset, change your mentality and use the phrase “WHAT IF” to ask yourself positive question about your life.

Joash