by
Patrick Ogungbola
MD/ CEO, BLUEHEDGE REALTORS
Hullabaloo!!! It’s another exciting brand-new month!!! We wish you a Happy New Month. The month of November is the ‘forerunner’ month that ushers us to the month of December, the last month of the year. In other words, if you don’t shop for Christmas and New Year now, chances are that you will be paying almost double or triple in December. If the price of rice in Nigeria doubled in the month of October when we had no special celebration, do we need a prophet to tell us that it will triple in December/ January when we will experience the highest demand for rice and other consumables. Wisdom is profitable to direct!
The title of this month’s article is, ‘Staying Positive in a Negative World’. When something unimaginable happens, people always make the following comments: ‘What an evil world’, ‘This world is wicked’, ‘What a world we live in’, and so on and so forth. Evil plans and wicked devices seem to be the ideologies of our world. ‘What a good world’ is a paradox, because the evil in the world seem to be more than the good; evil is easier conceived and done than good. But why is it that some nations or people are worse than others in the conception and execution of evil and other negativity? If your question has ever been, ‘why do we act the way we do, as a people?’, then the answer is not far-fetched.
A research was carried out by J. Walter Thompson and the outcome proved that different countries in the world are known for different civilizational traits and peculiar habits or social and cultural norms that tend to crystallize into the stereotypes associated with them, viz some nationalities are known for being diligent and industrious, some others are characterized as those who cultivate a leisure activity, carefree attitude and relish the simple pleasures that life has to offer (http://www.personalityatlas.
What the above research is saying is that if you were born and raised in say America, you’ll tend to behave like an American, the question then is how do Americans behave? I’m sure you have an idea. In the same vein, if you were born and raised in Nigeria, you’ll tend to behave like a Nigerian, and again, the question is how do Nigerians behave?
We are creature of habits; we tend to behave like each other. What we learn unconsciously seem to have far-reaching effects on us than what we learn consciously. This is truer of children who learn so fast by observation and imitation. Let’s imagine a situation where a man who is taking his children to school in his car is mistakenly hit by a bike man. Instinctively, the natural Nigerian blood in them will cause them to abuse each other or even fight, and let’s remember that the children are in the car hearing, watching and learning.
It is a common occurrence in this part of the world to see two young or elderly well-dressed people fighting for ‘almost’ brushing each other, that is, their cars are still intact, no single dent but they must fight because one ‘almost’ hit the other. It’s our culture, that’s how we are. Almost everyone living in Lagos or other popular Nigeria cities can talk like a ‘garage tout’, as a matter of fact, there are many ‘touts’ dressed in suits and working in corporate settings. You will always hear such people say, ‘You think say because I dey wear suit, I no fit beat you; wait make I comot my suit’. Some others may say, ‘You no dey look face, you see tribal mark for my face’. It is difficult for a ‘gentle’ person to live in our environment and still maintain his sanity, the blood of ‘everyone’ is hot, atimes I wonder if this is attributed to our extreme weather conditions.
Another bad situation in this country is the fact that little or no value is placed on human life. Some rich men’s pets and some fortunate Fulanis’ cows are more valuable than some human being. To leave home for work and return home in the evening body, soul and spirit still intact is a big testimony. Sometimes last month, one of our staff lost his brother who is a truck driver in Abuja. The young man was burnt alive because he mistakenly hit someone with his truck. The irony of it is that the person that was hit didn’t lose his life, but the truck driver was set ablazed immediately. Jungle justice is a norm, our society is so harsh and cruel; indeed, life has no meaning here. No wonder many are looking for various ways of escape.
But, what could we really attribute this evil nature of ours to? Could it be attributed to the widespread poverty in the land? During the recent xenophobia attack on Nigerians in South Africa, back home here, Nigerians in trying to revenge the attack looted not only Shoprite (supposedly owned by South Africans), but also other stores which belongs to fellow Nigerians at Lekki Novare-Sangotedo, Lagos and elsewhere. Worse still, the hoodlum also seized this incident to loot people of their personal effects in traffic at certain locations along the Lekki Expressway of Lagos. In other words, what started as a revenge on the xenophobia attack escalated to highway robbery. So, can we attribute our ‘bad’ traits to hunger and poverty? Well, the dichotomy between the rich and the poor is so wide over here, but this cannot be solely attributed to why we are this way. Many people believe that the problem with Nigeria and Nigerians is not physical, but spiritual; and we know that physical problems can be tackled physically, while spiritual problems can only be resolved spiritually.
Whatever may be the problem, the question is, ‘how can you and I live and stay positive in the negative environment we find ourselves?’ We offer the following suggestions in this regard:
– Avoid trouble – Try as much as possible to stay out of trouble. We may know the beginning of trouble, but no one surely knows how it will end. The advice is to live peaceably with all people. Avoiding a fight is a mark of honour; only fools insists on quarreling (Proverbs 20:3, NLT).
– Choose to be joyful – Being happy and joyful is a choice. There are many things all around us which can give us negative mood. We should try to look for ways to be positive, happy and motivated. This writer stays motivated by watching and listening to good video or audio messages; discover and practice what makes you happy and motivated.
– Control what you hear and see – The most powerful sense organs are the ears and eyes. Research had shown that we perceive up to 80% of all impressions by means of our sight. Our heart is generally conditioned by what we hear and see. No wonder the Holy Book advised that we should guide our heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). Of a truth, we can control what we watch and listen to. Most of the news and information around us are bad and they can be very depressing. Choose what you watch, read and hear.
– Stop claiming right – Yeah, you read that right, accept to be a fool once in a while. Learn to say sorry even when you’re not at fault. I learnt this in a hard way few years ago. A lady brushed the side of my car in traffic, but unfortunately it was her side mirror that got broken in the process. She took it up with me until she made me to apologize to her, even though I wasn’t at fault. Indeed, to say, ‘I’m Sorry’ even when you’re not at fault is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of meekness. Don’t always insist on your right, act like a fool sometimes. A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men (Thomas Carlyle).
– Surround yourself with the right people – The people you surround yourself with most of the time will have great influence on you. If you surround yourself with good and positive people, you will be influenced in like manner; the opposite is also true. ‘He who walks with the wise will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed’ Proverbs 13:20. Indeed, like begets like. ‘Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are’ goes a popular saying. Also, ‘do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good character’ 1 Corinthians 15:33.
– Be prayerful and be sensitive – This writer has learnt by experience that the physical is controlled by the spiritual. This is why we need to always commit our lives to God Who sees the end from the beginning. Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own (Proverbs 3:5 MSG). God has also put in each of us an instinct, and if you have a trained instinct, it will guide and direct you aright; hence, be sensitive and be true to your instinct.
The above points are not exhaustive, but only a guide on how we can stay and remain positive in the midst of the negative environment we find ourselves.
We wish you the very best in the month of November 2019.
As usual, we want to remind you that we care so much about you, and that when it comes to your real estate investment and advisory, we are always here to give you the very best service you can never get elsewhere. This is our promise, and will always be.
Meanwhile, please find below the powerpoint presentations of our current properties for sale in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Thank you.
Affordable Properties For Sale in LAGOS
Affordable Properties For Sale in ABUJA, FCT
Affordable Properties For Sale in PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE
