THOUGHTS – THE SEED OF LIFE.

We have witnessed some of the most amazing scientific and technological advancements over the last decade in the world. All these ground breaking solutions in most instances started with a singular thought, in response to a prevailing problem. Even on the economic front, we have seen some people amassing substantial wealth because of the entrepreneurial solutions they brought to the world. In the artistic space, there seems to be no limits on what creative capability is out there in the world. What is so encouraging is that the younger generation is brimming with innovative endeavors, a strong enterprising drive and amazing creative feats.

There is this ground breaking phenomena called artificial intelligence (AI) whereby human intelligence processes are simulated by machines, especially computer systems. Specific applications of AI include expert systems, natural language processing, speech recognition and machine vision. Scary stuff indeed! One thing can however not be disputed, the human mind has infinite capacity and is more powerful than any machine in existence. With around 100 billion cells, it is more complex than just about anything we have ever studied.

A few weeks ago I received a message that really made me to think. A gentleman by the name of Fani, tracked me down on one of the social media platforms and he dropped me the following note:

“ Good morning mr Kuscus. Just to let you know that your ministry at Rooigrond Prison in the late 90’s, has impacted my life profoundly. I was released in the year 2005 and my life improved tremendously. I am a husband, father and community leader today. I remember the sermon you preached entitled – Who are you? What do you say about yourself? These questions pre-occupied my mind for days to come and called for an appropriate response. It was through that sermon whereby the Lord God Almighty led me into a journey of rediscovering my identity. I really appreciate the investment that God has made in my life through your ministry! “

The wise King Solomon once wrote in Proverbs 23:7 “ As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’’  Fani was at some stage confronted with the critical question about what he thinks about himself. Notwithstanding his past mistakes and being incarcerated, he channeled his thoughts in the right direction and today he is settled in his family life, respected in his community, obtained a degree and a few other qualifications, having an excellent job in the training and development space at a leading mining company. It all began with a thought!

WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK

We need to be constantly on our guard concerning our thoughts because we become what we think. Your mind should never become a receptacle of junk and negative thoughts because it can in a very subtle way, shape your view about yourself and the environment in which you operate. If my mind is pre-occupied with a sense of inferiority and low self-esteem, success will be an elusive dream.  Most people who are not successful do not necessarily lack talent. I have also seen the most talented people not being successful. The root cause can be traced back to a singular thought that became a stronghold, adversely affecting their sense of commitment to a life of excellence. Success in life starts with healthy and clear thinking.

Be prepared to win the battle within you. One of the biggest challenges leaders face on a daily basis, is the battle in our minds. It is almost a proverbial war game where our energy is directed towards defense, survival, escape and whatever coping mechanism possible. You need to engage daily in those disciplines that will nourish and strengthen your mentality.

SMART THINKING

When we look at the world around us, there are justifiable reasons for our minds to be pre-occupied on how some of these disturbing trends can be reversed and when some of this glaringly obvious nonsense is going to stop? Our hopes might even have faltered as we observe a progressive deterioration in the political, economic, social and let me dare say even in the religious sphere.

We like to refer to the acronym SMART when talking about goal setting. We also need to learn the art of SMART thinking during these challenging times.

Think:

Strategically

Be intentional about the thought processes that will influence the long- term success of a business, a team or an individual. Always have the bigger picture in mind by first identifying the real issue then work out a practical plan with due consideration about the necessary resources to execute the plan.

Motivationally

Your thoughts should reflect an appreciation for the gifts and talents you received from your Creator and how you can be the best person you can possibly be, to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Always have a positive disposition towards life.

Artistically

We have all been endowed with some degree of creativity; the ability to probe for fresh ideas to build on our existing knowledge base in pursuit of appropriate solutions. Make time to tap into this resource; you are not rewarded for the problems you can identify but the creative solutions that you can bring to the table.

Results oriented

One needs to have absolute clarity on why you embark on a specific course of action  and what will be the expected outcome, otherwise your effort can go to waste. Aways have the end-game in mind.

Transformationally

Transformative thinking enables individuals and teams to create change, perform at their best and achieve sustained success.

Our mind is like the womb of a pregnant woman, hosting and nurturing the seed of greatness until it reaches full term for delivery. To give birth to our desired future, we need to carry the right seed. Make sure that your mind is at all times occupied with the right thoughts to give birth to your destiny. It happened to me and unknown to me until a few weeks ago, it also happened to Fani.

It all start with a thought!