VIRTUE MINES (2)

Hi there, amazing family. Yay, our precious Tuesday is here again! I remember mentioning in my broadcast message last week that January is winged and has been flying, and some other people feel it’s been a slow month. I think I’ll stick to the flying opinion, although the second seems valid sometimes too. Either way, whether slow or fast, I think we can come to a common ground, which is that the month is gradually beginning to fold up. I would like to believe that you’ve been making the most of it because you have all it takes to do so. Never doubt your competence!

Before we get down to business (this is making it sound so serious), I owe you a mount of appreciation (yes, it’s that deep) for your commitment to this blog. Just yesterday, someone was requesting the week’s post. That left me wondering if I missed the day or date already because I was so sure that yesterday was Monday. Thanks for making it resound in my ears and my heart that you are a part of this family, and you are always eager to read every post. I am indeed grateful for the gift of you.

Last week, we started looking into Virtue Mines and I’m certain that you are already reaching out and tapping into the gold that you carry on your inside. I know it’s a process, but one thing is also true; it’s a possible task. Just be sure to ignore the noise and focus on the Voice that speaks possibilities over you. It’s about to get better, and you are right at the centre of that change.

I’m sure you’ve read the title of this post as Virtue Mines 2, but there is a slightly different message from that of last week here. However, the same title still holds for this as well. So, we will be seeing the virtue mine in us from another angle, and we can pick out a few lessons. I’ll start by sharing an experience I had two weeks ago briefly.

Ever since the blog started, I have been sending broadcast messages to my contacts to notify them about each new post. Apart from that, I have been obligated to send to certain WhatsApp groups as well. This goes a long way to show how much the posts are valued, and I am grateful for that.

If you are familiar with WhatsApp groups, especially groups that are professional or dedicated to a particular serious course, you know that broadcast messages in such groups are prohibited unless they are authorized. So, it’s safe to say that my message belongs to the “authorized category”😁. On a serious note sha, I always like to abide by the rules of the grounds I find myself for integrity’s sake, and of course, to avoid embarrassment (I’m sure we all can relate to that).

Here comes the main gist: I had just posted the broadcast message in a particular group, only to check back a few minutes later to see a public reaction from one of the admins to delete the message. In all honesty, it was quite a polite reaction but still very direct. Now, I’m smiling as I type this part. The human in me felt offended, and that’s because it was a public space. Moreover, the top admin had requested earlier that I should drop the message in the group.

My initial impulse was to send feedback to update the top admin that I got a delete request from one of the admins. Don’t forget I mentioned earlier that I felt offended, but no, I wasn’t angry (even though those two words sort of go hand-in-hand). I already thought of the possibility of the person in question not being aware of the arrangement, but it still hurts nonetheless. So, the thought of sending a private message to the top admin was just to make the arrangement known to the other admin and not to create problems.

Alright, let me not drag the story. Another idea then dropped in my mind, and that was to send the admin herself a private message and just explain the arrangement to her. This second idea seemed more civil, and I decided to follow through with it. I sent the message and explained what led to the broadcast, and thankfully, the lady was equally polite. She apologized and gave an explanation which showed that she was not aware, thus confirming my initial assumption.

Thereafter, she went a step further to delete the “delete request” she had made earlier. I must say that her responses and this other step she took helped me feel a lot more at ease. Then, she made a suggestion about subsequent messages I’ll have to drop. That turned out to be a productive chat, and the ending of my story is that we left or closed happily after😁.

“Hmmm, what’s the lesson in here?” In case you are wondering, I’d love to share mine with you in the next few paragraphs. It might not have been a big deal, judging from my narration, but it did teach me a big deal.

There are times we are faced with certain situations, or to make it sound a bit serious, confrontations that might be even heavier than the one I just narrated. In these cases, we have a number of options staring right at us. These options definitely hold more water than the other when we reason them out. But here’s my question, do you seek to follow the more honourable path? Let me break down what the more honourable path is.

The honourable path is that which protects both your dignity and that of the other person. To be honest, these situations can be quite difficult sometimes, and we might be tempted to react as e dey hot or with the same degree of seriousness we were given. The voice of reason does not even seem to understand what just happened at that point, and we try to justify the reaction we want to give by all means. But hey, you need to ease up!

Your person is that of grace and dignity, and it must reflect in all that you represent and all that represents you; even in words, thoughts, and actions. Before giving any reaction, think about who you are or who you would like to become and allow it to influence what you do. It might not be an easy path to follow, but it is always worth it eventually. Besides, you don’t want to take an action that will turn out to be regretted later.

In a bid to work out our desires, we must ensure that we are not watering or tearing down other people. They deserve their regard as much as we do. Always remember to give that respect that you would also like to receive. Remember, respect is reciprocal!

In those hard situations, learn to tend to the Voice of reason. It’s seated right within you, and it always has the better way out. It makes you happy with yourself in the end. I was just trying to imagine how everything would have played out eventually if I had taken the first step, although it wasn’t a bad idea. However, I’m certain I would not have been so pleased with myself. I’ll keep remembering that I could have handled it in a better way, and that will give rise to self-blame.

It’s very true that two wrongs never make a right. Even when the other party is wrong, your decision to yam-pepper-scatter everything and everywhere does not make the whole thing right. Yes, the vawulence (violence) method could work at that moment. But, what impression of you does it leave behind? What perception or branding of yourself have you just built? Deep down, are you really satisfied, or is there a feeling of guilt tugging at your heart?

Hy, I think it’s wise to go to the safe zone. Your peace of mind is very important, and this is one of the things that can help you have that peace. You don’t want to spend hours of the night rolling from one side of the bed to another, or getting bothered for days because you didn’t make a good choice of action or reaction.

“Hmmm, so does that mean we cannot voice out when we are wronged or angry?” No, I haven’t said that at all. There is a place for being firm or assertive when expressing what’s on your mind. But while you are at it, you have to ensure that your words or action does not result in a greater level of damage, both for yourself and the other party. Yes, you end up getting hurt sometimes too if you tread that path.

In all you do or say, remember your blood-bought person. It is the one that seeks peace at all times, the one whose words are a delight to hear. Your person is the wisdom-loaded being, echoing words that build up other people. Always put that in your consciousness and allow it to play out as you live daily.

I’m passing the phone to you who had at one time or the other given a reaction you wished you could go back in time to change. Breathe, my person, you are better than you used to be. You know better now, and you can (will) do better going forward. Take what has happened before as a lesson for a better move, going forward. You have a better definition now, and it’s GRACE.

This is where we’ll peg it for the week. I trust you will have a great time reading and reflecting on this, just as I had a good time writing it. I look forward to reading your comments on a similar experience and how you handled it, or other comments you may have. Stay happy and healthy, love ya!