THE POWER OF OPTIMISM IN CHALLENGING TIMES

 Life is tough. If one wants to realize it just visit hospitals and see the people whose legs have been amputated due to road accidents. Who can explain the agony of people who lose their beloved ones due to floods, earth quakes and land slides. Such is life and the unpredictable can always happen. I want to refer you back to the Covid 19 times where many innocent lives were lost. It was such a difficult moment where innocent young children lost their parents . So as we grow we realize that life is tough. Just recently a suspected witch doctor in Kiboga District was arrested for murdering two innocent children. Who can reduce the pain that the parents of these innocent children are going through.

The above descriptions paint a picture of what challenging times can present. Each one of us faces tough times and we react differently. I have taken time to study the leaders who overcame adversity throughout history. The question that I pose is what were they made of? How did they react to the challenging times in their lives? A case in point is Nelson Mandela who was imprisoned for 27 years. It was not an easy moment for him as a person but what made him resilient? What about countries such as Japan that face earth quakes but are able to rebuild and emerge as world powers. What makes such countries to soldier on? In his book Failing Forward, John Maxwell gives various examples of leaders who have shaped their communities with the right attitude.

The truth is that we live in tough and unpredictable times characterized by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity(VUCA). All of us react differently to such chaotic times.


HOW TO REACT TO DIFFICULT TIMES

1. It begins with God. Iam not imposing my beliefs on any one but as a believer I know that faith in God is the first authentic source of inspiration during tough times. 

2. Develop a positive attitude. It is said that attitude determines altitude. There is a certain university student who despite getting a retake in a paper decided to use the experience to learn and work harder for the next level. Today he is a successful businessman.

3. Associate with supportive friends. Even the president of the United States of America has an advisory council that he listens to. We can emulate his example by choosing people who believe in our potential.

4. Think long term. Robert Schuller in his book, Tough Times Never Last , Tough People Do noted that we all face challenges .That is the nature of life. However successful people pick lessons and move on to a bigger agenda. We are bound to fail as human beings but what matters is how we react to set backs.


By and large life is tough. No one is immune from challenging times. We are all candidates for tough times. What matters is how we react to the setbacks. Optimism seems to be an appropriate remedy for coping with tough times as noted above.


Phillip Kiryowa 

Finance and Leadership Coach 

+256752615916

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