Assured Life Solutions

Having written about happiness last month I got into thinking mode and came up with an idea to write about the power of knowledge.

This is just one of the powers we have, unfortunately it is one of the least used and least acquired.

To start with, what is power and what is knowledge? Collins English Dictionary defines power as, “ability to do or act,” and according to the Oxford English Dictionary knowledge is, “expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.” Sometimes the process of acquiring knowledge involves complex cognitive processes thus perceptions, learning, communication, association and reasoning. Knowledge has no resistance. It can be used or abused. The purpose of this write up is to encourage good use of knowledge as well as power and continuous improvements of it.

When it comes to progress in life knowledge is needed and that knowledge will give us power. In order to gain the knowledge you may consider some of the following:

-          Realising or being aware of what it is that you want.

-          Knowing the information or knowledge gaps.

-          Knowing the kind of information or knowledge needed to close existing gaps.

-          Knowing how to get the knowledge.

-          Knowing where to get the knowledge.

-          Identifying people who can help you acquire the knowledge.

-          Knowing how to record and retrieve the information for reference or future use.

-          Knowing when, where and how to use the knowledge effectively.

This may sound challenging but with good organisation it is relatively simple and great fun as well.

Now we have to put some meat on the bones.    

Using the power of knowledge to best advantage! How can you achieve this? Let’s say you are going for a job interview for a role that you have been dreaming about for a long time. Do you just wait for the day of the interview wake up and go to attend the interview expecting to land the job? Obviously not, if you are serious. There are things you will need to do that include some research about the company you intend to work for as well as how you will fit in. You may also look at products, services, markets, strategies, competition, customer base, strengths, weaknesses etc. You may also go through some possible questions and do mock interviews. All this will help you in your preparation and when the day arrives you will be ready and you will most likely get the job.

You may go on to prepare what you will do when you get the job.

This is a simple demonstration about the power of knowledge. With the right knowledge you are powerful and more effective. With knowledge you carry weight, command respect and when discussions take place people can’t wait to hear your points of view. The more knowledge you have the more respect you are likely to get.

Knowledge gives you power to break the chains holding you back and it goes on to liberate your soul. It gives you peace of mind. So do we agree that being knowledgeable stems up from the choices and actions we take and not feelings, hunches or chance? If we agree then let’s start or continue taking action to make ourselves more knowledgeable.

Our growth knows no limits and it is certainly beyond measure. As usual I will leave you with a little task to do.

Having read this far you must have an area where you feel you need to develop more knowledge. What is the area? I would like you to go on and identify the knowledge you need and have a short but precise plan to get knowledgeable or become an expert.

Here are some pointers:

You can start off with the target date you need to have this knowledge.

What knowledge you need. Be specific.

How will you acquire it?

How you will know you have it.

How you will use it to empower yourself.

What results you expect.

You may add your own as well.

Until next month when we meet again on another topic, enjoy, have fun and be knowledgeable.

 

With Warmth,

Mike

 

P.S “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find, knock and the door, will be opened to you,” Holy Bible, Matthew 7:7

Following the success of the first issue that hit your computer screens last month this week I write about happiness.

What really is happiness? There is no universal definition. Any definition you look at or come up with is most likely to contain words such as smile, exciting, choice, want, need and contentment.

According to Helen Keller, “true happiness is not attained through self gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy cause.”

The important thing to realise is that happiness lies within you not without you. Simple things like reaching out to the needy, a hug, a smile and sharing manifest happiness. You cannot rub happiness on others without some of it sticking on you. Some say happiness is contagious. What other contagious bugs to you know? GOOD or BAD???

Try to think about how those bugs spread and their effects. Happiness spreads in exactly the same way with positive outcomes and massive benefits.

Let’s say you are looking for happiness. Ask yourself the following questions:

 

When was the last time I was happy?

What made me happy?

Would the same thing make me happy once more?

How did it feel to be happy?

How much effort did I put to experience the happiness?

Did I share the happiness with someone?

What do I need to do to be happy again?

Is there any greater feeling?

How and when should I start?

 

The list of questions can go on and on. This is meant to get you started and actually forms part of your activity for this month. If you answer these questions and additional ones you may come up with, you will be amazed by the outcome. It will be quite a revelation.

 

Isn’t it crazy that sometimes the more we have or earn the more we do not guarantee our happiness. How many celebrities have we read about in the press taking drugs and other substances that have made them very unhappy instead? The answer to happiness is simple. Have you ever watched children playing? They do not have inhibitions and can be excited by the simplest of things. From now on observe children where ever they are and happiness manifests itself in them. Somehow when we grow up we become too wise for our own good and lose it.  You can get it from a worthy natural high such as doing your favourite hobby, sporting activities etc.  What is happening is, as we attain more we want to reach a higher level and competition enters the frame resulting in need to get attention, recognition and status. The sad thing is when this happens people are seldom truly happy with themselves or happy for others.

 

It helps therefore to enjoy the company of good, light hearted, kind and caring people who are proud to be themselves.

 

The Law of Creation comes into frame. According to this law in order to realise happiness or something fulfilling you have to decide that you will do what it takes to experience your own transformation. In other words create your own world. I have just scratched the surface to get you started on this exciting journey.

 

We are all created with great powers and abilities that are beyond measure. Each individual is unique, has power of choice and power to create. Each one of us has the ability to live a happy life on his or her own terms and standards. So, why is this not the case with many people? I leave you to answer that one?

 

God wants us to be happy, enjoy prosperity and a good life. If this is the case then we have to focus on how we can create a happy world for ourselves and loved ones. This is your area of influence and it includes family, relationships, business, career, recreations, hobbies etc. Your World, refers to; what you do, who you know, what you know, what you believe in, where you live, how you live, what you believe in and your values to name a few.

 

The art lies in the ability to apply what you learn. Once you do that desires, dreams and wishes will be fulfilled naturally leading to happiness.

 

Things to do

Please revisit the questions raised earlier. Then it will be worthy answering this one. What do I need/want to be happy? Look closely you may actually have all you need to be happy but focusing on the wrong issues that make you sad, bitter or grumpy. Remember faith is a major ingredient of happiness.

 

In parting I quote St Augustine who said, “faith is to believe what you do not see, the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” Action follows faith. Therefore, take action and more action. I am sure you have had the saying, “your attitude determines your altitude.”

It’s all in your hands. Now it’s Over to YOU.             

Warming to your happiness,

Mike Mbondiah

 

P.S

“Everything that goes on in your life is a reflection of either your ability or inability,” adapted from Brad Sugars.

P.P.S

Spend more time listening than talking.