AS much as we love smooth waters, an Arab proverb states that smooth waters do not make skilful sailors. In this journey called life, the question is not, "Will storms arise?" Rather, the question is, "When will the next storm arise?" And even more important than that question is, "What type of person will I be when the next storm arises?"

During hardships and calamities, it is natural to get swept away by the affliction of the moment. During such trials of faith, determination and willpower, unless we are careful, an injection of fear and a planting of doubts in our hearts and minds occur. Our beliefs in such vulnerable states may become overpowered by feelings of the moment resulting in the dwindling of our hope. All in all, we may find ourselves lost, helpless, and stalled finding it difficult to gather ourselves and move forward. The biggest weakness in all of humanity is giving up, calling it quits, throwing in the towel. 

One major change that has helped me overcome much of my anxiety is adopting faith in the fact that everything will work out. In my darkest times, I used to panic when the littlest thing would go wrong. If something doesn't go your way, or the unexpected threatens to shove you against the wall enough to knock you out, do you hold onto the faith that things will work out? I ask because this is the key to how you handle life. As much as we’d love to control every situation we get thrown into, the truth is that all we can control is how we react to situations.

Napoleon Hill reminds us that, "The strongest oak of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It’s the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun." Be the oak and you will come out stronger. You should actively keep the faith in your own life. You should not give up, crumble, or let the challenges you’re faced with overcome you. Today is the day you should stand up strong and allow challenges to come your way, knowing that you’ll come out stronger on the other side. Keep the faith! Stay strong!

Ashley Mwanza - 19/05/2014

MANY of us come from humble beginnings. We make something of ourselves through pursuit of knowledge, integrity, hard work, and a bit of good fortune. Yes, people have every right to be proud of the success that they've earned. But that doesn't give them the right to be rude or disrespectful to others.

Some people get a big thrill from boasting about their accomplishments or showing off their possessions. They've convinced themselves that they’re better than others are. The fact is, some folks let success go to their head, and they gain a weird satisfaction from pushing people around. That’s wrong. On the other hand, just as it’s disgusting for the “haves” to look down on others, it’s equally disdainful for “have-nots” to resent those who've worked hard and have rightfully earned their success.

The truth is, all the money in the world doesn't make you a better person. It simply means that you have more money. Real wealth is achieved by appreciating what you already have in life. After all, money can’t buy everything. It can’t buy a close-knit family, good friends, a clear conscience, work-life balance, a happy home, a second chance in life, among other things.

Money and success can’t buy a person’s trust or guarantee a good reputation. You earn these through your words AND actions. There’s nothing more valuable in life than integrity. Trust me!

So, don’t let success go to your head. Be humble. Humility is a sign of strength, not weakness. People with humility possess an inner peace. They’re modest about their achievements, grounded in their values, and they have nothing to prove to others. They’re down to earth, comfortable in their own skin, and quietly proud. Humble people shift their focus from taking to giving, from talking about themselves to listening to others, from hoarding the credit to deflecting the praise, and from being a “know-it-all” to knowing there’s so much more in life worth learning. There’s no ego, no pretense, and certainly no gamesmanship. Humble people are authentic. As C. S. Lewis said, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

 --- Frank Sonnenberg with additions by Ashley Mwanza