Knowing yourself

If you are sure of your voice, you might be part of the choir. Knowing yourself gets you the golden ticket and enables you to make it further than others. You might think you sing soprano when in fact alto and tenor suits you better. However, if you force to sing soprano and get cut off the choir, it’s not because you don’t know how to sing, but because you are singing a pitch higher than your voice can manage. Try a lower pitch, don’t doubt yourself, you have it in you to make it.

In middle school I wanted to be in the school choir badly, but I was cut off because I thought I was a soprano singer but my voice was too deep for it. Since I wouldn’t sing soprano, I thought I can’t sing. I was never told that alto is for people like me, those gifted with a deeper and richer voice.

Lesson learnt; sometimes taking a step back or a standard lower, doesn’t mean giving up. Stop taking the negative things that people say about you as the truth of who you are. You might attempt being a radio jock but fail at it, however, not being able to hold it down for the listeners doesn’t automatically mean you can’t be a dope producer. The same as struggling with modelling doesn’t mean you can’t be a great photographer. Beethoven was slightly deaf and struggled with conducting his own music. Just because he struggled with conducting didn’t mean he couldn’t compose great music. He knew himself and his struggles and therefore was able to work around them with less frustration. The "I can’t do this" attitude must die, its killing many talented people.

I have always thought of myself as a person who helps others be best. I don’t mind being "always the bride's maid and never the bride". It’s not that I don’t have goals, or have low standards. I am the biggest "hype man". I love it when I see people happy, laughing and less stressed, even if it means I have to sacrifice a lot to put a smile on their face. I love giving genuine compliments and asking people if they are okay, because I am happier when other people are happy. I love the exchange of positive energy. Happiness to one should be happiness to all right? That’s why I don’t understand why people would be jealous. What are jealous people saying though; that its better when it’s them who are succeeding and f the rest? Jealous people are actually selfish, it’s their way or no way at all.

I am super content, I know myself so much that nothing can break me. I live by selflessness, humbleness, discipline, loyalty, trustworthiness, integrity and peace building. It doesn’t take anything away from me to be happy for people making it in life before me.

I can’t emphasise how important it is to know yourself. Know yourself so much that though you fit in, you stand out; not for recognition and praise but for a happy conscience. Do you have a happy conscience? Why don’t you? Is it because other people's success and happiness should be yours than theirs? Know yourself best and capitalise on your strengths.

I love it when I don’t know something or when I think I do but get corrected, because that’s an opportunity to learn.

It’s not many people that I know, that know that they know themselves. There is one person I recently met when I went for voice over training, that my observation told me, man this person knows himself.

            I think people know that you know yourself;

• When you don’t sweat the small stuff.
• When you are so secure that you are not afraid if people were to see you make a mistake.
• When you are not afraid that other people are or might be better than you, because you teach while remaining teachable.
• When you are open to learning and sharing with others.
• When you remain humble and patient to hold other people's hands and raise them up to be better.
• When you don’t underestimate and undermine anyone because you know that it’s God who qualifies people.
• When you know yourself, other people's success fills you up with joy and accomplishment.

Thank you so much Weza for giving so much of yourself to empower us. Your enthusiasm is mind blowing, and your selflessness is incredible. I am inspired by your hard work. You are amazing, keep paying it forward and God bless you. 

So imagine if more people would truly know themselves. Nobody would ever say "don’t shine on my shine".