Hello there.
I hope you’re coping well in the ‘new normal’. I’m thrilled to see what God has in store for each of us at the end of this myriad of deaths and qualms.
Here’s a short excerpt from a book by Calvin C. Ratz (1972) that impelled me to write this blog.
A beggar who lives in the slums of a large city, who wears dirty clothes and eats in unsanitary conditions is hardly aware of his filth. He becomes accustomed to the dirt because he knows nothing else. He becomes like those he associates with, since they’re all dirty, he doesn’t see his own dirt.
He knows no other standard. But put that man dressed in his dirty clothes at the dining table of the president of the country. In that situation, he will see the expensive things about him, he will notice the clean clothes of those who sit with him and he will notice the tasty food that is served to him.
While the beggar is alone in his environment, he doesn’t see his dirt. But when placed beside that which is clean, he sees the contrast and becomes aware of his condition.
Now, this can be construed in so many contexts but I’d like to relate it to the context of the people we surround ourselves with and the conversations we have. So many times, we come off as the beggar. Complacent with where we are because we’re amidst people who we are so much alike and don’t think about becoming better and greater people. We might actually be in a better position than them and so we settle and get comfortable.
The test of our personality, dreams, character and content, is being put in a room full of accomplished and influential people. Only then will we see how inadequate we are and how much more work needs to be inputted. The dialogs we engage in on average, have a contributory role on the individuals we ultimately become or are and the dreams we strive for.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone, for as short as fifteen minutes, but in those minutes and seconds, you have a whole paradigm shift on key areas and aspects of your lifestyle and general outlook of the world?
I’m currently reading a book by Professor Carol Dweck with my book club entitled Mindset: How you can fulfil your potential and the two most dominant mindsets according to research are the fixed and growth mindset. (I’d recommend to download her book or watch her TEDx to get more insight on the two).
Briefly however, people with the fixed mindset are contented with living in their previous accomplishments because of fear of having their intellect dared by new trials. On the other hand, people with the growth mindset use their failures as footstools to venture into new fields and more thought-provoking tasks.
This book has given me such a remarkable viewpoint on how mindset has so much control over how one can accomplish the tasks set before them, succeed in their career and have meaningful relationships. I’ll definitely review it on here when we’re done but it’s an amazing read.
I’d like to challenge each of you today to take a few minutes and think about what you’re feeding your mind on, the conversation you’re having and what things are consuming your time. These are the things that are shaping your train of thought and plausible future.
Choose today, to have discussions that challenge you. Don’t be like the beggar and wait to be sited on the presidents table before you realize your deficits. Work on them now and challenge yourself every day to get out of your comfort zone and continue building yourself. God being your helper of course. (1 Corinthians 1:31).
Let me know how this small task goes.
Thank you for passing by.
Cheers.
Baluka Hannah Stacey
This is absolutely an amazing read Daniella. There is so much that i have also reaslised that what we feed our mind on has a huge impact on how we behave. Thank you so much for this…
Khanani Daniella
Thank you for passing by Hannah love. And yes, the people you surround yourself with ultimately determine your character.
It’s no lie when they say “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”.
Baluka Hannah Stacey
This is absolutely an amazing read Daniella. There is so much that i have also reaslised that what we feed our mind on has a huge impact on how we behave. Thank you so much for this…
Khanani Daniella
Thank you for passing by Hannah love. And yes, the people you surround yourself with ultimately determine your character.
It’s no lie when they say “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”.
advocateofunpopularopinions
A great post as always. I like your take especially in connection with the extract but being the pessimist I am, I want to have conversations with the despised and wretches. I would have wished the president to realize how much suffering is in the world while they enjoy and feast. As we grow up the ladder of success let’s not forget the evil that made us struggle!
Khanani Daniella
Yes, there’s truth to what you say advocate. But will the despised and wretched stay like that forever? Is that their goal in life? To be despised and wretched?
We all need to challenge ourselves everyday to be better people…
Otherwise, interacting with them won’t help them if you’re not building them to get out of that situation.
But haha then again, that’s the unpopular opinion right? Thank you so much for passing by.
advocateofunpopularopinions
They may stay that way till Christ returns!
Khanani Daniella
But advocate 😂😂 no one is destined to be wretched…
advocateofunpopularopinions
I think that’s very correct nobody was destined for that so we may need to think what made us different 😂
Khanani Daniella
😅 good point… Needs some deep thought.
advocateofunpopularopinions
I would like you to read Nadifa Mohamed’s The Orchard of Lost Souls, it’s one of my favourite reads after the book of James and Ecclesiastes at least today in my mind 😂
Khanani Daniella
Wow alright I’ll look for it. Thank you for the reccomendation. ☺️
advocateofunpopularopinions
A great post as always. I like your take especially in connection with the extract but being the pessimist I am, I want to have conversations with the despised and wretches. I would have wished the president to realize how much suffering is in the world while they enjoy and feast. As we grow up the ladder of success let’s not forget the evil that made us struggle!
Khanani Daniella
Yes, there’s truth to what you say advocate. But will the despised and wretched stay like that forever? Is that their goal in life? To be despised and wretched?
We all need to challenge ourselves everyday to be better people…
Otherwise, interacting with them won’t help them if you’re not building them to get out of that situation.
But haha then again, that’s the unpopular opinion right? Thank you so much for passing by.
advocateofunpopularopinions
They may stay that way till Christ returns!
Khanani Daniella
But advocate 😂😂 no one is destined to be wretched…
advocateofunpopularopinions
I think that’s very correct nobody was destined for that so we may need to think what made us different 😂
Khanani Daniella
😅 good point… Needs some deep thought.
advocateofunpopularopinions
I would like you to read Nadifa Mohamed’s The Orchard of Lost Souls, it’s one of my favourite reads after the book of James and Ecclesiastes at least today in my mind 😂
Khanani Daniella
Wow alright I’ll look for it. Thank you for the reccomendation. ☺️
Sparkle✨
Very thought provoking 😌
Khanani Daniella
I’m glad. 👏🏾
Sparkle✨
Very thought provoking 😌
Khanani Daniella
I’m glad. 👏🏾
The Afterthought
Very timely post Danny👌 and I like how you use the analogy to zone in on conversations!! I guess like the beggar we get so accustomed to some shallow, self-deprecating conversations (what the Bible must call unwholesome talk) and fail to note that there could be better. Loved the post!
Khanani Daniella
Awww thank you Peace. Thank you for passing by too. Yes so many times we engage in unwholesome talk yet we could be building ourselves. I’m glad you liked it. ♥️
The Afterthought
Very timely post Danny👌 and I like how you use the analogy to zone in on conversations!! I guess like the beggar we get so accustomed to some shallow, self-deprecating conversations (what the Bible must call unwholesome talk) and fail to note that there could be better. Loved the post!
Khanani Daniella
Awww thank you Peace. Thank you for passing by too. Yes so many times we engage in unwholesome talk yet we could be building ourselves. I’m glad you liked it. ♥️
joseyphina
Great read and thanks for throwing us the challenge.
Khanani Daniella
Thank you Phina. And sure. Keep me posted on how it goes your end. ☺️
joseyphina
Great read and thanks for throwing us the challenge.
Khanani Daniella
Thank you Phina. And sure. Keep me posted on how it goes your end. ☺️
Lizzie
Hi Florence, I nominated you for the ideal inspiration award. Here’s the link to my post
https://thelizziesjournal.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award/
Lizzie
Hi Florence, I nominated you for the ideal inspiration award. Here’s the link to my post
https://thelizziesjournal.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award/
Lizzie
Hi Daniella, I nominated you for the ideal inspiration award. Here’s the link to my post
https://thelizziesjournal.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award/
Khanani Daniella
Aww thank you so much for the nomination
☺️ Truly humbled.
Lizzie
You are most welcome dear
Lizzie
Hi Daniella, I nominated you for the ideal inspiration award. Here’s the link to my post
https://thelizziesjournal.wordpress.com/2020/07/28/ideal-inspiration-blogger-award/
Khanani Daniella
Aww thank you so much for the nomination
☺️ Truly humbled.
Lizzie
You are most welcome dear
bisikwatendo
Talk about things you read and they make you cringe because lock down has had you feeding on so much negativity. Thank you Khanani for this post!
Khanani Daniella
You’re welcome Tendo. 👏🏾👏🏾 And yes your surely are right those social media posts and propaganda can make you lose your mind. Hmph.
bisikwatendo
Talk about things you read and they make you cringe because lock down has had you feeding on so much negativity. Thank you Khanani for this post!
Khanani Daniella
You’re welcome Tendo. 👏🏾👏🏾 And yes your surely are right those social media posts and propaganda can make you lose your mind. Hmph.
Maurice
I love this post. It make me to think on something very important. On the twist to this writing the person with the growth mindset will be resisting to settle for the less. Have you ever been around people who are an what you termed as the fixed mindset and they would do anything to stop you from being progressive. They don’t care to grow but they do’t want to see you launch out.
Our environment is one major factor that influences our mindset. It is good to be able to evaluate our environment so we won’t be swallowed up by what it dictates
Khanani Daniella
Yes I’ve definitely been around fixed mindset people. Haha to some extent I was too but not in the sense of preventing others growth haha but reading the book opened up my eyes to what it means to have a growth mindset.
Thank you so much for your feedback Maurice and for passing by.
Maurice
You are welcome Khanani. That book is really a good read
Khanani Daniella
Sure thing. Be sure to get it.
Maurice
I love this post. It make me to think on something very important. On the twist to this writing the person with the growth mindset will be resisting to settle for the less. Have you ever been around people who are an what you termed as the fixed mindset and they would do anything to stop you from being progressive. They don’t care to grow but they do’t want to see you launch out.
Our environment is one major factor that influences our mindset. It is good to be able to evaluate our environment so we won’t be swallowed up by what it dictates
Khanani Daniella
Yes I’ve definitely been around fixed mindset people. Haha to some extent I was too but not in the sense of preventing others growth haha but reading the book opened up my eyes to what it means to have a growth mindset.
Thank you so much for your feedback Maurice and for passing by.
Maurice
You are welcome Khanani. That book is really a good read
Khanani Daniella
Sure thing. Be sure to get it.
Syndianar
Reblogged this on Syndia Chemutai.
Syndianar
Reblogged this on Syndia Chemutai.
Mwesigwa Barbara
Amazing read. You’re meant for this. I always look forward to reading your posts/blogs.. shine bright
Khanani Daniella
Thank you Barbara.
Mwesigwa Barbara
Amazing read. You’re meant for this. I always look forward to reading your posts/blogs.. shine bright
Khanani Daniella
Thank you Barbara.