When the night comes and everywhere seems dark, a lot of activities may be affected, because visibility might not be too good. But when you introduce light, visibility will be restored and activities will resume. The truth is that any amount of light you bring in will matter because it is better than none. You may not have had control of the darkness, and you cannot even stop it from coming, but you can actually bring your own light to dispel it. A friend of mine once humorously said that "instead of going through the dark tunnel and waiting to get to the end before you see light, take your own light and go into the tunnel." In life, it is what you do in the moment of challenges that ultimately matters more than the challenge itself.
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It is true that darkness may come, but it should not have the final say. In the same way in life, the difficulty you face should not be what will ultimately determine your destiny. A small candle you light in a dark room at night will make a very big difference even beyond what you expect, it does not have to be a floodlight for it to count. In the same way, you do not have to figure out every single thing, neither do you need to do something astronomical before you can make a difference in someone's life, in your family, in your place of work, or even in your community. You do not have to wait until your situations improve first before you begin to shine. You do not have to be wealthy first before you help someone financially.
It is worthy to note that for someone in darkness, even the smallest light can make a whole lot of difference. In life, for someone in a desperate need, your little act of kindness can create a massive impact for them. You need to know that your light is needed now even in the imperfect condition. Do not allow the darkness that is around you to put off your light. In a world that is full of hate, be the love. In a world that is full of cruelty, be kind. In a world that is full of corruption, let your light shine through integrity. In a world where others are giving up, let your courage encourage others to keep going. If you find yourself in an environment that is full of negativities, let your words and your actions bring encouragement. You may not have the capability to change the entire world, but you can change the world around you by the way you live.
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I remember when a friend of mine was posted for his National Youth Service about 5 years ago. It was to a village. When he got there, he discovered that within his neighborhood, there were lots of unemployed youths. Everytime, they would be complaining that the government had not extended anything to them, not even an empowerment programme. What he did was to make a difference in the way he could. He knew how to make hair and other skills. So what he did was to organise a 3 week intensive skills acquisition programme. He taught them the skills, and a lot of them started doing it on their own.
His National Youth Service lasted roughly one year, but within that year, he was able to teach over 100 people. A lot of the people have become self-reliant. In fact, some started businesses and even employed others, thereby creating job opportunities. After 5 years, he went back to the same community some weeks back, and to his surprise, some of the people he empowered are doing excellently well, and the place changed adorably. You see, he did not have everything, but he used what he had to help the person around him, and it became like ripple reaction. The people he helped also helped others, and the whole community became better. The simple act of goodness you give to someone can be what will bring a major transformation to the world around you.
A lot of the people who have made significant impact in life did not come from a place of abundance, neither did they begin with influence, wealth, favourable conditions. Some started from what may be considered disadvantaged, yet they did something from the point they are and did something worthwhile. They did not allow their background to stop their shining. It is worthy to note that shining your light does not mean that you have never encountered resistance or challenges. In fact, people may misunderstand you, discouraged you, or may even try to make you feel insignificant. But you should make a decision not to allow these reactions to negatively influence the brightness of your character. Do not stop doing what is right, do not stop growing, and do not stop making a positive difference.
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