Take charge of your Self

Self-motivation is detrimental to our existence; it is what separates the successful and the un-successful people in life. Just a little push, a little shove can make you achieve a lot. Many people give up because they simply lacked self –motivation. They gave up on their dreams, their business, their talents because they lacked a reason to move on.

Everybody experiences a case of lack of motivation from the self once in a while, but you should not let it prevent you from experiencing the glorious treasures life has to offer. Lack of self –motivation should not hold you back from taking up an opportunity.

In my 4^th year of University I experienced a case of lack of self-motivation. I didn’t feel like doing my course work at all, I would just zombie in for class, go back to my room and just watch movies. I worked at the school radio and was always excited about going there, but for some reason, I started dreading going there, I did my duties half-heartedly and for that month I was the worst team player ever, and it seemed to affect the others. My friend Koki, who saw a change in my attitude and had given me 3GB worth of E-books the previous week, advised me to read “Seeds of Wisdom on Motivating Yourself” by Dr. Mike Murdock. I wasn’t motivated to read at that time but something just told me to try, and that was the end of my self pity.

Dr. Mike Murdock in the first chapter of the book says the permitting yourself to remain unmotivated will compound your problems, until you lose everything.  He mentions motivation is the desire or passion towards a chosen goal. It is the energy, incentive or desire for a goal. Motivation is incredibly important and a necessary ingredient in the life of every achiever. Many people stay motivated to avoid pain, e.g. financial stress, failure etc.  and others  stay motivated  to get a reward in the form of success, a job.

Dr. Murdock points out those failures occur daily. Thousands of people fail with their lives, weekly, daily and hourly. They fail to achieve their potential, their greatness and their dreams. We must learn the secret of motivating ourselves to avoid the horrifying and tragic consequences of daily failure.

From this book, I learnt that I am responsible for myself and it is my personal responsibility to point myself towards my worthwhile dreams.

I am responsible for my own future.

I am accountable for my gifts and skills.

I am accountable for my opportunities.

Reading that opened my eyes completely. Self – motivation is the fuel that transports us to our destination and without it we will not reach our desired destination. That’s the point in the book , where I started sitting up straight because I felt like he was talking to me.

Just like me I know you have friends and family who help motivate you, but for some reason its not enough. Dr.Murdock in his book says that it is good to have these support systems but one day you will find yourself alone, and thus must cultivate the gift of motivating yourself.

We must start taking charge of our own lives, be in charge of making sure that our attitude and our mind is in check, always positive, because a negative attitude and mind is the killer of self motivation. 

Princess Nereah

" We want leaders with a difference"

 

The Spirit of Leadership by Myles Monroe stares at me when I enter Annette’s room in the afternoon; she loves to read a lot. “I love surrounding myself with books that talk about leadership because they enlighten me to spot qualities of a good leader.” With the January semester coming to an end, the student body at Daystar University will be conducting elections this April 2012 to usher in the new leaders. 
The elected student body leaders serve as representatives of the students at the University, it is a great leadership opportunity which comes with a lot of responsibility. Annette Muthoni, a 3rd year Psychology major strongly believes that student leadership at Daystar has been greatly compromised. “The people who have been elected in the past, have gotten into office because they were more popular than their opponents and not because they had anything tangible to offer to the student body in terms of leadership,” Annette explains.

The book I saw  in  Annette's room

I wanted to know if many students share Annette’s view and that set me to find out what qualities they want from the new crop of leaders who want to vie for the student body positions.  

The student body posts are the highest form of student leadership in the University, these people are the ones who represent the University in functions, they interact with the senate and the Vice Chancellor when the student’s needs need to be heard, and thus they  want people who are competent and have the people’s interests at heart. 

Lotan Salapei, a 4th year Peace and Conflict major, who is also a prolific personality at the Athi River Campus believes that its time that we elect leaders who are willing to serve. “I want a servant leader who has the people’s interests at heart and who is open to people’s ideas. I strongly advocate for leading by example, because to me leadership is the ability to get others to willingly follow.”

Every organization needs leaders at every level and Lotan  pointed out openness and humility as some of the qualities that he would want from the new leaders. Leaders with humility recognize that they are no better or worse than other members of the team, they try elevating everyone. Openness means being able to listen to new ideas, even if they do not conform to the usual way of thinking. Lotan added, “Openness is a very important trait that should be embraced by the Social Welfare and the Clubs docket which mainly deal with planning events.”

Lotan Salapei

Openness builds mutual respect and trust between leaders and followers, and it also keeps the team well supplied with new ideas that can further its vision. “We need things to be done differently. Some of the people who have held these dockets have been close minded and have been doing the same things over the years, and we need a change. We should think outside the box”, Lotan further explained. Good leaders are able to suspend judgment while listening to others’ ideas, as well as accept new ways of doing things that someone else thought of. 

In the 2012 January semester, there were some video clips circulating the student’s emails that showed some of the student body leaders drinking at a bar. “I felt this was very shameful. You know they are our leaders, and not just that, student leaders at a Christian University that doesn’t subscribe to drinking. "That was just wrong. hawana integrity.” Joan Anyango, a 2nd year Economics Major retorted.

In a chapel service in late 2011, Reverend Stephen Nduto,The Daystar University Chaplain preached about integrity and he explained that, integrity is the combination of outward actions and inner values. "A person of integrity is the same on the outside and on the inside. Such an individual can be trusted because he or she never veers from inner values, even when it might be dangerous." Reverend Nduto said.  From his sentiments we can draw that a leader must have the trust of followers and therefore must display integrity.

The newly adapted Kenyan Constitution clearly states that no one should be discriminated on the basis of skin color, race, disability, gender or tribe. The aspiring leaders should keep these things in mind and apply fairness and justice in their dealings. “I don’t want a leader who will do me a favor just because I come from the same region as them. Our generation should be past that mentality. Everyone should be treated equally, kwanza hapa Daystar we have International students, thus we should be universal thinkers,” Lotan Salapei remarked. Joan Anyango also added that communication skills will help them with fairness; it will help them listen, analyze and offer correct judgement on situations that come their way. “For me fairness will show itself through communication skills which will help them in negotiations, crisis management and in circumstances that require persuasion.”

The views shared above indicate that the student body has a blueprint for what kind of leaders they want and it seems this time round the Daystar University Students Association (DUSA) aspirants are going to have to work extra hard to impress the students with their manifestos and their promises of change. Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the United States said that, "Every generation needs a revolution," and maybe the time for Daystar University is now, in the 2012 DUSA elections.

I was still at Annette’s room when the sun was setting. We had talked from late afternoon about  what she thinks leaders, especially at Daystar should emulate. Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Junior, were some of the names that came up. Last words from Annette were, "the aspirants vying for the DUSA  seats should have a clear vision of how they want to run the different posts as this will guide them and keep them in check." Before I left Annette’s room, I grabbed myself a copy of Becoming a Better you by Joel Osteen from her vast library.

Cynthia Kimola 
1002 words

Physically Depressed Person

So guys am sorry for not posting this week, I have been drained, kabisa, am so so tired, its work work work, then long traffic jams so the bus seats are uncomfortable, yadda yadda.... boring kinda...so i dont want to rant about it ..it will make me tired, which i already am!!


So i wanna share with you how i overcame my stressful week; through a little precious gift that the Lord has given each and everyone of us, and that is a 'smile'.

I was just walking around smiling,even when i was too tired, even when the person sitted next to me on the bus was too mean to sit squarely, even when i was let down by people, who could not keep appointments, i still SMILED.

Kirk Franklin and his song- SMile, made me feel all better inside:

especially the chorus:


I almost gave up, but a power that I can't explain 
fell from heaven like a shower. 

I smile, even though I'm hurt see I smile, 
I know God is working so I smile, 
Even though I've been here for a while 
I smile, smile.. 
it's so hard to look up when you look down. 
Sure would hate to see it when you give up now 
You look so much better when you smile. 






And so i did, 


But the fact still remains am still tired, hoping to catch some shut eye during the weekend. 





Princess Nereah

TO ONE OF MY BESTEST PALS...... HAPPY BIRTHDAY AYI

Its June 10, 2011, and to some people this is the either the worst day of their loves and to some the happiest day of the year.

Well I  know one who is celebrating the latter, Irine Majale a.k.a Ayi

We met in campus way back in 2008 when we were freshmen, and we have stuck out in this friendship for 3years now,,,and all I can say is wow.....

Truly there is someone who loves to smile more than I do,

who loves talking or honestly who chatters away without a full stop and still remains interseting,

 who is happy with who they are always, content and hopeful.

Well thats Ayi for you. HAppy birthday Ayi...I have seen you grow in so many ways.....congratulations for making it this far in life...I LOVE U GAL....we all do....

Congrats on following your dream to be a photographer,

                          

For joining Shine Fm as a presenter

For joining Involvement Newspaper...

Mwaahhhh.... i am honored to have you as a friend.....

 


LAdies in Blue

 

If You Were Born Today, June 10 

You are strong-willed and possess an excellent mind.

You can bring much creativity to the business world, or put your creative talents to practical use with great success.

You are have good people skills, able to mix with people from all walks with life with great ease.

You are capable of much discipline and your disposition is cool but likeable.

You are capable of making many sacrifices in love.

Famous people born today: Maurice Sendak, Judy Garland, Gina Gershon, http://www.cafeastrology.com/birthday/iftodayisyourbirthday.html

( My dear, I dont know these people, but they sound important....but I do know you who is an utterely amazing person. )

Keep Smiling ,

Princess Nereah