So here was I thoroughly enjoying my drive. I was in a real good place, nobody has upset me neither have I upset anyone. I hadn’t crashed into anything or anyone neither was anyone crashing into me. There was no little one in the car insisting that I play some boom bang radio station. It was just me and my Amapiano music blasting away. Everything was well in the the world, I was attentive to the road, hadn’t jumped any red light neither stopped in a yellow box. Just been to wash my car and had one of those cheap air freshner hanging in front of me, filling my nostril with not too unpleasant fragrance. I couldn’t ask for a better day, until from nowhere a police car appeared with three (I thought they were only suppose to be two in the car) hefty and scary looking officers. Initially I paid no attention until I realised they were waving me to stop. I stopped and in the split second before they got to me, I did a quick scan of myself and every thing I had done in the last couple of hours, days, months, year’s etc. As far as I know I was Kosher. One of the officer walked over, I wind down my window, careful to keep my hands within visibility, we don’t want any accidents or mistakes. “Yes Officer?” I said with that questioning tone. He said, “do you know you have a low pressure on your back passenger wheel?” No I replied, came out of the car, went to check and yes the tyre was low. I said my thank you and I assured him, I would get it attended to right away at the next filling station. He advised that I must drive slowly. He left and I thought, how oblivious I was, I did not know the tyre was low.
My friend just got herself one of those fanciful all singing all dancing car. She took me on a spin in the car the other day. Before the drive she was showing me all the workings of the car, the features, all the things it can do. She showed me that she does not have to wonder about the pressure of the wheels or go out of the car to check the pressure, all she has to do was press a button and it displays the pressure. With that car, it is unlikely she will have the police on her tail for low tyre pressure, maybe for speeding, this new shiny babe can fly.
I went to a conference sometime ago on Self-confidence and the main speaker who gave a powerful speech was recounting his journey to having a high Self esteem. He told us how he was a middle child, born into a family where typically the middle child was never paid much attention, growing up he was reserved and shy, he just minded his business with head buried into his books most of the time. No one reflected or told him who he was so he went around with no awareness or consciousness of himself. He left school, went into the working world, started his own business and become more aware of himself, he put some effort into his own self development and self esteem. He got to a stage that he was happy with the work he had done with himself and just carried on living his life. He was interested in bidding for a contract and put together a strong tender document, he had to attend a panel interview and as far as he was concerned he interviewed extremely well. Surprisingly he didn’t win the contract, not one to miss an opportunity for feedback, he contacted one of the panel member and he was told that he prepared the best tender document but in the interview he came across as having a low self-esteem. He was shocked to his bones, said his thank you and promised to work on that and that was exactly what he did. He stopped, took stock of all he is, was, been and all he can be. He got mentors, bought books, attended courses, carried out psychometric tests, got confidence coach. He carried out a full valuation of himself as a human being and from that day he never sold himself short. Some called it arrogance, he carried it having a healthy, aware and appropriate self esteemed.
Like my friend with the all singing all dancing car, each evening before sleeping he presses the button in his life (by doing an analysis of his day), has there been any loss of pressure in any aspect of his life? Did he show up less than he should in any of his outings? Was he present? But most importantly, did he remember who he is and the value he brings to the table. There was no need for any police in life to point out the low pressure. He carries out the check regularly and pump up accordingly.
Let no man think of himself more highly than he ought, in the same vein, let no man think of himself more lowly than he ought to, with low pressure (low self esteem) we must slow down, we can not go at the speed we are destined to.
Have you checked your pressure?
Beautiful Ivory 