“My teacher, Jim Rohn, taught me a simple principle -everyday, stand guard at the at the door of your mind and you alone decide what thoughts and beliefs you let into your life; for they will shape whether you feel rich, poor, cursed or blessed.” Tony Robbins
The last two years, 2020 and 2021, did not begin normally. The world was in a lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 threat. At the beginning of every year, people look ahead and see what they want to achieve in the coming year. They make new resolutions. Of course, these new year resolutions are like party jokes; they don’t last long. But they make them anyway. By the end of January, most people have forgotten what they said they wanted to do! This year, most people didn’t dream much. They wondered when COVID-19 would end. So, they can get back to full normality.
From a career point of view, many people wonder what to do. Many lost jobs, new jobs were emerging. What did they have to do in the new year? There is a need for resilience and reinvention. There is a need to find out what is happening in the industry to enable you to model your career according to the conditions and be able to win and succeed in what you are doing. Despite COVID, one had to think about that. But in all, who do you listen to? What do you take in?
What are these new year resolutions that you made? Who did you listen to? This year comes after two years of sitting home. For most people, death of loved ones, observing Standard Operating Procedures, wearing masks, sanitizing, steaming and all these things that signified COVID-19.
But as a new year began in Uganda, there was hope that the President would soon reopen the economy fully and that life would return to normal. But slightly before that, the world was hit by the Omicron, which was one of the latest COVID-19 variants that affected the world. However, as it turned out, it seems like it was a blessing, or we yet have to tell whether it was not, because it seems like everybody got this virus in the country, but it ended up as a mild flu. Many people think that this created the herd immunity that the world had been looking for. Today, going around, you will find that many people do not have the masks on; the social distancing has stopped; and in terms of the figures of people getting into hospitals and death rates, there is nothing much to write home about. It looks like it’s time to move on to normality.
But what thoughts and beliefs do you have in mind or are you receiving as you commence the new year? Remember, your mind is the biggest asset you have got. What goes in is what goes out. Stand guard at the door of your mind. This means that you should not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind. Avoid negative people, expel all negative energy, and master all of your fears. Get to know what you want, and if you know what you want, go for it. This is the only way you are going to be able to improve your career by guarding your mind against negative energy.
And as students at university, how does this fit into your programme? We have new students joining the university. The majority have had no exposure to what university or urban life is like, and many of them are getting out of the prisons of their homes, where their parents kept them. They are going to be exposed to all kinds of “nice” things. Going to the club is a good thing. It is a positive thought. Similarly, using drugs gives a good feeling, but the end result is disaster and failure on your part. As a student, while going out to dance is a good thing, you must think about its cost. Are you able to balance parties and class time? Guard yourself.
What are the consequences of every decision you make? But also, what and whom influences these decisions? Many young girls who are lured into sexual relationships, especially with people who have the money, Money creates a good feeling, so does love, sex, and all these are good things, but what are you getting into? It is very important for you as a student to guard your mind.
Be the guard of your mind by knowing what you want to achieve, setting goals, and if you want to get a good degree, you must attend lectures. Not attending lectures may be a good thing, but the consequences may not be so good. If you do not attend lectures, or if you spend more time on non-issues while at university, you may get involved in things that do not add value to your life, and you will fail. Be wary of what you receive. Be on guard for what comes into your mind. What you think about is what you will be. Avoid negative people, avoid negative energy, and avoid all things that cause energy leaks, and you will succeed in your studies and your career. Positive things are going to enhance your career; they are going to make you move forward.
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extra ordinary projects, all of your thoughts break their bonds, your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourselfin a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be. To live life to the fullest , you must guard the gate ofyour mind and let only the best information enter.” Robin Sharma.
About the Author; Maureen Tweyongyere, Director, MUBS Career & Skills Development Centre and Member, National Task force on Labor Productivity