The inspiration to write this piece came as a result of series of accusation as to me being Proud, so this is a big opportunity for me to work toward correcting this misconception.

I am someone that gets influenced so easily and if you've ever taken time to study my living pattern, you would agree with me on this one. But just as it is common to most of our weakness, I've been able to tame this one.


How do I cope?

Prov 4:23 is my #1 drug, I've been using it over the years to help keep my life in shape.


How does it work?

"Guard thy heart with all due diligence for out of it are the issues of life. Prov 4: 23 {NKJV)

If I must guard my heart:
1. I must watch the company I keep.

2. I must switch to high level confidence and believe-in-self when peer pressure comes knocking.

3. I must watch the kind of materials I expose myself to: Music, Videos, Books.

The #1 reason I listed above has put me in a whole lot of trouble and I must sincerely admit that even though I'm mostly not happy with the trouble that comes with it, there are times I enjoy it! **laughs**
I watch the company I keep because what I do per time is a function of what my company expects from me. I know what effects short talks, long discussions, and all sorts of interactions have on me so I cannot afford to be in certain circles per time.

My inner circle friends will bear me witness to the fact that I always complain when we have to walk down somewhere together and some people join us midway. Occassionaly, I enjoy having another party around, but most times when these people come in in the middle of a conversation and they start puttin up views, I'm always like "what r we doing talking to people we do not share common values with?"


Why do I reason like this?

In the year 2006, I was priviledged to listen to both the MD of Access Bank, Mr Aig Imokhuede and Mr Jimoh Ibrahim, and they talked about the personal core value system and they inspired me to create four for myself and one of the values they mentioned "Pride-in-command" is what I refined for myself as "Class"

In 2007, I started feeding on Donald Trump's materials and that guy did a lot to my Ego!!

And the deal is, these days I never do something eccentric except I commit my ego to it.


Ever find yourself in my shoes?

A man that myself and a couple of colleagues had d priviledge to interview last summer with a group of colleagues said something I may never forget in a long time. He said "Every principled person will always be perceived as being wicked"

A random quote I stumbled on reads "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind"


In conlusion, we all have one or two things people around us have issues with and you'll always know when you are indeed misbehaving, but there's this right feeling you have deep within when you know you are doing that thing for a greater good.

Friends,
Have principles
Cherish your values
Live by them!