Features
All is not gold that glitters
A song writer wrote a song which sought to advise people not to stress themselves when they see others who appear to be doing very well, compared to their own lives.
It is one of my favourite songs in Ga and the part I remember due to its moral value is “…hyɛn hyɛn jeee shika, jeee hyɛn hyɛn fɛɛ ji shika…” meaning all is not gold that glitters.
Human beings have a natural tendency to compare their lives with others. It could be their classmates, their neighbours, their church members, their siblings or others.
This tendency has been exacerbated by a social system where respect for a person is accorded based on the area within which one’s house is located, the size of the house, the car one drives or the school your children attend.
These things can put enormous pressure on individuals who do not have the moral fortitude for rejecting wrong things to engage in immoral behaviour to become accepted in society.
Some ladies have had the shock of their lives after giving themselves to men they met and thought they were rich, only to realise to their utter disappointment later on that the men were not as rich as they portrayed.
There are men who are specialist in this con job activity. They portray themselves as well-to- do and keep changing vehicles they borrow from friends to attend various functions.
Out of envy some ladies have tried to take their friends’ boy friends from them only to realise to their shame and regret that the men had nothing to their names. The fancy cars, the clothes and the display of affluence were all a farce. All is not gold that glitters after all.
Stories abound of some crazy bahaviour of some students who were willing to go to whatever extent possible to portray themselves as being from affluent background. The story was told of a guy I knew back in school, who pulled one of such stunts.
The story has it that one day, he was among a group of students who sneaked into town and when they were returning to school they had to use the main road.
Along the way, they saw a nice car approaching and this guy shouted “hey that is my father” and quickly jumped and hid behind some flowers. Later on, the truth became known that his father did not even have a vehicle.
I heard a sad story from my sister about her classmate who introduced her own mother as her grandmother when she paid a surprise visit to her in the school. They later also got to know that the woman their classmate introduced as her grandmother was indeed her mother and that she lied as a result of a façade she had put up as a girl from a rich home.
The question is, are you aware of the experiences that the person or people you find so admirable—and to what degree you wish you were like them—have in their lives? I once heard about a man whose wife filed for divorce from him a few months into their marriage because he was consistently wetting the bed at night.
If you envy such a man because he drives a nice car and everything seems fine with him, will you be prepared to endure the anguish he goes through each night? I also listened to the testimony of a 32-year-old lady who had a similar bed wetting problem and the terrible times she went through until she received deliverance from God.
The key to happiness in life is learning to be happy with what you have and putting your daily trust in God to improve your circumstances rather than worrying about your problems, as the Bible plainly warns in Matthew 6:27, “which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature.”
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
The power of change: Understanding the process and catalysts
CHANGE is an inevitable and essential aspect of life, shaping individuals, organizations, and societies. It can be transformative, leading to growth, innovation, and progress. But how is change created?
This comprehensive article explores the process and catalysts of change.
The Change Process
The change process involves several stages:
1. Awareness: Recognising the need for change.
2. Assessment: Evaluating the current state.
3. Visioning: Envisioning the desired future state.
4. Planning: Developing strategies and action plans.
5. Implementation: Executing the plan.
6. Evaluation: Monitoring progress and making adjustments.
Catalysts of Change
Several factors can catalyse change:
1. Internal Motivation: Personal or organisational desire for improvement.
2. External Pressures: Market trends, technological advancements, or regulatory requirements.
3. Leadership: Visionary leaders driving change.
4. Crisis: Forced change due to unexpected events.
5. Innovation: New ideas and technologies.
Types of Change
Change can be:
1. Incremental: Gradual, small-scale changes.
2. Transformational: Radical, large-scale changes.
3. Strategic: Planned, deliberate changes.
4. Emergent: Spontaneous, unplanned changes.
Change Management
Effective change management involves:
1. Communication: Clear messaging and stakeholder engagement.
2. Training: Developing skills and knowledge.
3. Support: Providing resources and guidance.
4. Monitoring: Tracking progress and addressing challenges.
Resistance to Change
Resistance can arise due to:
1. Fear: Uncertainty and anxiety.
2. Habit: Comfort with the status quo.
3. Lack of Understanding: Insufficient information.
4. Power Dynamics: Threats to authority or control.
Overcoming Resistance
Strategies to overcome resistance include:
1. Education: Providing information and context.
2. Involvement: Engaging stakeholders in the change process.
3. Support: Addressing concerns and fears.
4. Leadership: Demonstrating commitment and vision.
Sustaining Change
To sustain change:
1. Embed Change: Integrate new practices and behaviors.
2. Monitor Progress: Continuously evaluate and adjust.
3. Celebrate Successes: Recognize achievements.
4. Maintain Momentum: Keep the change process moving.
Conclusion
Change is a complex and multifaceted process. Understanding the change process, catalysts, and management strategies can help individuals and organizations navigate and create meaningful change.
Recommendations
1. Develop a Change Mindset: Embrace change as an opportunity.
2. Build Change Capacity: Develop skills and resources.
3. Foster a Culture of Change: Encourage innovation and experimentation.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
This question of love
The question of love is something that will be talked about until kingdom come.
A discussion I observed on the internet about a 19 year old who had accepted the proposal of a 67 year old man reminded me of the preaching of Pastor Mensa Otabil.
He talked about the a scenario where a 60 year old man enters into a relationship with a 22 year old lady and the lady tells him I love you, when he has a protruded belly, with all the accompanying creases and he believes what she says.
He further went on to say that a whole grown up man, allows a young lady to call him “babe” and he does not feel offended.
He further went on to preach that, this young lady, young enough to be his daughter, says “babe, I love you” and this man sheepishly laughs and does not realise, he is being taken advantage of.
What keeps ringing in my ears is his statement that “what is there to love about a protruding sagging belly?”
There is no regulated way for how a person falls in love. It reminds me of a funny statement that Pastors or marriage counsellors often use, that if you fall in love, you may hurt yourself.
Love I believe is a beautiful thing but it is not something that should be toyed with. People getting into relationships should consider the realities that are bound to happen as the years go by.
Jealousy is a very destructive influence. It can influence a person to harm his wife or her husband or to even commit murder. There has been countless reported instances where a man has poured acid on his wife or girlfriend, slashed his wife to death with a cutlass because he suspected, the wife was cheating on him.
It is something that blinds one to right reasoning and once your reasoning stops functioning, then the wrong side of us takes over and the result is nothing to write home about. In most cases, it comes out after the horrible act has been perpetrated, that there was no truth in the issue that caused the jealousy, after all. However, a life would have been maimed, disfigured or destroyed forever.
One of the causes of jealousy in marriage is the age gap difference. Whether we like it or not we shall grow old one day if God by his grace enables us to live long. When we grow old, a lot of changes occur in our bodies and things we used to do with ease, suddenly become a huge challenge and it could be very frustrating.
One of the things that drives a man crazy is when he has grown weaker in bed and sees the wife interacting with younger men in a suspicious manner that seems to suggest that there is more to it than meets the eye.
Jealousy will definitely be kindled in the heart of such a man whose wife is far younger than him like this 67 year old man wanting to marry a 19 year young lady.
In 30 years’ time, this man will be 97 and his muscles would have become weaker affecting his erection. His wife would be 49 and will have to be satisfied in bed in a manner that this man cannot execute. What do you think is going to happen?
Marriage Counsellors advocate that the ideal age gap between marriage partners should not be more than 10 years. This is one way to eliminate suspicions which results in mistrust when the man grows old and gets weaker because it is a known fact that sex is very important to men than women.
A man becomes very worried when his sexual performance level drops. This is what causes some men to act in a manner that is condemnable. My advice, walk into love, don’t fall into it. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
