A man saw a wounded eagle and brought it home. He nursed and nurtured it. However, during the process of treatment, he provided a limited space within which the eagle could fly around. It was not as high as the mountain where the eagle used to live, but a temporary environment it was subjected to because of its injury.
The man eventually completed the treatment and decided to set the eagle free. However, something interesting was observed. Despite being exposed to the tallest mountain, the eagle never flew beyond the level it had been conditioned to during its treatment.
Some of us have been mentally conditioned to operate at a certain level in our lives.
It is those conditioning tools that we are going to explore today, so that you can identify your own and work on them.
The idea is to give you some instances, then implore you to question yourself and decide to become who you were meant to be.
It is clear from the eagle’s story that it never ceased to be an eagle. However, the retention of the physical barrier that once held it back in its mind prevented the eagle from even attempting to go higher.
Truthfully, I know the eagle must have attempted to fly higher while in confinement, experienced failure, and then decided there was no point trying again. Those beliefs prevented it from rising higher, even when the barriers were no longer there physically.
Does this sound familiar?
Slave masters are long gone, yet many are still operating as though someone needs to validate them before they can be considered worthy.
Anyway, previously, we discussed the story or belief that you hold about yourself. Today, we are continuing by exploring the consequences of mental barriers and how to break through them.
What, then, are the common forms of mental barriers that people can hold?
First is inherent thinking.
Personally, I believe most people in Africa suffer from this way of thinking and perception.
Inherent thoughts are thoughts handed over to you as a child or an adult by a trusted person—thoughts that you feel you cannot refuse or are forbidden to question.
Most times, these thoughts were born out of love for you, in order to protect and shield you from jealousy, heartbreak, or disappointment.
However, in some other cases, they are fears disguised as love and care, which are not necessarily true about what you are capable of becoming.
Examples of such beliefs include, but are not limited to:
“Our family are not good business people.”
“Abroad doesn’t favour our family.”
“Politics is a deadly game.”
“Nigeria cannot be better again.”
“Africa’s history is all about slavery.”
“We don’t have the head for education.”
“Illiteracy runs in our family.”
And so on.
Many people are going about their lives with these kinds of thoughts and beliefs because of what they were told as children.
Those who sold such ideas to them might have been doing so simply because one person in their family made a wrong decision, or someone travelled abroad and never came back. It can also stem from witnessing a war or experiencing some other misfortune.
However, that should not necessarily become your truth.
It is therefore important to question the thoughts and beliefs that you have and ascertain whether they are still true or applicable in this present day and time.
Find a way to do something and start doing it one step at a time. Change the way you look at your life, and your life will change.
The second barrier is experience.
Most of us have had terrible experiences with circumstances. Some people have trusted a friend who betrayed them, gone into a business that failed, or loved someone who left them at their lowest.
Experience becomes a barrier when we measure our lives by the events we encounter instead of viewing life experiences as lessons and information.
There is no doubt that some experiences are irreversible and unbearable, but the fact that you are still standing means it is not your end.
I read somewhere that what rich men in Rome did was to always sleep on the floor twice a week. This was to test and remind themselves that they could still survive without all their wealth once they had themselves intact.
I am not saying you should go and lie on the floor, but rather, see every experience as an opportunity to grow. Channel the pain into constructive rebuilding, and never allow it to limit you.
Okwa siri umu ya, ha turu ji, ha turu mgbalaogwu, maka onye nwe ji nwere ya, ha enwere mgbalaogwu jide ume.
(The goose advised her children that as they eat yam, they should also eat the roots, so that when the farmer harvests the yam, they would still have something to feed on.)
It is called having a Plan B and not allowing conformity to shield you from reality.
Finally, another mental barrier is success.
For some people, success in one area creates the fear of losing it. They become afraid of trying anything new because of the unending quest to sustain their wealth or position.
An old saying puts it well:
“What you hold, you lose, and what you give, you have.”
Do not allow anyone or any belief to hold you back from becoming what you were destined to be. Also, ensure that you do not project your fears or limitations onto your children, friends, or family.
Nevertheless, the only way to overcome these barriers is to positively feed your mind, question every thought you have, and know who is speaking to you.
Many times, you hear musicians, athletes, doctors, and others narrate how their parents almost prevented them from reaching their goals.
It is not necessarily that your parents or guardians do not want you to succeed. Sometimes, they are simply scared that you might go out there and fail, and therefore, they believe it is better that you do not try at all.
Sadly, comfort does not make you a hero. It does not guarantee success or fulfilment.
Gold must go through the fire before it can be seen as precious.
Do not allow the Nigerian environment to limit the possibility of what you can become. Do not allow those who mistake stealing for cleverness to discourage you from being upright.
Build a strong mind and become who you are meant to be.
If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand. Just make sure it is worth holding and that it will bring you fulfilment.
Grow beyond whatever has happened to you.
Dare to become yourself!
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi
Which barrier resonated with you? And what other barriers do you think exist?
Leave a comment, like, share, and follow. Let’s grow as a family.
Pen it down. 