Category: Dealing with self

How would the world look if people were both takers and givers? If the world found balance between giving and taking… If the takers didn’t take advantage of the givers, and the givers didn’t look down or lord over the takers? Imagine a world where both understood that life flows best in mutual exchange where generosity meets gratitude, and receiving is not greed but humility. If you haven’t read Part 1, please scroll to the bottom of the page for context and understanding. Welcome to The Yielded Blogs. We love ❤️ and laugh here😂

I’ve made an example of my mother before if you still recall. I grew up in a big family. Both my maternal and paternal families are large, full of people with different personalities, different pockets, and different lifestyles. My mother and other people were uniquely standing out, particularly because of kindness. I mentioned the size of my families intentionally because this woman was kind to many people.

I watched her closely. I observed the exchange, and I noticed a strange pattern. The takers would take and disappear. Then, after a while, they would come back, take again, and disappear once more. Sometimes it took a year before they reappeared only to take again. And then I looked at the giver she was perfectly fine with it. I thought that was very sad.

Then I grew up and realised it’s not unusual to see such situations. It happens everywhere even in the church. The servants of God will labour and labour, yet nobody thinks to send a simple thank you card. You could break a bone feeding a family, and your spouse may never cook you a single meal as a gesture of gratitude. People have normalised selfishness to the point where they feel entitled to your service, your money, and your time. Do you know that we treat God the same way?

A generation of takers only remembers one part of the Lord’s Prayer “Give us this day our daily bread.” When the prayers are about money, food, or marriage, the room is full and the voices are loud. But when it’s time to pray about the Kingdom, people suddenly have exams, meetings, and urgent errands. We take from God daily, His mercy, His breath, His provision yet we still argue about tithe, debate offerings, and refuse to give Him our time. The Giver keeps giving. The taker keeps taking. Again, l find it to be very sad.

Oh, but there’s a paradox to it. There are takers who genuinely want to give back once in a while, but the givers refuse to receive. Some people believe they are only meant to give and never to take. I can relate to that. You give and give and give until the day someone tries to return the gesture, no matter how small, and suddenly you feel uncomfortable. You reject the gift, thinking it’s humility, but it’s not. That, too, is imbalance.

Why? Because life was designed to flow both ways. Giving and receiving are both acts that keep relationships alive and healthy. When the flow stops, frustration starts, the kind that comes from always pouring out and never being poured into. God never drops blessings directly from the sky. He delivers them to your doorstep through people. Sometimes, someone just wants to love you, appreciate you, or bless you in a small way. Receive it. It’s ironic, the same generosity that blesses others can, when closed off to receiving, turn into quiet pride, exhaustion, or loneliness. True humility isn’t just in giving it’s also in being willing to receive with grace. Because when you receive, you give someone else the joy of giving. You turn a taker into a giver.

Now, in practical terms, how many people have you been a blessing to this year? In your friendships? Your family? Your church? Your community? How many people can truly say you became a blessing to them? Maybe to go a step further, what did you do. Think about it. Really think about it.

And how many people blessed you? You might be tempted to say nobody, but that’s not true. Maybe it was someone who spoke a word of encouragement when they could’ve let you cry alone. Maybe it was your parents, your friend, or even a stranger. What I want you to do is to learn the flow of relationships , giving and receiving that creates a healthy environment for love to thrive.

It’s almost Christmas, prepare a gift for someone. I always encourage those in MPG: prepare a gift for your parents, no matter how small. Send that thank you message. Tell God thank you! And if there’s a need in your church maybe there are no brooms, no flowers, or something simple that’s missing , buy it. Remember, we are learning to give and take, take and give. That’s how the cycle of blessing stays alive.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:38 NIV

Okayyy, here’s the mirror.

Who is this person who is so powerful? When you stand in front of the mirror, who do you see? Is it normal or even possible to stand there and see another person? Another man or woman? No. The mirror reflects what is before it, and to a degree, what’s in the corners depending on where it’s placed and how big it is. It is true that the mirror only reflects what stands before it. It shows what’s really there , not who you wish to be or who others think you are. Welcome to Reflection Friday.

If someone who desires a body shaped like a number 8 stands in front of a mirror, knowing very well they are a size 10, yet expects the mirror to show what they wish to see instead of the truth, that person is not so smart. You get angry that the weight isn’t going down when you’re not doing anything about it? Or expect someone to compliment a lie? Think of the times we’ve lied to ourselves, trying to change the image we saw in our reflection. Anyone who refuses to believe their own reflection is either mentally unstable or simply ignorant.

Why do people go to the gym? Why do they spend time and money just to achieve a certain shape? It’s because of something they saw in the mirror that they didn’t like. Guess what? You can change what you don’t like , you just have to choose to. I spent my morning listening to different speakers from across the globe at a summit. Why? Why stress myself? Because I want to change my understanding. Why? Because I am not satisfied with the level of illumination I currently have. This means embracing discomfort, losing sleep sometimes, and pushing through the hard parts because change is difficult, but most times, it’s necessary.

Before you blame companies for not hiring you, ask yourself what level of competence do you have? Even heaven has a standard for workers. Scripture says that if you put your hand to the plough and look back, you’re not fit for the Kingdom. There’s a fitness requirement. There’s a level of readiness expected. It’s the same in every aspect of life. I learned a painful fact, if you’re not what they want, they have a right to reject you.

“They must like me. I have potential.” Baby, people don’t believe in potential anymore , they want to see results. You look in the mirror and discover your skin is dry and patchy, yet you expect people not to notice? They will. They have eyes. The only real change comes from you.

I’ll continue this particular blog next week because there’s more we need to unpack. Why should an investor invest in your business? Because you prayed? Yes, prayer is powerful but if you think that’s all it takes, then you haven’t read your Bible carefully. Why should someone propose to you? Because you have a good heart, but you’re always untidy? Think again and think McCain.

All I’m saying is, you have what it takes to change. The person in the mirror deserves it. Give it to them. And when you do, proudly clap your hands for them. Every effort counts. See you on Monday.

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Hey family! Welcome to Habits to Unlearn – Part 2.

Let’s talk about comparison one of the habits we often carry without even noticing.You walk into a room, and suddenly you feel out of place. Everyone seems “successful,” polished, experienced and you? You’re just getting started. Without even realizing it, your inner voice kicks in: “What am I even doing here? They’re better than me. I don’t belong.”

And just like that, you fold. Your posture changes. Here’s the truth: low self-esteem is loud, but so is confidence. People can read it. In how you speak. How you show up. How you carry yourself. Your body language. Your stature.

They say comparison is the thief of joy. But it’s also the seed of destruction. Don’t believe me? Let’s go back to the Bible. Cain compared himself to Abel instead of learning from him and look what happened. Cain looked at his brother’s offering and thought, “It should’ve been me.” He felt rejected. Not good enough. Instead of learning, he compared, and that comparison led to jealousy, and jealousy led to murder. And in the end? Cain became a vagabond wandering, lost, carrying the weight of a choice born from comparison.

That’s what comparison does it pulls you out of purpose and pushes you into places you were never meant to be. Let’s bring it to today. You’re comparing yourself to someone with 10 years’ experience, trying to match their results after 10 months. You put yourself on a scale with someone who started before you and wonder why you’re “behind.” Even someone who started yesterday has a 24-hour advantage over you. And I won’t even start on marriage. Actually, wait let me start.

You’ve been a “good girl.” A solid young man. You’ve kept yourself, made good choices or at least tried. And yet… you’re still waiting. Meanwhile, you see others maybe not as “good” as you getting married, settling down, posting picture-perfect moments. And deep down, it pains you. Then the comparison starts: You look at your ex’s new girlfriend and think, “What did he see in her that he didn’t see in me?”

You spend 24 hours on her social media, zooming in on photos, checking her captions, scrolling through her friends list hoping to crack some invisible code.And that’s where the self-doubt creeps in. You begin to ask questions like: “What does she have that I don’t? What am I missing?” Let me tell you, you’ve already started comparing, and it’s quietly stealing your joy. You are you. She’s not you. He’s not you. I’m not you. And you’re not me. You’re not them. There’s peace in embracing that. There’s rest in accepting God’s unique plan for your life , not resenting someone else’s because I’m so sure comparison is a seed of jealousy.

Not everyone will have a degree and the earlier you accept this, the better. Now, am I saying drop out of school? Absolutely not. But I’m speaking to reality. Not everyone’s path will follow the same script. Some people won’t graduate and still, God will open doors for them. You don’t come from a rich family accept it. You who’s rich should never look down on someone as well. You’re not better, you’re privileged to get better opportunities.

Stop trying to dress like the rich man’s son when your story is still unfolding. Wear your own shoes with confidence. Not everyone will have the number 8 shape. And guess what? The shape you have is perfect for you. Fearfully and wonderfully made, others have seen doctors to look how they look. Not everyone will get results in 5 yearsYours might come in 6. Or 10. Relax and according to your own season.

Not every woman will have two or more children. Some have one. Some have none. That doesn’t make the next woman better than you. The man driving a Bentley is not automatically better than the one driving a Toyota. You don’t know how he got there. Some people you’re comparing yourself to? They joined cults. They made deals in secret. They sold their bodies. And here you are, trying to match them with clean hands and a pure heart. That’s not just comparison that’s injustice to your own process. Trust your pace. God is not late You’re the one in a hurry.

UNLEARN THIS HABIT.

See you tomorrow 💕

Hey family! It’s sooooo good to be back! I trust you’re all doing well and still yielded. 🙏🏾🩷

I hope by now you’ve all got your copy of A Thing Called Time, o! 😄 We’re about to dive into a new series titled “Habits to Unlearn.”. The heart behind this is simple to expose the little foxes, clear the dusty corners that mess up the room, and remove the tiny stones that keep tripping us up. Shall we begin?

NEGATIVE SELF TALK

For many years, I was self-sabotaging, and I mistakenly called it humility. I told myself I was being “down to earth.” I would constantly downplay my potential. I would recommend others for opportunities I was just as qualified for because, I was afraid I might fail if I took the shot.

The truth is, self-sabotage can wear many disguises. It can look like humility, caution, shyness, or even being “wise” but at its root, it’s often fear. So, what is self-sabotage? Self-sabotage is when you consciously or unconsciously hinder your own success, growth, or healing. It’s when your actions, thoughts, or beliefs work against your own goals and potential , even when you deeply desire progress.

Sometimes, it’s loud and obvious. Other times, it’s silent, subtle, and spiritual. But the result is the same: delay, defeat, and discouragement. In a moment, I’ll list some common signs of self-sabotage and if we’re honest, many of us will see ourselves in at least one of them. I personally know the areas where l frequently self sabotage. Let’s go to the bible and see if there’s anyone who did this.

“But Gideon answered, “Pardon me, Lord. How can I save Israel? My family group is the weakest in Manasseh. And I am the least important member of my family.”

Judges‬ ‭6‬:‭15‬ ‭ICB‬‬

I really love the children’s Bible , it’s so easy and simple to understand. Now let’s talk about Gideon. Would you say he was humble… or was he actually self-sabotaging? I’d say the latter. Gideon carried a mindset of inadequacy long before the Lord even spoke to him. You can tell by what he said. Just like it shows in your words that you don’t think much of yourself.

He had no confidence. He didn’t see himself the way God saw him and let’s be honest, many of us do the same. Let me say this clearly: If you think being shy is helping you… more often than not, it’s not.While you’re holding back, someone more confident not necessarily more skilled is stepping up and walking away with your trophy. We need to unlearn the phrases we’ve rehearsed every time we’re asked to do something:

“I can’t.” “I’m not ready.” “Maybe someone else.”

Then later you regret not taking a chance. Meanwhile, someone else with only 20% of the knowledge, experience, or anointing is saying “Yes” and they’re walking into doors you were meant to enter. So the question is: Why do you do that to yourself? There’s literally nothing good you ever say about yourself and then you wonder why nobody calls you for opportunities anymore? It’s because they took your word for it.

Some people even underperform on purpose just so they don’t outshine others. My dear, that is not humility. That is self-sabotage. It’s time to change that vocabulary you taught yourself. The school of negativity awards you a masters degree for all the silly things you say. All those, “I am not fit for this,” “I’m not good enough,” “I have failed before so I will fail again” statements. Some of us even say those things to God like Gideon did.

Stop. (My voice is firm at this point) 😂

Sometimes self-sabotage dresses up as fake humility but eventually, it will undress itself, and you’ll see just how much damage you’ve done… with your own mouth.

Listen carefully, UNLEARN THIS HABIT.

I’ll see you tomorrow, bring a friend 🩷