To protect oneself is not an act of selfishness; it is the purest form of self-love a declaration that the sanctity of one’s vision supersedes the chaos of life’s distractions. This act, often misunderstood, is the cornerstone upon which empires are built, revolutions sparked, and legacies carved into the annals of history.
As an African Prince, I stand tethered to the wisdom of the ancients the troubadour who reminded us that “when the drum speaks, the dancers must pause to listen.” In this metaphor lies the essence of self-preservation: to pause amid the storm, to still the chaos, and to refocus on the rhythm of your own life. For the dream, vast and audacious, is too sacred to be drowned by the noise of mediocrity.
The Visionary’s Path
Dreaming big is not a luxury; it is a duty. It is the affirmation of one’s humanity and a declaration that life must be lived in its fullness. Yet, the dreamer often walks alone, for the magnitude of the dream frightens the faint-hearted. The dreamer’s path is not lined with applause but is often littered with the stones of skepticism, thrown by those who cannot fathom the grandeur of your aspirations.
But remember this: the storm may rage, but it cannot rewrite the stars. Protecting your vision, therefore, is not a retreat from the world but a deliberate act of stewardship. It is saying, “I will not allow the world’s noise to deafen my inner calling.”
The Noisy Storm and the African Spirit
Life, like the savannah, is full of distractions—the prowling predators of doubt, the whispering winds of fear, the cacophony of opinions from those who neither understand nor support your journey. As an African, I draw strength from our stories: the eagle that soars above the storm, the baobab tree that stands firm in the harshest drought.
Our ancestors taught us resilience—not the kind that merely survives but the kind that thrives. The kind that takes the noise of the storm and turns it into music, the kind that faces rejection and uses it as fuel for progress.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” The noisy storm of life is not a barrier; it is a test of resolve, a necessary purification that separates the committed from the casual.
The Protector’s Declaration
To protect yourself is to create boundaries around your energy, your time, and your purpose. It is to say, “My vision is too big, too divine, to be diluted by fleeting distractions.” It is to understand that self-care is not indulgence but preparation for greatness.
The educator in me believes in the discipline of focus, the researcher in me trusts the process of incremental growth, and the father in me knows the importance of nurturing the seed before it becomes a tree. Protecting yourself means standing guard over your potential, even when the world beckons you to abandon it.
Never Giving Up
The dream demands everything: your time, your sacrifice, your relentless pursuit. Yet, it rewards abundantly, for those who endure the storm will find themselves standing in the sunlight of success.
So, let the noise rage on. Let the distractions howl like restless winds. You are the keeper of a sacred vision, the steward of a dream that transcends the fleeting chatter of the world. Build your fortress of self-love, and let your actions declare, “I am unshaken, for my purpose is too vast, too significant, to be silenced.”
And as you walk through the storm, remember this: dreams, like stars, are seen most clearly in the darkest nights. Protect yourself, for your vision is not just yours—it is a gift to the world, waiting to unfold.
By : Jide Adesina
Extract from Tales of Destiny December, 2024
