I have a dream
Most people have dreams and goals, just like Martin Luther King Jnr., who was popularly known for his public speech titled, ‘I have a dream.’ Dreams are aspirations for the future. They are hopes and plans for ‘tomorrow’. Most people generally envisage that their future will be better and greater. However, situations and circumstances may work against the realization of these dreams.
Three guidelines to birthing your dream
- Making your dreams a reality requires a consistent and deliberate pursuit of the dream.
- Stay inspired. Fight to birth your dreams irrespective of circumstances or discouragement. Never give up.
- Commit your dreams to the hands of the Almighty God. He alone can bring dreams to pass, just like he did for Joseph.
A case study of birthing the dream is seen in the life of Mary Jane Blige, an American gospel singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. Blige was born in 1971 in the Bronx, NY as the daughter of a nurse and Vietnam War veteran. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father suffered from PTSD and was constantly abusing her mother. But Blige found an escape in signing at church and in 1992 she was able to get her tape to the CEO of Uptown Records, who signed her and introduced her to Diddy.
She went on to release 13 studio albums, eight of which have achieved multi-platinum worldwide sales. Blige has sold 100 million records worldwide. Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards and has also received three Golden Globe Award nominations, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song “Mighty River“. Furthermore, she also received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song, becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.
Remain a fighter, irrespective of your take-off point. A humble beginning is not an end but a stepping stone to greater heights.
Make moves and keep making them. Most successes come after series of rejections and failures.
However, success can only come to those who pass the test of perseverance.
© Nkese Umofia
Christian Youth Mentoring Initiative provides opportunities for mentorship, leadership training, growth, and development of youths. Our vision is to raise well-balanced youths, high flyers, focused, and capable of standing out in the global world. Email us: info@cymi.org.ng
