Why Do We Let Opportunities Go

First things first, most of us are afraid of failure. I blame parents for this problem. From infancy, they try to make us perfect beings by telling us stuffs like “getting F, E, D in an exam is not good”. This makes us feel like dummies anytime we try our best and still end up getting that bad results. What I believe is just as it darkness exists so that would appreciate light, so does failure exist so that we would appreciate and adore success. Not all animals, even the king of the jungle, the lion, would survive in the sea but that does not make the lion a failure. What I believe needs to be done is that parents should try to help their wards find their talent and help them develop it into something the world would appreciate.

Nothing great comes easy, no one is perfect and everything takes time. These are the three principles, I live by and wish someone out there struggling with life would adapt to. We let great opportunities go and because we fear it might not work out as planned. While a small percentage of the world’s populace grab and hold onto opportunities like a toddler holding a candy, the vast majority always say “NO “to opportunities every time it presents itself.

There is this peer to peer donation scheme going on in my country called ‘HELPGHANA’. The aim of the developers of this scheme is to help people escape the grips of poverty and establish businesses with the donations participants get. There is no central account involved and every donation goes straight into the account of the one who invites you into the system. To be a participant of the scheme, one needs to donate a one-time amount of 10ghs ($2.5). The end is to turn this 10ghs into 1,215,000ghs ($303,750).

The sad part is that even students at the university level who do not work spend so much money on their clothes and looks. Some spend more than 800ghs ($200) on clothing every semester but this same individual will say no this venture all in the name of “they will run away with my money”. We spend a whole lot on dinner parties, dates, birthdays etc... but will never try to start anything which could change our fortunes. We do this, graduate, and start laying our burdens on the government especially in times like these where employment in the public sector is almost impossible. The question I ask myself is what would happen if I donated 10ghs to someone and got nothing back, will it destroy my life? And what will happen if I don’t take part, believing that it would not survive and to my surprise, it does say 5 years later and people are getting this 1,215,000ghs to start their businesses, how would it make me feel, especially if I end up in the rat-race?

There are many opportunities out there, ready to help us gain our basic freedom rights but we refuse to be a part of any of these systems because we are afraid to lose. It feels a times like we are drowning in a pool of poverty and we want to be rescued but do not want to be a part of the rescue. What I see is so sad and the most pathetic part the children of these people learn this attitude and grow up blaming others for their misfortunes.

We need to wake up before this storm kills us in our sleep. One thing I know in today’s world is nobody is going to give anyone anything for free, you have to earn it by proving yourself worthy. Those who understand this principle blame no one for their misfortunes and continue to work hard and smart till they have attained their goal.

Failure shouldn’t be the reason why one should never venture to start something for it is an essential part of growth as it shapes one’s character. To all who read this I say, don’t let someone’s view of something keep you from trying. You should always try and when you fail, at least you the hope of succeeding which to me is better than believing your fate is defeat.

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