WHISPERS OF WISDOM by IDOWU OMISORE

I live in Lagos, the commercial nerve-centre of Nigeria with a population put at about twenty million people from different walks and talks of life. Lagos pulsates with emormous energies and endless enterprises. A Monday morning in Lagos best illustrates the boundless enthusiasm and busyness of a people. At times, I ask myself where people are really rushing to. Is it about the rat race? Is it the need to survive or meet our ever increasing needs and wants? Because of the busyness, noise, pressure and distractions around, it becomes harder and harder to listen with rapt attention. There's this syndrome of reduced attention span. This is a big issue across the globe, from young people,who block their ears with earpieces listening to contemporary music to political leaders who have turned deaf ears to the voices of the very people that voted them into power. People are getting busier and listening is becoming difficult by the day. What is listening? Listening is the act of mindfully hearing and attempting to understand the meaning of words (spoken and unspoken) by another in a conversation or speech. Listening is critical, whether to provide good governance, manage employees or lead a successful life. Challenges ( let's not call them problems) are a part of our daily life and a demand on us to make decisions. To overcome challenges and take the right course of action per situation, we must cultivate the habit of active listening. In my last Masters class, one of my lecturers, while appealing to us ( his students) to listen rather than strive to write down everything he says in verbatim, said ' Even if I cough, I know someone will write it down'. The class bursted into laughter. Though my lecturer sounded funny, the matter he raised was serious. Many students fail exams because they don't listen in class just as many fail in life because they are too busy to listen for the whispers of wisdom - sometimes called the still small voice that comes to help them resolve their challenges or inspire the right step to take. Are you in the middle of a crisis and you don't know the next thing to do? Break out of your busy mode. Shut down the noise in your head, observe some quiet time for meditation and catch the whispers. I once read of a man who stilled a storm with a whisper. That storm in your business, marriage, career, relationships, ministry, life needs a whisper of wisdom. For those in the know, the Whispering Palms is a great resort here in Lagos, Nigeria. I went there on excursion as a kid. I was there recently for a management retreat. To get whispers of wisdom, you do not necessarily have to visit Whispering Palms. You only need to 'create' inner quietness, meditate, read books, listen to sages (people worth listening to, by virtue of their knowledge, wisdom, understanding, expertise, experience or exposure). Above all, develop sensitivity - ability to recognize and receive insights immediately. I've received such insights by reading books, listening to public speakers and fellowshipping with God. My first book titled INVEST YOUR YOUTHFUL YEARS was birthed by a whisper in 2006! I had written an article titled YOUR YOUTHFUL YEARS a year before. As I perused one of John Mason's books, I received a whisper telling me to expand the article into a book. And that was it! For me, I've been getting whispers of wisdom since the year started and it's been a fantastic experience! As you cruise on with your daily business, take time to listen for these winning whispers! Wishing you a happy listening adventure!! Cheers! IDOWU OMISORE Speaker. Author. Talent Coach. Youth Consultant. Order for Idowu Omisore’s bestsellers; Invest Your Youthful Years, Dream and Achieve Greatness (with the Foreword was written by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola [SAN]). Call now to book Idowu Omisore for your coming programs. He’s a fantastic Spirit-filled speaking sensation! +234 805 937 1461, +234 704 500 8591 idgreatness1210@gmail.com www.idgreatness.com www.idowuomisore.blogspot.com www.idowuomisore.wordpress.com Follow Idowu Omisore on Twitter @IDGreatness PIN: 25B64154