Joshua Govender, Author at 1Africa

Reality vs expectation

Lifestyle

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September 27, 2016

I’ve started learning recently that sometimes my reality is not what I’ve expected – however, at the same time, reality often matches my expectation! A weird, thought, I know. Let me explain:

I have been challenged by the thought of trying to raise my expectation, while not losing sight of the fact that there is a reality to deal with or come back to.

In one sense you want to expect the best; you believe for the best – but in another sense the reality is that sometimes things just don’t work out the way you expected them to.

Of course reality isn’t always negative – sometimes your reality could be great, in which case you may want to raise your expectation and in order to keep growing and expanding.

However, you should never expect the least – you need to always expect the best, while staying in touch with your reality. Sometimes expectations are met; other times, your current reality serves as a season of preparation for when you eventually step into something else.

Too often, when our expectations aren’t met initially, we become discouraged or disheartened. In times like these it’s important to take a step back and think about the progress you’ve made. What was once not even a reality, now is a reality.

Godspeed.

Fresh cuts

Joshua Govender

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September 26, 2016

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You can’t go wrong with a good haircut. I know this may be a bit unexpected, but when I think about the effect that a fresh haircut has on me, it’s actually incredible.

Whenever I get a new haircut it’s like I have a rediscovered confidence about me. It’s like I’m a new person. Naturally, I’m a bit of an introvert but for some reason when I get a fresh cut it’s like my personality changes – not in a bad way; it’s actually a pretty refreshing feeling.

You can never go wrong with a haircut that makes you feel good about yourself – sometimes all you need is that little extra confidence boost!

When I haven’t had a fresh in a while, it feels like my world isn’t quite right. Funny I know – but to me, keeping myself and the way I look in order is right up there with looking after my physical and mental health.

To you it may not be a haircut, but whatever helps you boost your confidence and self-worth – do it and don’t be ashamed.

Sometimes it may cost a little something, but the reward is worth it. You can’t put a monetary value on your self-worth.

Always know there is something bigger and better within you – sometimes it could take something as simple as a fresh haircut to reveal it!

Godspeed.

Where you are

Joshua Govender

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September 23, 2016

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Yesterday I got to chat with a friend who I don’t see very much in the week, and it was great catching up with her. We began chatting about where she is in life, which in turn got me thinking about where I am in mine.

I’m not usually such a deep thinker but for some reason, I began to think seriously about the position I am and how I can improve my position in life or how I can direct my life healthily, and in the right way.

Listening to her speak about all the good things and all the not-so-good things made me think about where I am and where I want to be in life. I learnt a lot from that conversation.

One of those lessons was that in order to recognise where you are in life, you need to be real when you talk about it. My friends was honest and realistic about her position in work and life. She didn’t overcomplicate things – she just told it as it is. It really challenged me to become more real about where I’m at in life.

She also recognised that there is something better down the line, and she was going after it – not in a desperate sense, but she did all she could and left the rest in God’s hands.

It challenged me to never stop wanting something better and to always trust in God, the one who ultimately promotes and gives opportunity.

There is nothing wrong with being real in a conversation – real people build real relationships, which build the healthy friendships.

I left that conversation challenged – not in a negative way, but actually challenged to do better in life, and challenged to be okay with where I am at. Yet, I know God is going to take me to greater places!

Godspeed.

Don’t despise small beginnings

Joshua Govender

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September 22, 2016

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Do you ever wish that you could skip all the small, menial stuff and go straight to your dream job? Do you dream about that dream position or instant success?

I was reminded about the importance of small beginnings this weekend. It gave me a whole new perspective on how we should see life, culture, and society.

It’s always interesting how people want the story, but not the journey. But what really matters is where you are currently, and where you are going. And the speed of that process depends on how consistent you are in the small beginnings.

Sometimes we look at others and want what they have, and to be honest, I catch myself doing it too. It’s like we have all these desires to do big and great things but we don’t see it because all we have are these little tasks we do every day, day in and day out.

I was reminded that no task is meaningless no matter how big or small it may seem – it all plays a massive part in this even greater journey you call life.

Whether you are looking to establish a successful business, become a popular artist, or even just finish your degree and make some money, this season may be frustrating – but after the small frustration, could come big reward.

Never look at others and how far they have come, because on this journey, it will always seem like someone else’s journey is better.

Stay true to the journey of your life – don’t ever look at others – and always expect great things from your story.

Godspeed.

Instant craze

Faith

Joshua Govender

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September 19, 2016

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I was chatting with a friend the other day about how quickly the online world spawns “crazes” or “movements”. If you’ve ever heard of the Whip/Nae Nae or other viral dances, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

What makes these things go viral?

I kept asking myself this because to be honest, some of these videos shouldn’t be viral. However, we live in a world where social media often dictates what is cool and trendy.

But without being overly spiritual or religious – why don’t good things go viral as quickly? We spend hours watching pointless content that doesn’t actually add anything to our lives – but we ignore things that could make a positive contribution.

Wouldn’t it be great if your faith could be a craze, for example?

Perhaps it’s time to start spreading the word about something good. Too often people try and play Christian, but there’s a power and attraction in making your faith known. You don’t have to be awkward or weird about your faith. Wherever you are, make that your platform to spread His name and make God go viral.

If people can dance on camera and suddenly the whole world knows about it, then we can speak up a little and make the Creator a little more famous!

I’m just a little bit passionate about this. Don’t be religious, but let your relationship with God be the only thing people see. Make Him known.

Godspeed.

Challenge yourself

Lifestyle

Joshua Govender

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September 16, 2016

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Recently, I found myself at a dead end. I was doing well, but there was no real growth or any way to push into the next level of my skill or ability.

Then I realised: I’m not challenging myself enough.

I mean, I do what I do every week without even thinking, but I don’t ever take the time to just sit down and challenge myself to grow (whatever that may look like).

So I decided to commit to a few actions:

1. Set weekly goals: I started setting weekly goals for where I want to see my skill or gifts go to in that week. You can only improve a small amount every week – but in a matter of weeks you could see a massive difference. Having realistic weekly goals will help you track your progress.

2. Find the right motivation: I think the most important aspect in challenging ourselves is finding the right motivation. We often feel demotivated and don’t even start because it’s either too hard or we are just too lazy – but finding the right kind of motivation will help you stay focused on the goal and will help you grow.

3. Prioritise: Make sure that you put first things first. Many things may be important, but a few things should take absolute priority. Make sure you get your priorities straight and do the important things. By planning what to prioritise, you are planning to succeed in life.

Always challenge yourself and never give up!

Godspeed.

Friends

Joshua Govender

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September 14, 2016

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Last week was a crazy week for me – not because of anything that happened but just because of how I felt and how my friends made me feel. It was crazy to see that I actually have friends.

I don’t mean that in an insecure or weird way, but it actually felt good to have people come and celebrate with me on my birthday.

I’m the type of person that hates attention. I would rather be in the background. So having people gather just to celebrate me was pretty difficult – but it was also special.

We went to a local little hipster joint. I’m used to going to similar places but there were people with me who had never really been out of the city. So it was awesome seeing different people that I wouldn’t usually hang out with.

I think if I wanted anything for my birthday, I would have asked for that: for all my friends to be in one place having a good time, forgetting the stress of the week.

Sometimes being celebrated and having the spotlight on you is awesome – even if it’s just for a little while. Being surrounded by good people and good vibes, and experiencing great moments together, is one of the greatest things you can experience in life.

Cheers to friends.

Godspeed.

The power of good habits

Joshua Govender

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September 12, 2016

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Sometimes the word “habit” is associated with negative elements – people talk about a drug habit or drinking habit, and there’s a lot of writing out there about negative habits.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Sometimes habits can be positive, too. We always talk about the bad habits in life, and how to keep ourselves from falling into them, but we forget about the power of the positive.

This brought me to a place where I began to think about a few positive habits I could that I could start establishing in my own life.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so with a few of these I’m still on a journey, but you have to start somewhere. Don’t give in because it’s hard – always have the goal in mind and work hard to get to it.

A few good habits I’ve started establishing:

1. Writing down goals
This may seem simple and not really a habit as such but when you write down your goals, it begins to stir a greater faith within you. There is something satisfying about crossing things off a list once they are completed.

2. Making sure I spend time doing things I love
Lately I’ve been setting time aside to do things that I love – things that bring me joy; not really for anyone else, but for me.

3. Speaking positively
Sometimes it’s easy to become negative – both in the way I speak and feel. I’ve started understanding the concept of speaking positively – to speak about what I want to see happen in my life, even if it doesn’t happen immediately. This develops a sense of expectation and faith.

I hope this helps you! Start developing habits that are good and watch your life go to a whole new level.

Godspeed.

Time to make a move

Culture

Joshua Govender

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September 9, 2016

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Recently a group of us were discussing some of the things that have impacted us over the last few months and something came up that really spoke to my heart.

We spoke about our deepest fears – fears that we don’t even realise are fears, but that somehow affect our everyday life.

We came to the conclusion that we sometimes need to impose “a deadline on our feelings”. In other words, at some point, we need to take a decision to move past all our insecurities (our feelings about ourselves) and move forwards in order to see a breakthrough in life.

Placing a “deadline” on your feelings doesn’t mean you have to rush through life and make poor decisions. However, it means in order to see things happen in your life, in order to see change, you need to decide enough is enough at some point – you need to move forward with your life regardless of how you feel about yourself.

It’s just not worth wasting time on your insecurities – if you do so, you’re almost certainly missing out on opportunities. Don’t forget the fact that you were actually created for greatness!

Place a deadline on all these feelings that tell you you can’t do anything. Consider your limits – but then move on. It’s the only way you’ll get anywhere.

Godspeed.

What are you building on?

Joshua Govender

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September 7, 2016

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I was recently asked this question: What are you building on?

There’s a lot to consider when someone asks you a question like that. Which is part of the reason why I couldn’t answer it right away.

We all hope to go somewhere in life. We have a picture of where we would like to be and have some sort of motivation. We also have morals and values that we build upon in order to have stability and growth.

My relationship with God and my spiritual growth has great value to me, along with my physical health and my relationships with those around me. These are all foundational to my life.

But it’s easy to neglect some of these areas of life, or to focus on one at the cost of the others.

In order to grow in life, to move forward and be someone with vision and purpose, you need to know what foundation you are building on. I usually take it a little further and ask myself “where”, “how”, and “why” am I building.

To be honest, I sometimes lose sight of that. Don’t be the fool who walks aimlessly through life without paying attention to these basic aspects.

Have a vision, know what you are building on, and have fun along the way.

Godspeed.

Joshua Govender

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