PROMPT RESPONSES

Prompt responses are needed in different scenarios, example during cases of disaster, when a situation calls for emergency, etc. But I would like to let you know where I am going. Perhaps, I should use the phrase “timely response”- I thought of that a while ago. Now, this is what I mean to say: Often when bad things happen to people, especially those that can change their course of life forever, a scene is usually created around the situation. There are always arguments as to why they deserve such ill lucks or not, why they should or should not have done something, who is or who isn’t to be blamed, why the tragedy is normal or not, why they will be supported or not, etc- you know what I mean! You see, I usually don’t like that. There is no time to linger on the terribleness of a situation, once it has happened, what is needed is the way forward. Prompt response!

As you know, life doesn’t give us the privilege to undo the past- if we had such, most dead people would be alive today, mistakes would have been undone, and I put it to you that your life would be much better today. So rather than lament over bad happenings, the way forward should be prompt response. I often say, when people nag over what has happened, “so what should we do now?” That is because I have witnessed many instances where during complaining and justification, things got even worse!

Prompt responses are needed when things fall apart: when we fail, when we are confronted with the unexpected, when life turns sour. So what do we do?

Accept that it is reality: A lot of people remain in wonder when bad things happen to them or members of their family or close friends. They are either in shock or can’t come to terms with the reality that stares them in the face. But there are no remedies from that. The truth is that what has happened has happened and the sooner that fact is admitted, the better. So let’s accept realities of fate, only then can we forge ahead.
No wandering in the dessert: Even when people accept the reality of what has happened to them or the people whom they love, they still wonder about it. Like I mentioned earlier, they could push blames, try to justify why it happened or not, why the recipient deserves it or not, etc. They cry, they talk about the past and how the future would be hopeless. They don’t think of what steps should be taken in the present. This is wandering in the desert.
Be open-minded to address the situation: Addressing the situation means that we look at the situation and the person from an unbiased view point. I like to look at negative happenings as impositions, ill lucks, coincidences, a meets with fate, things that were meant to happen without my influence. Sometimes, what you never envisaged in your weirdest dream just happens, but it never ends there, you need to address it since it has happened. So an open-minded approach should be used to follow up the situation. A typical example is when you were dropped at the final phase of a job interview or competition. It’s natural to get angry or sink into depression, but you see all that won’t help. The open-minded approach would.
Think of the way forward: Thinking of the way forward helps us look for solutions. When I ask, “So what can we do now?” It means, “despite what has happened, can we please move on?” It means “no matter what, there must be a solution to this,” it means “there is no time to sorrow over this incidence, let’s look for how to fix it,” and it also means that “what has happened is not as critical or important as the decision we are going to take concerning it.” Thinking of the forward helps us to critically evaluate, plan in order to get remedies, if not solutions. So in the case where you were dropped at the last stage of the interview, you might want to write an appeal to the organization give you a try, promising you would put in your best; or you may quickly accept the fate and think of other organizations to check on or go into private business with a conceived idea.
Act: The evidence of your thought and resolution should be in action. To remedy the situation, we need to act. Remember that a stitch in time saves nine, meaning the sooner the better. Taking prompt actions heal wounds faster, so timely intervention is required.

Recently, I was astonished at how quickly my parents took decision on a matter that would have been a nagging topic. The issue was resolved almost immediately and everything returned to normalcy as if the issue never occurred. They had already thought of the way forward and had since begun action.

You see, sometimes we torment ourselves with unnecessary worries when solutions lie ahead of us. We deter ourselves from moving forward. So your child performed poorly in JAMB and all you do is ruin abuses on him every day, comparing him to your colleague’s child who performed excellently and is already processing his admission into the university? Why don’t you engage him in a learning a skill that will see him through life while waiting to write next JAMB? Why do you bother so much about what you can’t change? Why not engage prompt response?

Prompt responses are needed to shift away from dark realities into the brightness of the future.