By By Sola Adebawo
AS I reflect on Nelson Mandela’s powerful words, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears,” I realize that these words are more than just a memorable quote; they’re a profound challenge. They’re an invitation to a deeper understanding of ourselves and the forces that shape our lives. In this article, I will explore this duality, from the personal battles we face daily to the profound impact of these choices on our society.
The battle between hope and fear is one of the oldest struggles of the human heart, a theme echoed by great thinkers throughout history. The philosopher Plato believed our inner self is a chariot pulled by two horses – one noble and one driven by base appetites. In our context, one horse is pulled by hope, the other by fear. Hope is an active, dynamic force, a vision for a better future that propels us forward. It’s the courageous belief in possibility. Fear, on the other hand, is the anchor that holds us in place. It’s an internal alarm that often sounds a false alert, leading to indecision and a perpetual commitment to the “safe” path.
ALSO READ: https://stonixnews.com/coping-with-loss-and-mental-health-in-nigeria/
This inner war is a core part of our spiritual journey. As the Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” This echoes the sentiment in the Quran, which cautions believers against despair, urging them to place their trust in God. A life guided by hope is a life of forward momentum.
Every day, we stand at a crossroads where this dynamic plays out. The Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote of the “leap of faith,” a radical commitment we must make to move forward in the face of uncertainty. A new job, a difficult conversation, a creative endeavour – these decisions aren’t just logistical. They are a moment of profound introspection where we must ask: “Am I choosing this because I hope for something better, or because I’m afraid of something worse?” The answer reveals the true architect of our life’s journey.
With that foundation laid, we can see how this philosophy applies to a grander scale: our nation and our continent. As Nigerians and Africans, we face challenges that threaten to overwhelm us with fear. It’s easy to fear our failing infrastructure, economic instability, and the tribal divisions that have plagued us for decades.
RELATED POST: https://stonixnews.com/from-moral-high-ground-to-moral-crossroads-a-response-to-the-church-and-the-new-nigeria/
The great Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe showed us in Things Fall Apart how a character’s fear of being perceived as weak ultimately destroyed him and his society. It’s a powerful parallel for us: the fear of change or the fear of others can tear a society apart from the inside.
But Mandela’s life offers a different way. His struggle wasn’t just against apartheid; it was a testament to the power of choosing hope over fear. He chose to pursue reconciliation instead of vengeance, guided by the hope of a truly united, rainbow nation. The Quran emphasizes the concept of Tawakkul, or placing one’s complete trust in God. The story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and his people, trapped by Pharaoh’s army, is a testament to this. When fear set in, Musa’s steadfast hope showed them the way forward.
This applies to us today. We must choose to engage with hope for a better society, rejecting the fear of domination and embracing the principle that our collective future is intertwined. It’s the choice to see someone from a different tribe not as a competitor, but as a partner in building a stronger country. The psychiatrist and philosopher Viktor Frankl, a concentration camp survivor, wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning that those who had hope for a future were the ones who survived. His testimony reminds us that our collective resilience can overcome any obstacle, no matter how daunting.
Living a life driven by hopes leads to genuine fulfillment. It’s a reminder that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to act despite it. This idea is a core principle in philosophy and faith, perfectly captured in the Bible’s story of David and Goliath. David, a young shepherd, was faced with a giant who instilled fear in an entire army. But armed with a stone, a sling, and most importantly, hope and faith, he was able to overcome him. He didn’t fight the giant on its terms. Instead, he chose a path of hope, believing in victory despite the impossible odds.
By consistently choosing hope, we contribute to a more just and empathetic world. Mandela’s life, a testament to this simple yet profound principle, showed that even in the face of unimaginable oppression, the choices we make can be guided by a brighter, more hopeful vision for humanity. His victory was not just political; it was a triumph of the human spirit.
Sola Adebawo is an accomplished business leader and communications expert with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry. He currently serves as the General Manager of Government, Joint Venture, and External Relations at Heritage Energy. Adebawo is also an author, scholar, and ordained minister, known for his writings on socioeconomic issues, strategic communication and leadership.
What's your reaction?
