Knowledge is P.O.W.E.R

The saying "knowledge is power" is one of the most popular but it has different meanings to different people. Knowledge according to the Oxford dictionary refers to facts, information and skills acquired through education and/or experience; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. From this definition, it can be deduced that knowledge is an extremely broad and unlimited concept. From this extensive definition of knowledge, a few phrases stand out in my mind. The first is 'facts, information and skills' which are all different stages of the same data. Facts are the purest form of data. Information is processed data i.e it is likely to be slightly different from it's original form, which highlights that some knowledge is positive, others are normative. Skills are gained through information, they are like a tertiary form of data. One cannot be skilled in a field without having a deep rooted level of knowledge in that field. Another phrase that stands out in my mind is 'education and/or experience'. This is particularly important because most people do not separate both in their minds and this can lead to confusion consequently. The main difference between the two is the level of rigidity and how formal they are. Education is very rigid and can be categorized as formal knowledge. This is because it is tested and proven and can be taught. Experience on the other hand is less rigid and more informal. It cannot be tested because it is different for everyone. This difference is what causes different opinions.
Like I said, the saying 'knowledge is power' can be interpreted in many different ways but this is the way I see it.
(1) Knowledge is literally Power!
     -  Knowledge can be power, not physical power but intellectual power. In a situation where one knows something another person doesn't, the one who knows has the power to control that situation. This kind of power is highlighted in careers like law and business. In law, if the defence knows something that the plaintiff does not, then they can use it as evidence or as support for evidence in the courtroom. Such power is also useful in business-related careers because of competition. If a business has access to information, it gives them the upper hand over their competition.
(2) Knowledge is never Overrated!
     - It is not possible for one to have too much knowledge, there is always more to be learned. There are too many calamities that can easily be avoided if people are more knowledgeable. For example, we are all now aware of the presence do the Ebola virus. We are also aware that a couple of people have died from it but what is sadder is that some of these people did not die from the virus itself, they died from using salt to attempt to cure it. If these people had access to the information they needed about the virus, they would not have gone through such doomed and futile measures to try and eradicate it. Also, many people on rural communities die on a daily basis due to lack of clean water and clean food. This can be avoided if the government and other individuals in authority could inform these people of the dangers of their actions and provide solutions to the problems they face.
(3) Knowledge is never Wasted!
     - It is never a waste to know something, it may not be useful for many years but it will be useful someday. What you know may not even be beneficial to you, that does not make it useless or without value. In fact, adding value to someone else is more honorable than adding value to yourself. Knowing is always always better than not knowing.
(4) Knowledge is the Essence of our Existence as human beings
     - The earlier we realize that gaining knowledge is our primary aim and purpose, the earlier we can start the journey to fulfilling purpose in life
   - According to my faith as a Christian, God created us humans to dominate the earth, the air and the sea. To 'dominate' means to have a commanding influence on. Deductively, in order for one to dominate, one has to have an answer to every statement of the thing he is dominant over. For that to happen, one has to know his subject inside out, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats. In other words, God was passively instructing us to be knowledgeable about everything in our environment. Our strength and dominance over the earth is dependent on our knowledge of it.
    - Inventors understand this principle extensively. Most inventors were and are willing to die in their pursuit of their invention. They also realize that knowledge is a gradual process. They do not discover their invention after one try or overnight. They were willing to work hard at it and become more and more knowledgeable. They were willing to learn from every failure.
There is a popular saying that implies that the end of knowledge is the end of life.
(5) Knowledge is Reliable and Resilient!
     - The word "reliable" means consistently good in quality or performance; able to be trusted. Knowledge is reliable because once you know something, no can take it away from you. This is especially true, when the knowledge is gained through education or first-hand experience. Your knowledge can be shared with other people but it cannot be lost or taken away from you.
     - The word "resilient" refers to the ability of a person to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. Knowledge itself does not possess this quality but one who possesses knowledge possesses resilience. Resilience comes with knowledge especially when it is gained through personal experience. If one makes a mistake, they are less likely to make this mistake again and as such, they are more knowledgeable about that situation. In the world of business, knowledge makes one resilient. For example, if a company makes a decision that turns sour, then they can learn from it and do better if given the opportunity again. Other companies are more susceptible to making that decision and as such, the company that has made the decision has an advantage.
So, as you can see, knowledge is indeed power. As much as, this seems easy enough to understand, everyone could use some help in the "doing" part, so here's some.

5 simple-ish steps to becoming more knowledgeable;
(1) Learn something new everyday - I find it very cliche to suggest reading a book or watching less reality television. This is because, as much as these seem like brilliant ideas, no one ever gets around to doing them. Learning something new could be a new country or a healthier way of frying an egg or saying "hello" in another language, the importance is that you are learning.

(2) Share whatever you learn with other people - The best way to retain knowledge is to use it over and over again. Knowledge is great and should be shared. While noting this, it is also important to remember to not share information you have learned in a condescending or disrespectful manner because that defeats the purpose.

(3) Surround yourself with people who make you more knowledgeable - If you are the only person in your circle of friends who is motivated to learn, then sooner than later you would lose enthusiasm. Find a balance; obviously no one wants friends who only want to talk about political or socio-economic issues but you also want to talk art, music, fashion, movies and more "not-so-serious" topics. This way knowledge is more well-rounded and balanced.

(4) Challenge yourself, push the envelope! - Never be satisfied with your present level of knowledge. Be eager to learn more about everything. There are too many things to learn more about. You can start with a new word everyday, or a word in a different language. Then gradually, you can proceed to learning short poems. Then eventually after a certain level of comfort has been reached, one can then read a book ( yes, I remember saying this was cliche about two minutes ago 😜). Sometimes one needs a little bit of cliche, because even though it's predictable, at least you know for certain that it works. Cliches are an example of knowledge that has been converted from experience to education, informal to formal.

(5) Be open-minded about knowledge! - It is important to recognize that knowledge can be gotten from any and every source. Knowledge from a toddler is not any less valuable than knowledge from a professor. For example, an allergic reaction or a sharp cry from a toddler can save his or her life while the knowledge a professor passes to his students can be what separates an engineer from a mechanic in the local auto shop, and a doctor from the hospital janitor.
 Never think of yourself as more knowledgeable than someone else. While a rich man may know where to place the knife and fork on a table, I'd've more knowledgeable about wine and art and music, a beggar knows more about survival and improvisation and perseverance.
Even a simple is worth a thousand words (and since those words are different in every mind,and only the picture knows what it's really saying, it is more powerful than the person looking at it).

Antique or just plain old skool!

The word “antique” is defined by the Oxford dictionary as a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its age and quality. For example, Paul Cezanne’s “The Card Players”, valued at $273 million or Picasso’s “Le Réve”, valued at $155 million. The value of these paintings is not particularly in the art but more in the years that have passed since it was made and the effort and the funds that have gone into preserving it and keeping it as authentic as possible. The people who are willing to pay such huge sums of money for them understand their value.

The term “old-school” describes a behavior and mindset typical of an earlier style or form; based on a way of doing things that was common in the past according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. This term is very broad and general; it does not refer to one thing in particular, it is not limited to a choice, it is a culture and mindset. For example, the afro hairstyle gained its fame in the earlier days and although it is still around, the original style is not as popular as it used to be. Most ideas that gained exposure in the earlier days are still present but they have been adapted, so as to remain relevant. The majority have been adapted because the original version is not as suitable or appropriate, while others have been adapted because of laziness or to justify whatever decision they make.

The main difference between antique and old school is their difference in value. Both are derived from earlier days, but an antique increases in value as time passes by, however, elements of the old school movement lose their value with time. It is important to know this difference because society today has confused these two concepts. Grandmothers may not be “cool” (well, at least for everyone except me) but either way, they are respected and considered wise and knowledgeable. To further explain the differences between old school and antique, I have decided to divide the bronchus into four bronchioles.

1.       Discipline

In today’s society, discipline is a very sensitive subject and it needs to be treated with as much care and wisdom as possible. The word “discipline’ is defined as the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior; using punishment to correct disobedience. In the earlier days, children were often taught that the older person was always right and as such any disagreement from a child warranted punishment. Nowadays, discipline has improved but also deteriorated. It has improved in the sense that parents and people in authority over children now see the importance of talking to a child. They now realize the significance of explaining why the child is wrong and needs to be punished as opposed to just hitting them or yelling at them at the slightest provocation. However, discipline has also disintegrated in the sense that the voice of the child is now heard and even though it fosters mutual respect but there is a very thin line between speaking your mind and being disrespectful and rude. Many children today now speak back to their parents and other people in authority over them under the disguise of voicing a conflicting opinion. The best way to deal with this dilemma is for parents to set a good foundation at home by making a habit of separating fear from discipline and building a good communication system. It is difficult but it can and needs to be done.

2.       Culture

Culture is the most appropriate term to use in this situation because it refers to and spreads across the ideas, customs and social behavior of a particular people or society. Culture covers food, music and even dressing.  Old school music is a very specific genre and it can also be considered antique. Old school music may not appeal to the new generation but it still had more depth and content, so in that way it’s valuable. Old school music is listened to less and less and as such it has become more valuable. The only way to have the best of both worlds is to have music that appeals to the new generation but is based on the principles of old school. This has however become increasingly difficult because the sale comes before the message the song portrays. As for dressing, people who are of the old school era are very judgmental and so when someone does not dress a way they deem ‘appropriate’, they automatically label the person irresponsible. The society today is more open-minded to dressing according to the occasion and is not as judgmental. However, people again have a large tendency to abuse this privilege by dressing indecently and camouflaging it as freedom. It is imperative that parents teach their children to dress the way they want to be addressed and to be able to adapt their dressing in a decent way.

3.       Respect

Respect has become one of the most controversial issues in the mind of this generation. The Oxford Dictionary describes respect as a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities or achievements. There are few differences between respect in the old-fashioned sense and as it applies to the people of the present time. Another very important difference is the adaptability and versatility of respect. In the mind of an old-fashioned person, respect is very rigid and straight-jacketed; it is and can only mean one thing. In this kind of comprehension of respect, it quickly becomes fear which is why in some cases it is not advisable. Some old-fashioned views on respect are antique, for example respect for parents and other people in authority over one. There is no religion, or school of thought or belief system that supports disrespect for authority. Nowadays, young people especially teenagers feel like they can talk back to their parents and they camouflage it as “standing up for themselves”. The role of a parent or guardian is to correct their child when the need arises, and the role of the child in that moment is to listen and then apologize. After which, he or she can explain their own side of the situation if the parent asks. The main downside of old-fashioned is its inability to adapt, sometimes the adult is actually wrong and the child is right but there is no allowance for such. Also, respect for a person who is younger is a relatively new but very important concept. Versatility is also extremely crucial; one has to know when a handshake shows enough and other times when a little more is required.

4.       Gender roles

Most westernized countries claim to be very concerned that gender equality is still a huge problem but yet they are yet to take any drastic measures to rectify the situation. I admit this is a huge issue and therefore it will take more of an effort to deal with. I also think that this change we want to see can start by a change in the mindset of one person. Old fashioned values about gender roles are still prevalent. The notion that the man should work and the woman should raise the children is old fashioned. The main problem with the eradication of this disease is that most of it is hidden. The big companies will not explicitly voice that they would prefer a man in their highest positions because they do not need a maternity leave but a man and a woman with the exact same qualifications employed at the same time will not climb the company’s ladder at the same time. Men are never passively required to make a choice between their family and their career. Also, certain careers are socially associated with men and others with women and I think such a mindset is archaic and old-fashioned. For example, jobs that need a higher level of strength and agility like engineering and sport-related fields are generally viewed as masculine. Recently, ESPN ran a headline that read “The San Antonio spurs hire woman as assistant coach” but after some criticism, they changed it to “Spurs hire WNBA star Hammon as assistant”. I know that it is news for a woman to be hired as a coach in the NBA but the headline further emphasizes the fact that society always views a woman for her gender before her qualification. Although gender inequality is more dominant for women, it is not less important for men. In this society, when a man is a chef or an interior decorator or a hairstylist or a makeup artist, he is automatically viewed as a homosexual. Such judgmental attitudes make it more difficult for people to chase their passions without fear and doubt. Even though, there are some values associated with gender roles that are old-fashioned, there are a few that are antique. First, a wife should respect her husband even if she is better than him in any aspect of life. A man is the head of the household and should be assigned that much respect.

It is very important for people who have young children to make the effort to separate antique and old-fashioned values in the minds of their children at a tender age. It is equally as important for parents to let go of their old-fashioned values as it is for their children to be willing to hold on to the antique values. So, before you give the reaction you think you are supposed to give to that situation, ask yourself if the value you are about to instill is antique or just plain old-school!

Green with envy!

Envy is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has. The Oxford dictionary defines envy as a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities or luck. Personally, I prefer Oxford’s definition because although it seems more complex, it is also more comprehensive and explicit. I prefer this definition because it portrays the fact some people are unconsciously envious. Some people are not actively longing what something someone else has but they become discontented with what they have or where they are or even begin to resent the other person simply because of something they have.

It is natural to be envious, it is what is done with this envy and how long it lasts that differentiates the good and healthy from the bad. The bad and unhealthy kind of envy is almost always money-driven. What I mean by this is that, envy becomes unhealthy when one is builds up resentment or discontentment because another person has more money than them. Some people may argue with this by saying, money can motivate one to work harder. To these people, I say that it is true that money can be a motivating factor, but it isn’t in this case. Money should be a source of encouragement, an added benefit but here, it is the only factor, and therefore a recipe for disaster. When money is a person’s only driving force, it is like adding fertilizer to a bare piece of land. No matter how much you add, a plant or crop will never grow. A seed needs to be planted first, so the fertilizer has something to work on. The seed does not depend on fertilizer to germinate; a fertilizer only motivates the seed to germinate faster.

The good and healthy kind of envy is much deeper and less materialistic. This kind of envy may be triggered by materialistic things but it immediately develops into a much deeper motivation. The difference between good and bad envy can be seen by the difference in thought processes of people. For instance, Kate and Mel are two of the biggest fans of Beyoncé. They both love her music, and are both initially intrigued by the image Beyoncé portrays. However Kate only sees the fancy clothes, the fancy cars, the private jets and the general lavish style. Soon she becomes consumed by the idea of Beyoncé she has created in her mind. If she is not careful, she would channel all her energy into become this person who does not exist. Mel also notices the lavish lifestyle but she is more conscientious. She does research on Beyoncé’s life and her journey and soon notices that it has not always being so rosy. A lot of hard work and dedication and blood and sweat and tears have gone in to make Beyoncé the woman she is today. Although both of them may become extremely wealthy as well, Kate’s foundation is shaky so she will most likely lose the wealth as fast as she got it. Mel on the other hand has worked for her money, so she will sustain her wealth.

Whether you like it or not, everyone has felt some form of envy, what separates is what one does with it and what envy as a concept symbolizes to each individual. Here are four steps to giving envy a good meaning;

Enthusiasm : Enthusiasm is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as intense and eager enjoyment, interest or approval. It is very important to know your personality. If you are the kind of person to get angry or frustrated when you hear of another person’s success, channel any anger or frustration into something more constructive. Channel your anger and frustration into bettering yourself in any way can, whether it is in practicing your craft, reading good books or sharing your ideas with the right people. You can only be angry or frustrated when you have time to be, use your time effectively. Spending your time complaining about someone else means that you think they are more deserving of your time than you are at that moment.

Notice!  : Study people who have what you want, not with envy but with enthusiasm. Read books they have written or suggested, listen to their interviews, use the internet! Here’s the funny thing about the internet, it encourages whatever you want it to. If you go on gossip websites, it will lead you to more gossip websites. If you go on inspirational websites, it will lead you to more inspirational websites. Instead of spending time you do not have gossiping about how rich people are illegitimately rich or how they are not spending their money wisely, learn how to make your own and then you can be in charge.

Value your journey and never play the victim: Valuing your journey is extremely important. Realize that everyone has a different journey in life, there comparing in any form will only make life more miserable. Do not look for shortcuts, recognize that every step in the journey is significant and serves a purpose. Also, it is important not to play the victim; there is nothing more unattractive and unflattering than wallowing in self pity. When one is successful, your first instinct should not be judging them or pointing out what resources that they had that you do not, thereby tagging their success “unattainable” for yourself. Excuses are for children, people who are fond of giving excuses take five times more time to accomplish the same task as someone who does not give excuses. Recently, I came across one of the most inspiring people in the world. His name is Nick Vujicic, he is a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker. He was also born with tetra-amelia syndrome which basically means he does not have any of his four limbs. If he wanted to be envious, it would have killed him because only 3% of the world’s population is born like him, this gives 97% of the world’s population and advantage over him, a percentage you most likely fall into. In the unlikely chance that you fall into the 3%, you are extremely special, and you also have an edge over 97% of the world. So I am referring to every single person, when I say, if Nick can do it, you can do it too.

Yours and Mine: In order for one to loosen one’s self from the shackles of envy, one has to be able to differentiate between what is for them and what is for others. Obviously, we as humans are drawn to materialistic things but these things can confuse us and as such we need to be cautious. Sometimes, when we see opulent celebrities in society, the message they send is received wrongly. Most frequently, rappers feel the need to flaunt their wealth in their lifestyle and on social media, but what is horrible is that young boys are not getting the message that diligence and hard work and persistence yields results. Instead they are getting the message that rap is extremely lucrative. This is probably why every Tom, Dick and Harry between the ages of fourteen and eighteen feels like they too, should begin a career in rap. Knowing what path is yours in life is very important because if you go on the wrong path, you miss your way and the whole journey becomes distorted.

This thing called envy can be extremely tricky. One has to be careful and wise enough to maintain a positive attitude towards other people’s success and achievement by giving envy a positive meaning to them. Remember, envy is a feeling, and therefore, it is meant to be temporary and short-lived. Envy only becomes a problem when it is dwelled upon and turned into an emotion and eventually a mindset. BEWARE!!!