In the current South African environment, it may be easy to complain about load shedding, politics, and the economy. It will always be easier to be an armchair critic then to look for the silver lining.
In the past year I have had a period of 10 days without water and a separate period of 2 weeks without electricity. Sadly, this is not unusual in the current South Africa where infrastructure is failing citizens daily.
How do we remain positive and hopeful in these times? Especially when our basic living needs (water, warmth, safety) are unreliable and inconsistent. How do we find a way to break through, appreciating all we have around us, be resilient and move forward?
Yes of course we have our challenges, but the fact is that South Africa has a lot of positives going for it. We can consistently celebrate our fabulous weather, more than 3 000km of gorgeous coastline, dramatic mountains, world-famous game reserves, the longest wine route globally and rich deposits of mineral resources. South Africa is the second largest fruit producer globally and home to Cape Town, consistently rated as one of the five most beautiful cities in the world. And let’s not forget that our private health care facilities are amongst the best in the world. These are just some of the reasons we need to retain our sense of optimism.
When I’m meeting and engaging with new people, I look for a sense of optimism. I’m not talking about blind optimism but rather the ability to see the bigger picture. One of my favourite questions to ask is “Are things getting better or worse in South Africa?” It’s an assessment of how optimistic a person feels despite the current conditions in the country. This is especially pertinent with the upcoming elections where varied opinions exist, and individuals can easily be sucked into negativity.
Their response reveals a great deal about how up to date the person is with current affairs, how they perceive the country’s challenges and problems and whose responsibility they believe it is to find a solution. Although there is a great deal that the government needs to be responsible for ‘fixing’, there are things that each of us can do to ensure a more equitable and sustainable society.
When my home was without electricity, my neighbour ran an electric cord over the boundary wall so that I could have some. When I was without water (along with 6 surrounding suburbs), neighbours with boreholes, invited us to come fill up buckets. As a community we found ways to be helpful to each other.
I identify people who want to actively be part of the solution and people with the ability to solve challenges creatively. Challenges are par for the course in both a work and personal environment. The most enlightening and meaningful conversations are when I find people who come up with out-of-the-box solutions.
When challenges arise, you have 2 response options:
- Disempowered: Blame others, become negative and bitter, and feel victimized.
- Empowered: Take personal ownership of the situation, remain positive and find creative solutions.
Which person will you choose to be?
