National Issues
Mind Restructuring: Self-centred Mentality, Greedy Mindset And Materialistic Tendencies -By Richard Odusanya
It’s human nature to judge others and vindicate ourselves, pointing the finger at others and not ourselves is a sin. We never know the true circumstances around people. We have never walked in their shoes. Protect ourselves from such wrongdoing! Focus on our own shortcomings. This is certainly another dimension of Mind Restructuring focusing on selflessness.
Self-centred person is excessively concerned with himself and his own needs…it is a social malady; you probably may know some people who always talk about themselves, make every issue about themselves, and are generally about “Me, me, me” people like that are self-centered. They are mostly “Belle face front” apology to Reuben Abati,
Prof. Farooq kperogi succinctly captured it in one of his numerous write-ups, he had said: “I have an abiding suspicion of people who are given to gratuitous self-congratulation and ostentatious lifestyles. Who are aggressively self-promotional and who perpetually have a need to invite attention, to witness their good deeds.”- voice from Atlanta.
On the other hand, greedy people are experts in manipulation; they take advantage of the vulnerability and gullibility of the people particularly in the developing world. Greed is the desire for more than is decent or deserved, not for the greater good but one’s own selfish interest, and at the detriment of others and society at large.
Greedy people look at the world as a ZERO-SUN game. Instead of thinking that everyone would benefit as the pie gets larger they view the pie as a constant and want to have the biggest part. They truly believe that they deserve more, even if it comes at someone else’s expense. Greedy people’s egregious messages and interest supercedes the interest of the generality, they are into short run and quick fix, and leaving the consequence for others, just like the borrowing without conscience that is ongoing.
The most delicate and important is materialism, it is a personal attitude which attaches so much premium and importance to acquiring and consuming material goods. Karl Marx captured it in a better way, he crooned: “Constant concern over material possessions and wealth; a great or excessive regard for worldly concerns” “materialism meant that the material world, perceptible to the sense, has objective reality independent of the mind or spirit. They did not deny the reality of mental or spiritual processes but affirmed that ideas could arise, therefore, only as products and reflections of material condition.”
If King Solomon was as shallow minded and heavily materialistic in nature like the everyday ‘Nigerian’ with the kind of mindsets towards consumption, acquirement and unproductiveness. He probably may have asked for something else other than wisdom. (2 chronicles 1: 11-12 NKJV) And God said to Solomon: “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honour or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked for long life; but have asked for WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE for yourself, that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king. This is the sum total of commitment and selflessness.
Going forward, as we continue to propagate the gospel of “Mind Restructuring” we earnestly seek for the co-operation of opinion moulders particularly the leaders of faith. It should be noted that leadership grows like a muscle relaxer, the more we exercise it the more it expand; an accomplished leader has a responsibility to rescue and lead aright; leadership is a position of trust, not an instrument of coercion; leadership is essential for the purpose of motivation and rejuvenation.
It’s human nature to judge others and vindicate ourselves, pointing the finger at others and not ourselves is a sin. We never know the true circumstances around people. We have never walked in their shoes. Protect ourselves from such wrongdoing! Focus on our own shortcomings. This is certainly another dimension of Mind Restructuring focusing on selflessness.
Finally, I will like to conclude with a biblical injunction “Righteousness exalt a nation while sin is a reproach.”- Bible. I wish to dedicate “Mind Restructuring’ project to the evergreen memory of our late Head-of-State Gen. Murtala Ramat Mohammed, who was brutal assassinated on my 14th birthday, 13 Feb 1976. His dream, hope and vision of unity Nigeria devoid of corruption and nepotism should not die.
ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS
Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI
