JIB Motivational: Lessons from a 9 Year-Old

I have watched this video a lot of times and it never ceases to bring tears to my eyes *teary grin*. My sister is just gonna roll her eyes and wonder what doesn’t make me cry; but the truth is after I watched

He came on to one of Britain’s biggest platforms to face one of the largest audiences even though he had anxiety issues. He didn’t have to, he could continue singing in his bedroom or shower to his mom and close friends; nobody would have found out about his nervousness and he’d have been safe from embarrassment. I can’t even imagine the fear that clogged his arteries and veins as he walked onto that stage but he went anyway.

The first lesson from Malaki is “Do It Afraid”! We have, at one time or the other, heard this phrase; just that it is okay to say it to other people and not ourselves. We have this great idea, this great talent and gift that we could share with the world but we just keep it hidden because we are afraid to try and fail. Whenever anyone asks why we’ve not gone public yet, we just shrug and it say “Nothing” when the truth is that we’re scared that we’d flop, people will laugh, we’ll lose money or privacy et cetera. For all who fall in this category, just do what 9-year-old Malaki did…. He was afraid but he did it anyway!

When he hit the stage and did the basic introductions, exchanged pleasantries with the judges; one asked if he was nervous, he said “Yes”. That’s the other lesson from little Malachi that a lot of adults need to learn and practice. Sometimes, we do it to be positive but we know that positivism is not honest at all. So like Malaki, “Kid Yourself NOT”. I’m not saying positivism or making positive confessions is wrong, it’s just that this positivity could be delusional too. We need to accept where we are, what we have and move on to build what we feel we truly deserve. It’s okay to be angry, hurt, broke, scared and so on; what’s not okay is staying in denial all in the name of positivity. Know where you are per time, deal with it and move on towards positivity; not just remaining where we are and claiming where we are not even working towards attaining. Please fam, kid yaself not!

Malaki started singing but broke into tears not long afterwards. His nerves so bad that he couldn’t sing anymore; he cried because he really wanted to sing but he was too nervous to and I guess disappointed about it all too. How many of us have got it up to here *hand beneath my jaw* with all the crazy things going on? How often have we battled with the weakness we have and failed again? Don’t keep those emotions pent up; take a cue from Malaki and “Shed ‘em!”

Have you been going on with a load in your hear? Pent up emotions? Holding on so that you can be strong for those who depend on you? I totally get it! Just once in a while, let the steam off and shed some real ‘niggur’ tears! Just take that time to shed all the frustrations and vent the huge bob that has been swinging in your chest. Cry, scream, screech, slam doors…..anything that’s safe and won’t cause harm to people around you; whether in your room or not, get some privacy when the need hits you and shed ‘em weights and baggage.

The part of the video that gets me everytime I watch this video is when Malaki sang the song again….and SMASHED IT!!!! That’s the final lesson, fam! 

Sometimes we fall down and it’s hard to look back up, talk less of getting back up; that’s true. I would just like to charge everyone who might have fallen to get back up when you can and go hard this time. When you are able to start over, because not everyone just jumps up and goes right back to trying, so please take your time if you need it; but when you get back up, when you try again, when you reach out again, when you write that exam again, apply to that job again or try to implement another idea or invent something new again, please ensure that you SMASH IT!

Although Malaki didn’t win the BGT show, although he made it to the finals, he won a greater battle which was overcoming his fear and standing up in the face of his anxiety. I said typed this to say that; there is a lesson in every defeat, a triumph in every loss and a brighter day for every gloom. 

The Bible says “Tears may endure for the night; but joy comes in the morning”; your morning is almost here, keep keeping the faith and never let go of God through it all. 

Kisses!

Do you have a similar experience like Malachi or any testimonies that would surely help someone go through their ‘nighttime’; kindly send an email to joyijehon@gmail.com or DM @joyijehonblog on Instagram. 

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