Chapter 1: The Challenge of Identity

"If actions were as simple as knowing what is right, chapels would be grand churches, and the cottages of the poor would resemble royal palaces. A true divine is one who practices what he preaches; I can teach many the right actions, but following my own advice is far more difficult."

― William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Returning to a place of past failures isn’t always straightforward, yet Peter did so because of Jesus' command. I have found myself in similar situations multiple times; it’s rarely as simple as a snap of the fingers. Often, it requires tremendous effort. Peter cast his net in the very waters where he had previously caught nothing, and now, his company faced overwhelming workloads due to newfound success. In a place where your introduction letter once went unnoticed, suddenly, everyone wants to hire you. Upon realizing this transformation, Peter fell to the ground before the master, exclaiming, "I am a sinful man." In this context, being a "sinful man" signifies an identity that strays from your true desires.

To achieve what you genuinely want in life, you must align your identity with those aspirations. You need to CREATE a new version of yourself. This involves adopting A NEW WAY OF BEING!

All the limitations we carry are rooted in narratives that have become our habitual WAY OF BEING! Keep in mind that what you continually express in your inner thoughts carves deep pathways through the landscape of your subconscious. Unfortunately, your subconscious doesn't think critically. As a servant to your conscious mind, it must execute the hidden beliefs you hold about your opportunities and limitations, enacting all the constraints you have imposed on yourself. Now, it’s time to embark on a new path within that same landscape. This is what I mean by A NEW WAY OF BEING. Previously, you may have lain in bed, consumed by thoughts of being born out of wedlock, hailing from a polygamous family, or feeling abandoned by your parents. If you’ve been following this series of articles, you may already be sensing a SHIFT IN YOUR BEING. Consider reading my book, "HOWEVER YOU TELL IT, IT IS STILL A STORY THAT YOU MADE UP," to accelerate this transformation.

What differentiated the Peter who struggled through the night from the Peter who effortlessly quadrupled his catch in mere moments? A SHIFT IN HIS IDENTITY OR WAY OF BEING.

Across all nations and cultures, individuals who lack the advantages you admire are achieving THE IMPOSSIBLE. This highlights that your excuses are unfounded. Jephthah from the Bible was the child of a harlot. He didn’t wallow in self-pity, lamenting why his mother wasn’t a queen. Instead, he forged his identity. Despite being rejected by his father's legitimate children, he left home without a fuss. Read Judges 11 to witness the powerful mindset of the son of a harlot. Without any political connections or campaigning, the people of Israel sought him out to lead them. Personal Development will always surpass credentials that lack a solid identity foundation.

In John 8:31-33, there’s a profound exchange between Jesus and the Jews that I deeply respect:

31 — So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 "We are Abraham's descendants," they answered. "We have never been slaves to anyone. How can You say we will be set free?"

Free from what? This illustrates the importance of a strong identity or self-image.

These are individuals who had endured slavery in Egypt and elsewhere, yet they challenged Jesus, questioning his claim of freedom. You cannot pray to become a man; either you are one or you aren’t. Many prayers are ultimately futile. Kenneth E. Hagin famously said, "SAYING WILL WORK WITHOUT PRAYERS, BUT PRAYERS WON'T WORK WITHOUT SAYING." Whether aloud or in the quiet of your heart, what are you affirming? Both are recorded by your subconscious. You'll discover in my later writings that being a slave has little bearing on your future. What truly matters is what you are SAYING NOW. The Jews asserted their freedom, believing they had never been subjugated. To this day, that is the belief they uphold. Your identity isn’t something to pray for; billionaires were first billionaires before they achieved their wealth. Aliko Dangote didn’t pray to own Dangote Refinery; he owned it before he built it.

You must first BE before you can BECOME. To quote Rev. Sam Adeyemi, "Success is WHO YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU DO."

As Archbishop Idahosa noted, "A Lizard in Nigeria is still a Lizard in England." Changing locations won’t guarantee success unless you first embody that success in your identity!

We are all accountable for our current identity, which is a process of individuation. From a realm of limitless potential, we crafted an identity called ME, shaped during our formative years, often while we were psychologically asleep and heavily influenced by our surroundings. The first step toward meaningful change is to take responsibility for this identity. Yes, you may hail from a remote village in Kenya, facing persecution from a larger tribe, but it was YOU who repeated that your upbringing was a disadvantage. Upon reaching adulthood, you must INTENTIONALLY DECIDE WHO YOU WANT TO BE. In my BEING SEMINARS, I refer to this as CREATING BEING.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about CREATING YOURSELF." — George Bernard Shaw

It's about uncovering our potential and learning from our life challenges to evolve into the person we aspire to be. Stop searching for your identity based on ancestry and environment; start CREATING WHO YOU WANT TO BE!

If you found this article valuable and wish to explore more like it, please reach out via email at [email protected]. Share it with friends and groups you belong to; the more people we empower, the better we all become.

Chapter 2: Embracing Change

In this chapter, we delve deeper into the significance of embracing change and how it can lead to a remarkable transformation in your life.

This video titled "Come Follow Me - Matthew 11-12, Luke 11 (part 1): 'I Will Give You Rest'" explores the themes of rest and renewal, emphasizing the importance of finding peace in the chaos of life.

The second video, "OUR BIRTH STORY PART 2 (LIVE BIRTH)," shares a personal journey of transformation, highlighting the power of resilience and the impact of identity on personal growth.