When the Unstoppable Meets the Immovable
“Discretion is a better part of valour; what matters in life isn’t most times what happens to one but how one essentially reacts to them. Tell me anything, call me names so obnoxious and repulsive, it would either become like water off the duck’s back or a stab of a sharp knife into my heart depending on the degree of my emotional involvement into them,” so declared Jarlath Opara. Let’s reflect on the unstoppable meeting the immovable.
Do you know, as Jarlath Opara noted, that not all battles are to be fought and not all rainfalls should warrant bringing out buckets? As he noted, “Some things should be glossed over, shaken off and possibly stepped on” while you move on. Life has a twist of fate with people of different dimensions and prowess. One may be so powerful and wield strength, while another may seem like a “push away” but conquer the powerful with his or her humility. One may display one’s power as a ravaging fire, while another who looks so powerless may release the water that subdues the fire. The challenging part of life is that nobody has an abundance of power. While one person claims to be unstoppable, he or she may lose sight of another that may be immovable. Imagine the self-annihilation that may occur if these two meet. A common adage at my place is that he who tutors another on what to say to be perceived as innocent in a case may not have the esoteric spirit to decipher the questions that would be asked. The approach to life that centres around show of force, undermining the power of the other party, etc. mostly yields no lasting results. Sometimes, the show of power may momentarily gratify and grease one’s pride but ultimately leads to self-destruction. A point to note is that sometimes what is needed is not the correct action but the right action.
So, enhance your capacity to tame yourself in whatever you do and to recognize that, irrespective of how powerful you think you are, you don’t have the monopoly of power, knowledge, or control over the affairs of life. If you think you’re unstoppable, beware you may meet the immovable, and vice versa. As Seanan McGuire counselled, “When you decide to be the immovable object standing in front of the unstoppable force, you’d better pray that you’re right about being immovable, and they’re wrong about being unstoppable. Otherwise, you’ll wind up like a bug on a windshield.” Recognize that life requires wise compromise, looking at the bigger picture, considering the long-term implication of your actions and recognizing that life has a way of judging your actions, if not now, then certainly tomorrow, if not in this life, then certainly in the life to come. Are you rattled by what someone said? Opara advised, “Words are flexible, their meaning either conventionally, connotatively or denotatively can be escalated or de-emphasized depending on the emotional maturity of the one at the receiving end.” Know that when two elephants fight, the grasses suffer. Try not to be the elephant whose fight punishes the innocent grasses. In all you do, never allow your pride to make you lose your “bride.”
As you step out, never act in a way where the immovable would have to contend with the unstoppable. Know what to overlook, tolerate, or let go so you don’t win the fight but lose the battle. Never forget that pride goes before a fall and that no pride-motivated action is a virtue.
__
Prof. (Engr.) Esang Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for some international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
