Don’t be Pressured: You Are Making Great Efforts

Let no one put unnecessary pressure on you; you are making great efforts.

A couple of months ago, I had a conversation with a friend. We discussed many topics, from spirituality and education to real-life issues. In fact, we spent most of our time talking about the harsh realities of life. As some would say, life is tough—there’s no doubt about it. It’s indeed tough for everyone. You might be surprised to learn that even people living in developed countries face many challenges in life. The situation is even sadder and more pitiful in Africa, especially in countries with struggling economies. Many Africans are experiencing tough times, partly due to poor leadership. Sometimes I wonder how we survive. It seems as though, whenever we successfully make it through a week, it’s like magic. If you logically consider what we have in terms of money and the expenses we incur, you’d realize that it truly feels like we performed magic. Worst of all is the level of unemployment on this continent, especially in Ghana, my beloved country. We have many graduates who are unemployed. Those who do have jobs often spend almost all their salaries on transportation, utility bills, and rent. Did you ask about feeding? I wonder how many people can survive on their salary after paying for rent, utilities, and transportation. Let’s not even talk about saving or investing. Perhaps we can discuss that another time. This is not to say that nobody can save, invest, or manage their salary well enough to cover rent, bills, transportation, and food. But let’s face reality—it’s really tough out there, and I’m not here to give you a motivational speech about why you still borrow money despite your salary. I’m not here to blame you for mismanaging your finances (indeed, you can be strategic and manage your finances well). I’m simply here to let you know that you’re trying. At the very least, you’re still alive despite the hardships in the country, and you haven’t considered suicide. Even if the thought crossed your mind at some point, you didn’t act on it. So, I say to you: you have done well.

This short piece is not a motivational article, I just want to let you know that you’re really trying. In my conversation with my friend, she made a profound statement that has stayed with me. She said, “Sam, when I deeply reflect on all this, it’s not as if I’m not trying. I’m really putting in a lot of effort. I don’t know what else to do, but it seems things are just so tough.” I know many of you can relate to this. Is it the countless job applications you’ve submitted without receiving any feedback? Is it the numerous school applications you’ve sent out, only to be denied admission? Is it the little money you earn at the end of the month that can’t even last you through half of the month, forcing you to borrow heavily from friends and accumulate debt? Is it the pressure from your family to get married because they think you’re of age, yet deep down, you know there are many things you need to address before entering into marriage? Are you a national service person who is confused about what life will be like after your service? Are you a lady who has been offered life-changing opportunities that could transform your career, but only on the condition that you sleep with a man to secure them? Or maybe you’re a young man who has a similar opportunity but must sleep with a woman to fully grasp it. Lest I forget: perhaps due to the hardships in the country, you’ve resorted to sleeping with men for financial support—sugar daddy things—just to survive day by day.

While I don’t want to entirely place blame on you, I think you’re trying your best. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Maintain a positive mindset, trust in God’s blessings, speak with the right people, pray harder, and avoid any sinful acts, even if they promise material rewards.

You are trying! Don’t be too hard on yourself!

Written by Sampson Dordaa (Bro Sam)