The Most Important Opinion

Have you ever shared your dreams with someone only to find opposition?

How does it feel when that person questions your abilities?

What happens when they ask whether you have what it takes?

Or they say it can’t be done-that they care too much about you to see you fail.

You have two options when faced with an unfavorable opinion:

1. You can agree with that person and give that opinion power over you, or
2. You can choose to believe in yourself and stay the course

I prefer the second choice because the most important opinion is your own. That’s exactly what Frederick Douglass decided to do when his master dehumanized him and made every effort to destroy the only thing he had left, his self worth.

Douglas was born into slavery. A system that made every effort to keep him ignorant and illiterate. A system designed to destroy his sense of belonging and humanity.

At age 10 he was sent to a home away from the fields. There he asked his mistress if she would teach him to read. She did so willingly. When her husband found out he was enraged because it was not legal for slaves to be literate. That did not stop Frederick from achieving his goals. He had learned the basics and would pick up books along the way and teach himself to become one of the best orators of his time. He would get hold of speeches, memorize them and visualize himself as a great orator.

When he was 15, his master sensed that Frederick was different and was not behaving in a slave like manner. He was sent to live with a farmer who was supposed to break him. No matter what the punishment, insult or beating, Douglass never doubted his own opinion of himself. He never allowed this to break his sense of self.

He finally escaped to the North, started a newspaper, wrote a best selling autobiography and fought for the rights of both slaves, blacks and women.

I respect Douglass for having the courage to fight for a better world for himself and others. He had a firm belief that regardless of what others thought of him he would succeed in reaching his goals. He did not allow the opinion of others to have power over him.

Your Thoughts and Insights

• When faced with opposition do you choose to believe in yourself?

Photo Credits, Mike Baird

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Tagged as: Cultural Diversity, Success