One of the challenges which we face with ourselves and with others is in finding the way to be in charge. Being in charge and [singlepic id=146 w=320 h=240 float=right]leading in anything we do makes the experience different. Those who lead differ from those who follow since their way of seeing things and the result they get is different. It is important to remember that in order to succeed in leading the others, one must succeed in leading him/her self.

The real challenge which we face is in trying to lead ourselves. Since our birth we are taught about what is right and what is wrong. Those who are around us, our parents, family and community affect on the way we learn about life. Even if we take one group of people who live in similar circumstances, we can still find differences between them. The reason is the way they react with what they learn. Some would accept everything they are told while others accept a part and leave another.

Most of us start to arise against the rules which we are taught to obey in adolescence period. Since childhood most of us are taught in a commanding way; go brush your teeth, go sleep, go study, don’t go out, this is wrong, this is right, you are not allowed to do this or that. The human minds starts to arise in order to control and put an end to the domination it was going through and therefore it starts to refuse the idea of obeying everything it was told to do. After moving forward, we usually continue to live upon what we have learned. Only some of us think of creating a new kind of belief system which can include some of what we learned and add many new things which can be helpful.

Past experiences affect us and specially the bad ones. What should be done is a new revolution which gives the self a chance to control the mind. Imagine your mind as a computer which needs someone to use or it will be useless. Our mind should be a tool which we use in order to decide what we want. Creating a new belief system, controlling our mind, and accepting the idea that we will be safe even if we take the risk again will allow us to pass the first challenge successfully. Once we succeed in deciding who we really are and what we really want to do in our life, we will definitely succeed in becoming leaders of others.

Once we become the leaders of ourselves, our abilities, self confidence, courage, and skills are all improved. If we try to lead in something which we are sure we want to do, our passion and desire to achieve it will become the energy which we need in order to lead. Every decision which we take will be a result of who we really are. Stepping aside and leaving the front will turn us into slaves of the past, present and the future. Leaving others to decide for us and missing opportunities would turn us into surrenders of the idea: Although I was hurt once or made a mistake I can’t liberate myself, I should accept what I am today, and I should continue to believe in those who hurt me.

The process needed in order to succeed in becoming decision makers and leaders is not a one time thing. We should continue working and the result which we get will become an encouragement for us to continue.

Succeed in leading yourself and you shall become a leader which the others would love to follow; a leader who feels and believes that he is the right person to be followed.

Ziad Khalil Abu Zayyad

A Palestinian-Arab living in East Jerusalem, Ziad graduated from College Des Freres in Jerusalem in 2003. Ziad finished his major in International Relations and English Literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ziad is a former President of the Watan student movement at the university. He is interested in Middle Eastern political issues and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Founder of the Middle East Post and MEL (Middle East Future Leadership Network), he represents Palestinian youth at several international conferences.

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