Hurting People Hurt People: The Ripple Effect Explained

Ripple Effect:

The ripple effect describes a chain reaction in which an initial action or disturbance spreads outward to influence wider systems over time. In social science, psychology, and systems theory, it refers to how individual behaviors, decisions, or emotions create secondary and tertiary consequences that impact relationships, communities, and even societal structures.

Processing Hurt: Letting Go and Choosing Life

While I’m writing this, I’m deeply aware that hurt is not a small issue. It is a daily reality for many.

Welcome to Becoming Maverick — the journey of learning, healing, and growing. Today we lean into something uncomfortable but necessary: processing hurt well.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Hurting people hurt people.”
But here’s the deeper question:

Do we always know when we are the hurting one?
And do we know how to process that hurt in a healthy way?

Awareness is the beginning of wisdom.

When Hurt Multiplies Instead of Heals

Let me share something personal.

Not long ago, someone close to me sent a message that triggered a deep-seated hurt I had quietly been carrying. Instead of pausing… instead of breathing… instead of acknowledging my own pain — I reacted.

And I reacted in the wrong direction.

I exploded on someone else close to me.

The situation escalated quickly. Feelings were wounded. Trust was strained. I didn’t neutralize the hurt — I multiplied it.

That’s what unprocessed pain does.
It leaks.
It transfers.
It escalates.

When we don’t process hurt correctly, we risk perpetuating our own suffering. Worse still, we can wound people who never deserved the blast radius of our unresolved emotions.

Hurt can create ripple effects.
Or vicious cycles.
Both are dangerous.

The Power of Emotional Responsibility

Here’s the good news: we can learn to become hyper-aware of our emotional state.

We can recognize, “I am hurt right now.”
And we can choose a responsible response.

Scripture teaches us to love our neighbour as ourselves. That principle is not sentimental — it is profoundly practical. Loving others requires that we first stop weaponising our own pain.

Healthy self-love includes:

Recognising hurt early
Processing it honestly
Forgiving quickly
Refusing to pass it on

Let the hurt end with you.

If there is a lesson inside the pain, receive it. Say, “Amen” — so be it. Learn it. Grow from it. Teach it, if necessary — but only once the emotional storm has settled.

Wisdom speaks best from a place of peace, not reaction.

What Science Says About Unprocessed Hurt

Emotional pain is not “just emotional.”

When we don’t process it well, it activates the body’s stress response. In the short term, that response protects us. But when stress becomes chronic, it affects:

Immune function
Digestion
Cardiovascular health
Memory and concentration
Decision-making ability

Dr. Caroline Leaf teaches that our thoughts shape our biology — that we can literally change our brain by changing our thinking patterns.

In other words: processing hurt is not weakness. It’s neurological stewardship.

Choosing Life

Dr. Myles Munroe often reminded us that we have the power to choose life — and that our choices determine our destiny.

Processing hurt is a choice.

Forgiveness is a choice.

Dr. T.D. Jakes speaks passionately about letting go of past wounds so we can step into our future. You cannot move forward while dragging yesterday’s pain behind you.

Leadership thinkers echo this wisdom:

Simon Sinek emphasizes empathy and emotional intelligence.
Seth Godin highlights generosity and kindness as transformational forces.
John C. Maxwell teaches ownership — taking responsibility for your responses.

Different voices.
Same principle.

We are responsible for what we do with our hurt.

When Hurt Becomes Collective

There’s another danger: unprocessed pain doesn’t just affect individuals — it affects groups.

When we are emotionally charged, our fight-or-flight response can override rational thinking. In that state, we become more susceptible to:

History has shown how dangerous emotionally charged group dynamics can become — from riots to cult movements to mass violence. When identity and belonging override critical thinking, individuals can lose perspective.

A maverick does not lose individuality in emotional waves.
A maverick pauses.
Thinks.
Discerns.

Processing personal hurt protects not only your relationships — but your judgment.

Be Kind to Your Future Self

Unprocessed hurt is expensive.
It costs peace.
It costs clarity.
It costs relationships.

Processing it, however, is an investment in your future self.

Healing is not instant. It is a process. There will be moments when you slip. That does not make you a failure. It makes you human.

Get back up.
Reflect.
Adjust.
Grow.

Practical Steps Toward Healing

If you want to accelerate healing:

Pause before reacting.
Name the emotion honestly. (“I feel rejected.” “I feel dismissed.”)
Choose not to transfer it.
Seek professional guidance if needed.

Therapists, counselors, and coaches provide tools that many of us were never taught. There is strength in asking for help.

Also, surround yourself with life-giving voices. Distance yourself from constant negativity and drama. Environment matters.

The Maverick Decision

Ultimately, the choice is yours.

You can hold onto hurt.
Or you can release it.

You can multiply it.
Or you can neutralize it.

Choose to forgive.
Choose emotional maturity.
Choose life.

Becoming Maverick is not about rebellion for its own sake. It’s about courageous responsibility — especially over your inner world.

Let the hurt stop with you.

Live with intention.
Respond with wisdom.
Build a ripple effect of healing instead of harm.

Shalom!

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Red Pill or Blue Pill: Choosing the Maverick Mindset over Victimhood or Heroism

In the movie "The Matrix", the main character Neo is offered a choice between a red pill and a blue pill. The red pill represents the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. The blue pill represents comfort and security, but it also means living in ignorance. This choice is a metaphor for the decisions we make in life. Do we choose to face the truth and take responsibility for our lives, or do we choose to live in a state of victimhood or wait for someone else to save us?

The victim mentality and savior mindset are two ways of looking at the world that can have a profound impact on our lives. Many of us have been conditioned to wait for a savior - someone who is bigger, stronger, smarter, and more awesome - to come and rescue us. We've been taught to believe that we are powerless to change our circumstances, and that we need someone else to come and fix things for us. On the other hand, some of us believe that we are the saviors, and that it is our responsibility to save others. This mentality can lead to burnout, exhaustion, and an inability to take care of ourselves.

Both of these mindsets are limiting and can have extremely destructive consequences in our own lives. In this blog, we will explore how to break free from these patterns and become a maverick - someone who takes responsibility for their life, makes tough decisions, and is willing to go against the grain. It's not always easy, and it can be uncomfortable at times, but it is necessary for growth and progress. So, are you ready to take the red pill and face the truth, or will you choose the blue pill and stay in your comfort zone? The choice is yours.

The concept of adopting a victim mindset vs the saviour complex has been on my mind lately. My observations lead me to believe that this information is put out through education, media, and entertainment systems and is reinforced through our trust circles; families, friendships, and even religious communities.

To understand the relevant mechanisms we first need to understand propaganda. Propaganda plays a huge role in this conditioning process. Contrary to popular belief, propaganda is not 100% lies. In fact, it is mostly facts. It has enough facts to make it believable. A lie is actually a small component, so small that it goes undetected. However, the lie is so destructive that it can ruin generations.

Earlier we mentioned religion. It's important to note that in my opinion it's not religious books themselves that are the source of propaganda, but rather the teachings of their respective teachers who have adopted terrible philosophical approaches fueled by a poor world view and a lack of understanding of basic principles of how the world actually functions. They were subjected to bad teachings which they never took the time to do the due diligence on. Now they spread propaganda instead of wholesome spiritual teaching. Please don't get me not every religious leaders is spreading Propoganda. Yes the are those who have a healthy understanding of what they are teaching and are a good source of spiritual guidance.

However we need to be alert as both the victim mentality and the savior mindset can have extremely destructive consequences in your own life. I can bear witness to how both of these philosophies have captured different components of my life. Thankfully, I have identified and interrupted the pattern. I am now transforming my thinking so that my life can progress in the manner in it should and can be the man of impact I was designed to be.

Becoming Maverick is a beautiful and rewarding process, but it's hard work. It can be uncomfortable at times, and you have to make tough decisions. Yes! you're going to go against the grain and be controversial. Yes! This will upset some people. Yes! Some might call you rebellious when you question things. Someone might label you a conspiracy theorist. And, yes, when you start teaching others, there will be those who attempt to discredit you. I know I've been there.

The truth can be uncomfortable when you have accepted a lie or incomplete theory as a fact. Truth challenges you to change your behavior. Humans don't like to change, but it's necessary for growth and progress.

In future blogs, we will unpack the victim and savior mentalities in more detail. But until then, enjoy the Maverick journey. It's important to be discerning with the information we consume, and to make choices that lead to growth and enlightenment, rather than ignorance and enslavement. So let's be Mavericks, and encourage others to join us on this journey towards truth and progress. Share this blog with your friends, and let's continue to inspire each other to be the best versions of ourselves.

Shalom!

Being Kind to Your Future Self: Everyday Choices That Shape Tomorrow

Kind

Kind (adjective) — showing consideration, generosity, and care toward others or oneself; acting with intentional goodwill that shapes outcomes over time.

In Being Kind to Your Future Self, kindness is redefined as a Maverick discipline—choosing today what your future self will be grateful for tomorrow.

Being Kind to Your Future Self

An Everyday Maverick Reflection

The idea of being kind to my future self has been sitting with me for a while now. Not the distant, retirement-version of me only—but the version of me five minutes from now… tomorrow morning… next year… and decades down the line.

Being kind to your future self is about leverage. It’s the quiet power of understanding that what you do now doesn’t disappear—it echoes. Every decision you make today becomes the environment your future self has to live in.

Everyday Mavericks learn this early: the present is not neutral.

Small Choices. Long Shadows.

Most people imagine “the future” as something abstract—some far-off destination they’ll deal with later. Mavericks know better. The future is being built in ordinary moments: what you choose to delay, what you choose to confront, what you choose to invest in when no one is watching.

History gives us a powerful picture of this.

The Wright brothers didn’t stumble into flight by accident. They were relentlessly kind to their future selves. While others mocked, doubted, or waited for better conditions, they invested their time, focus, and limited resources into a vision no one else could see yet. They chose discipline over comfort. Curiosity over certainty. Action over approval.

And the world has never been the same since.

Timing Isn’t the Enemy—Waiting Is

Scripture captures this tension beautifully:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1

This verse is often used to justify waiting. But read it carefully—it doesn’t say wait for the time. It says recognise the time.

One of the most dangerous lies we tell ourselves is, “I’ll start when the time is right.” The truth? The right time rarely arrives fully formed. It’s usually hidden inside discomfort, uncertainty, and imperfect conditions.

Being kind to your future self means learning to move with time instead of negotiating with it.

Kindness Looks Like Responsibility

This kind of kindness isn’t soft. It’s intentional.

It shows up in how you spend:

your time (what you keep postponing),
your money (what you consume vs. what you invest),
your energy (what drains you vs. what builds you).

It means choosing growth over convenience. Health over neglect. Depth over distraction. It means owning the consequences of your actions—because your future self will inherit them whether you like it or not.

Everyday Mavericks don’t outsource responsibility to luck, systems, or circumstances. They understand that freedom later often requires discipline now.

The Cost of Neglect

When we fail to be kind to our future selves, the bill always comes due—usually as regret.

Regret over conversations not had. Skills not developed. Health not protected. Dreams deferred until they quietly expired.

The tragedy isn’t failure. The tragedy is never giving your future self a fighting chance.

A Maverick Commitment

Being kind to your future self isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about daily alignment. It’s about asking one simple question before you act:

“Will my future self thank me for this?”

As Everyday Mavericks, we choose to live awake. To act with intention. To plant seeds we may not immediately enjoy—but will one day sit under in gratitude.

So today, take one step—small, deliberate, courageous.

Your future self is counting on you.

Shalom!

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Progressing Through Brokenness: Embracing the Maverick Mindset

Broken, Not Defective: Understanding How We Drift Off Course

What Does “Broken” Really Mean?

Broken is a word we often use casually, but it carries an important distinction.

If an object no longer functions the way it did when it left the manufacturing process, we say it is broken. That’s different from defective, which suggests something was flawed from the start. Broken implies that it worked once — and then something changed.

When we apply this idea to people, it becomes surprisingly comforting.

Most of us are not defective at birth. Our bodies, minds, and emotional systems generally function the way they were designed to, unless something went wrong before birth. So if we start life whole and capable, an important question follows:

How do people become broken over time?

How Everyday Choices Shape Our Wellbeing

One of the most uncomfortable truths I’ve had to accept is that our daily choices matter more than we think.

I neglected essential nutrients and overindulged in things I knew weren’t good for my body. Nothing dramatic happened overnight. Instead, the consequences crept in quietly, eventually showing up as a thyroid condition. I can’t really blame anyone else for that — and strangely, taking responsibility has been empowering.

Brokenness often doesn’t arrive through crisis.
It shows up through patterns.

Small decisions, repeated consistently, shape our physical and mental health far more than we realise.

The Hidden Cost of Misinformation

Another contributor to brokenness is the information we consume.

I’ve allowed myself to believe ideas that weren’t the best or most accurate, and those beliefs influenced some poor life choices. When it comes to health, lifestyle, and personal development, misinformation is everywhere. Advice is often loud, conflicting, and driven by trends rather than truth.

Learning to slow down, question what we hear, and seek out reliable information is one of the most important upgrades we can make.

Trust, Discernment, and Hard Lessons

Then there’s the people factor.

I like to believe the best in people — and I still do. But I’ve learned the hard way that trust without discernment can be costly. Some of my most expensive life lessons didn’t come from bad intentions, but from misplaced trust.

Discernment isn’t about becoming guarded or cynical.
It’s about becoming wise.

Healthy boundaries are often built from experience, reflection, and growth.

Why Real Change Starts on the Inside

As part of the Becoming Maverick journey, we often talk about disruption — challenging systems, habits, and external influences that don’t serve us. But real transformation usually begins inward.

Our thinking patterns.
Our routines.
Our assumptions about ourselves.

Sometimes the biggest thing holding us back isn’t circumstances or other people — it’s our own unexamined habits and beliefs.

Internal disruption takes courage. It’s quieter than rebellion, but far more powerful.

Broken Doesn’t Mean Finished

Here’s the hopeful part.

Being broken doesn’t mean we’re beyond repair. It often just means something needs attention.

On this journey toward a Maverick mindset and lifestyle, we get to own our missteps, upgrade how we make decisions, and keep moving forward. It’s never too late to change direction.

When we take responsibility for our choices, seek better information, and surround ourselves with people who genuinely want to see us thrive, brokenness can become a turning point — not a label.

Sometimes, the very places where we feel broken are the places where growth quietly begins.

Reflection Questions

What habits in my life might be slowly wearing me down rather than building me up?
What information do I accept without questioning — and should I revisit it?
Where might discernment help me make better decisions moving forward?

Final Thoughts: Broken Is Not the End of the Story

If there’s one thing worth remembering, it’s this: being broken doesn’t mean you were flawed from the start, and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re finished.

Most of us begin life whole. Along the way, through choices, misinformation, misplaced trust, and simple human missteps, things start to wear down. That’s not a failure — it’s part of being human.

The encouraging truth is that awareness changes everything. The moment we take responsibility, seek better information, and make even small adjustments, we begin the process of restoration. Growth doesn’t require perfection, just honesty and willingness.

Where you are right now is not a verdict on your future. It’s an invitation.

An invitation to reflect, to realign, and to move forward with greater wisdom than before. Brokenness, when faced with courage and intention, often becomes the very place where strength is rebuilt and purpose clarified.

Keep going. Small changes compound. And it’s never too late to become better than you were yesterday.

Shalom!

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Challenging Outdated Parenting: A Maverick Approach to Raising the Next Generation

Becoming Maverick is a journey toward intentional living, personal growth, and greatness. It is about breaking free from inherited patterns, questioning what we’ve accepted as “normal,” and choosing a more conscious path forward.

As we walk this journey, one truth becomes unavoidable: how we parent matters. Parenting is not a side quest—it shapes future generations, cultures, and the world our children will one day lead. To become Maverick is to examine not only our careers, beliefs, and habits, but also the way we raise our children.

This reflection challenges outdated parenting models and invites a more progressive, intentional approach—one that allows us to live and love beyond limits.

Love Isn’t the Problem — Unexamined Tradition Is

Parents love their children. At least, we assume they do—and in most cases, they genuinely try their best.

So how do we end up harming the very people we love most?

Paradoxically, we often harm our children because we love them. In our desire to protect, provide, and preserve, we sometimes pass on habits, beliefs, and practices that no longer serve them. Love without reflection can become limitation.

Consider food—something essential, pleasurable, and deeply cultural. It can nourish, but it can also slowly poison when choices are driven by tradition rather than understanding. The same principle applies to parenting.

This idea echoes the haunting truth behind the song “Killing Me Softly.” Made famous globally by the Fugees in 1996, the phrase captures something uncomfortable: harm doesn’t always come loudly or violently. Sometimes, it comes gently—wrapped in love, familiarity, and good intentions.

Parenting with Outdated Information

Most parents do not intentionally damage their children. They parent using the information available to them—information passed down through generations, reinforced by society, culture, and personal experience.

Here’s the challenge: much of that information is outdated.

In medicine, it can take over a decade for new discoveries to reach textbooks and training institutions. Professionals who don’t actively update themselves often practice with yesterday’s knowledge. Parenting is no different.

Without intentional learning and self-renewal, we default to what we were taught:

“This worked for me.”
“This is how I was raised.”
“This is how it’s always been done.”

But what worked in one era may quietly fail in another.

Universal Principles vs. Evolving Application

Some principles are timeless. Gravity still works. Human development still follows patterns. Children still need love, boundaries, safety, and affirmation.

What does change is how we apply those principles.

There was a time when humanity believed flight was impossible. The sky was the limit—literally. Today, we fly across continents and leave Earth’s atmosphere entirely. The laws of physics didn’t change; our understanding did.

Parenting is the same. Love remains essential. Guidance remains necessary. Discipline still matters. But the methods, awareness, and psychological insight must evolve.

A Maverick Call to Progressive Parenting

To parent as a Maverick is not to reject the past entirely—but to question it wisely. It is to honour what still works while courageously upgrading what no longer serves.

Progressive parenting requires:

Intentional learning
Emotional intelligence
Self-reflection
Willingness to unlearn
Openness to new research and perspectives

It asks us to parent not only for today, but for our children’s children—and generations beyond.

Living and Loving Beyond Limits

Let us continue to parent to the best of our ability—but let us also be brave enough to grow.

Be kind to the third, fourth, fifth generation, and beyond. Challenge inherited limitations. Renew your mindset. Upgrade your understanding.

This is the Maverick way.

Live consciously. Love intentionally. Parent beyond limits.

Breaking the Cycle: Disrupting Harmful Influencers on the Journey of Becoming Maverick

Behavior (noun):
The way a person acts or responds to internal beliefs and external influences, often shaped by knowledge, environment, and learned patterns.

Our behaviors don’t form in isolation. They are learned, absorbed, and often inherited—sometimes unintentionally. On the journey of Becoming Maverick, growth begins when we interrupt negative behaviors and disrupt harmful influences that shape how we live, think, and raise the next generation.

Becoming Maverick: Interrupting Negative Behaviors and Disrupting Harmful Influences

Funny how life often seems kinder to children. At birth, we are fully functional—requiring only guidance, care, and healthy input to grow. Yet the truth is uncomfortable: those tasked with guiding us are often carrying wounds of their own. Broken people, doing their best, sometimes pass on broken patterns.

And this is rarely done with malice.

The words that matter most here are “unknowingly” and “unintentionally.”
No one sets out to harm their children. We love our children. We want to protect our bloodline. And yet, in trying to preserve life, we sometimes damage it—often in the very areas where we ourselves are wounded.

Ignorance Is Not Innocent

Scripture reminds us that we perish for lack of knowledge. Much of the harm we cause—both to ourselves and others—comes not from intent, but from ignorance.

Ignorance can be fatal:

Mentally
Emotionally
Spiritually

If you knew a car was about to run a red light, you wouldn’t step into the intersection. But distraction—or lack of information—can cost a life. The same is true of what we consume daily. If we fully understood the long-term impact of excess sugar, toxic environments, destructive media, or careless words, many of our habits would change immediately.

What We Consume Shapes Who We Become

We often think of consumption as food alone, but that’s only part of the picture. We consume constantly through:

What we watch
What we listen to
What we read
What we believe
What we tolerate

Every cell in the body is designed to repair itself—but only if the systems supporting it are healthy. The same is true for the mind and spirit. We are shaped, strengthened, or slowly destroyed by what we allow in.

Words can poison. Environments can infect. Influences can erode identity.

Born Into Families—and Societies

We are not only born into families; we are born into systems, cultures, and societies. Some people are raised intentionally. Others are raised by accident. Some thrive. Others survive.

Becoming Maverick means choosing intention over accident.

It means taking responsibility not only for our own healing, but for what we model, teach, and pass on to the next generation.

The Maverick Choice

On the journey of Becoming Maverick, we commit to:

Interrupting our own negative behaviors
Challenging inherited patterns
Disrupting harmful influences in society
Replacing ignorance with awareness
Choosing growth over comfort

This is not rebellion for rebellion’s sake.
It is responsibility with courage.

Reflection & Journaling

What negative behaviors have I inherited without questioning?
What influences currently shape my thinking the most?
Where might ignorance—not intention—be causing harm in my life?
What would intentional living look like for me this season?
What patterns do I want to disrupt for the next generation?

Final Reflection

Knowledge is not just power—it is protection.

When we seek understanding, we make better choices. When we become aware, we break cycles. And when we live intentionally, we create ripple effects that extend far beyond ourselves.

Let us become Mavericks who are self-aware, teachable, and committed to positive change—for our families, our communities, and the generations to come.

Becoming Maverick—enjoy your journey.

Shalom!

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Transformed by Brokenness: How Pain Shapes Purpose and Resilience

Transformed by Brokenness: The Roadmap to Maverick Excellence

Brokenness refers to a state of humility, vulnerability, or hardship that often precedes personal transformation, spiritual growth, and renewed purpose.

On my journey of Becoming Maverick, one truth keeps resurfacing: God has a long history of using broken people. Not the polished. Not the perfect. But the honest, wounded, surrendered ones.

When you zoom out and look at the Bible as a whole, a striking pattern emerges. Those who are deeply aware of their limitations often become the most impactful. Meanwhile, those who appear strong, self-sufficient, or flawless are frequently led through seasons that expose their fragility.

Have you ever reached the end of yourself? That place where there seems to be no way forward. Where the weight of life feels unbearable and disappearing sounds easier than continuing.

I’ve been there too.

Brokenness and Resilience: Lessons from the Maverick Journey

Over the past decade, I’ve walked through seasons I rarely speak about, except with a trusted few. Near-death moments. Business betrayal. Deep personal loss. Emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion that stretched me far beyond what I thought I could endure.

And just when I believed things couldn’t get worse… they did.

Yet in those dark valleys, one powerful lesson emerged: seasons change.

What you are facing now will not last forever. It may feel permanent, but pain is often a passage, not a destination. As motivational speaker Les Brown reminds us, in moments of despair we must whisper to ourselves: “It is possible.”

That whisper becomes a lifeline.

Why God Uses Broken People

One of the most profound truths I’ve learned is this: God doesn’t avoid brokenness—He works through it.

Brokenness strips away self-reliance and exposes our need for something greater than ourselves. It teaches humility. It builds empathy. It forges resilience and inner strength.

In broken seasons, we don’t just survive—we are shaped.

Scripture is filled with examples:

Moses, burdened by insecurity and a painful past, became a deliverer.
David, flawed and imperfect, grew into a man after God’s own heart.
Peter, impulsive and inconsistent, became a foundation of the early church.

Their weaknesses were not disqualifications—they were preparation.

When Strength Is Refined Through Suffering

Even those known for righteousness were not spared hardship.

Job endured devastating loss that refined his faith.
Paul faced persecution, imprisonment, and rejection, yet emerged with unwavering purpose.

Their stories remind us that faith and adversity often walk hand in hand. Growth is rarely comfortable, but it is always intentional.

Embracing Brokenness on the Road to Maverick Excellence

If you are in a season of brokenness, take heart.

Speak honestly with God. Ask Him to reveal purpose within the pain. Allow this chapter to shape you rather than define you. Brokenness is not the end of your story—it may be the beginning of your transformation.

This is the heart of the Maverick mindset: choosing resilience over resignation, hope over despair, growth over stagnation.

Seasons change. Healing comes. Strength returns.

Final Encouragement: Becoming Maverick Through Adversity

If you are walking through a hard season, know this: your struggle is not wasted.

Brokenness can become a bridge to purpose. Pain can become preparation. As Les Brown says, “It is possible.” And I’ll add this—you are stronger than you think.

Keep pressing forward on your journey of Becoming Maverick.

Please share some hope with someone today.

Till next time,

Becoming Maverick

Shalom!

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Living with Intention: My Path to Becoming Maverick

Welcome to the Journey

Welcome back to Becoming Maverick — a space where I unpack my personal journey through life, sharing the lessons I’ve learned and the challenges I’ve overcome.

This is a story of resilience, courage, growth, and intention. It is a journey inspired by the true origin of the word Maverick.

The Origin of the Maverick Mindset

The term “Maverick” comes from Samuel Maverick, a Texas rancher known for his independent spirit and refusal to brand his cattle.

While others followed the common practice of marking ownership, Maverick allowed his cattle to roam freely and unbranded. His quiet nonconformity became legendary. Over time, his name came to describe anyone who is independent, unconventional, and unafraid to challenge the status quo.

To be a Maverick is not rebellion for its own sake.
It is the courage to think differently.
To live deliberately.
To stand for something.

Becoming Maverick: More Than Independence

Through my journey, I’ve discovered that Becoming Maverick is about more than independence or unconventional thinking.

It is about living with intention.

As Earl Nightingale wisely said:

“A life without purpose is like a ship without a guidance system.”

So many people drift through life, reacting rather than directing. But a Maverick does not drift. A Maverick chooses direction.

Living with intention means:

Pursuing passions with clarity
Setting meaningful goals
Aligning actions with values
Taking responsibility for growth

It means deciding that life will not simply happen to you — it will be shaped by you.

Purpose: The Driving Force

Finding purpose has been a defining force in my own journey.

Purpose provides direction when circumstances feel uncertain.

Purpose sustains resilience when challenges arise.

Purpose turns setbacks into lessons rather than endings.

I’ve learned that:

Embracing change is necessary for growth
Taking calculated risks builds strength
Failure, when reflected upon honestly, becomes wisdom

Purpose is not found once and kept forever.

It is refined.

It is rediscovered.

It is lived daily.

To Our Community

To the regular readers — thank you. Your encouragement, insights, and engagement have been invaluable. This space exists because of the conversations we share and the perspectives we bring.

To those who are new — welcome. You are invited into a journey of self-discovery, growth, and purposeful living.

As John C. Maxwell reminds us:

“You don't have to be intentional to exist, but you do have to be intentional to live.”

If this message resonates with you — embracing challenges, living with direction, seeking meaning — I encourage you to return, to engage, and to share this space with someone who might need encouragement.

A Final Reflection

Becoming Maverick is not about standing alone.
It is about standing true.

It is about courage with humility.
Direction with flexibility.
Independence with responsibility.

Together, let us continue exploring the joys and challenges of life, uncovering the power of purpose, and embracing the Maverick mindset — not recklessly, but intentionally.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I genuinely value your perspective.

With gratitude,
Steven Wayne Nicholls

Shalom!

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Investing in Tomorrow: Developing South Africa’s Future Leaders Today

Future Leaders Today

Empowering South Africa’s future leaders through travel, exposure, and meaningful experiences that broaden horizons and inspire possibility.

Future Leaders: Opening South Africa to Itself

South Africa does not lack talent.
It does not lack potential.

What it often lacks is exposure.

As someone deeply passionate about creating positive impact in our communities, I have committed my work to developing young future leaders through the initiatives of Tholo Leads the Way CC — including Camp Tholo, Tholo Tours, and IamNext Projects.

Each of these platforms exists for one purpose: to empower and uplift the next generation of South African leaders.

The Power of Travel

One of the most rewarding aspects of this journey is giving children the opportunity to travel within their own country.

Many of them have never left their communities.
Many have never seen the ocean, a nature reserve, a heritage site, or even a major city outside their province.

Travel changes that.

When young people step outside their familiar environment, something shifts. They begin to see possibility. They begin to imagine differently. They begin to ask bigger questions.

Travel opens minds.
It broadens horizons.
It inspires dreams.

And sometimes, a single trip can redirect the trajectory of a life.

Exposure Creates Leaders

Through Camp Tholo experiences and Tholo Tours educational journeys, children do more than sightsee.

They:

Learn about South Africa’s history and cultural diversity
Engage with conservation and environmental stewardship
Develop independence and resilience
Build confidence in unfamiliar environments
Form friendships across social and cultural divides

These are not just outings.
They are leadership laboratories.

By exposing young people to the beauty, complexity, and opportunity within South Africa, we are equipping them with perspective — and perspective is power.

Breaking Cycles, Building Vision

Poverty is not only financial.
Sometimes it is a poverty of exposure.

When children never see what is possible, they struggle to imagine something different for themselves.

By helping them explore their own country, we are helping them see beyond limitation. We are planting seeds of ambition, responsibility, and belief.

We are not just creating memories.
We are shaping mindsets.

And mindsets shape nations.

A Shared Responsibility

I am deeply grateful to collaborate with educators, partners, parents, and supporters who share this vision. Leadership development is not a solo mission — it is a collective investment in the future of South Africa.

If we want better communities tomorrow, we must expose our children to broader possibilities today.

The future leaders of South Africa are already here.

They simply need opportunity.

Final Thought

Let’s not underestimate what a single experience can do.

Sometimes the journey begins with a bus ride.
Sometimes leadership begins with exposure.

Let’s make the world a better place for our kids.

Shalom!

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Embracing the Present: Why the “Good Old Days” Are an Illusion

The Book of Ecclesiastes is a wisdom book in the Old Testament of the Bible that explores the meaning of life, the fleeting nature of time, and humanity’s search for purpose. Traditionally attributed to King Solomon, it reflects on themes of vanity, work, wealth, wisdom, and ultimately concludes that reverence for God gives life true meaning.

Embracing the Present: Letting Go of the Illusion of the “Good Old Days”

In uncertain times, it’s easy to romanticize the past. We scroll through memories. We replay old conversations. We tell ourselves, “Things were better back then.”

But ancient wisdom gently interrupts that narrative:

“Do not say, ‘Why were the old days better than these?’ For it is not wise to ask such questions.” — Ecclesiastes 7:10

That verse is not dismissing memory. It is warning us about distortion.

The “good old days” often feel better not because they were better — but because they are familiar, edited, and safely behind us. The present feels heavier because we are living it in real time.

Yet the present is where life actually happens.

The Brain Was Designed for Now

Modern neuroscience offers a powerful reminder: your brain is not fixed.

The principle of neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural pathways — shows that we are not trapped by yesterday’s experiences, failures, or limitations. Our thoughts, habits, and actions today physically shape our brain tomorrow.

In other words:

You are not stuck.
You are adaptable.
You are capable of growth — at any stage of life.

Every new skill learned.
Every healthier response chosen.
Every intentional thought practiced.
Every act of courage repeated.

All of it rewires you.

The present moment is not a waiting room.
It is a workshop.

Why We Glorify the Past

Psychology explains that our minds tend to smooth out the rough edges of memory. We forget the anxiety, the uncertainty, the struggle. What remains is a highlight reel.

Even physics offers perspective. In Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, time is not experienced the same way in every frame of reference. Our perception of time is deeply influenced by context and experience.

The past feels smaller because it is complete.
The present feels bigger because it is unfolding.

But unfolding is not a flaw — it is possibility.

Wisdom for the Present Moment

Many modern thinkers echo this truth.

Caroline Leaf teaches that we can manage and reshape our thinking patterns.
Myles Munroe emphasized purpose in the present — not someday, but now.
Seth Godin reminds us that meaningful change begins with small, consistent action.
Simon Sinek challenges us to live from our “why” in real time.
Les Brown pushes us to act despite fear — not after fear disappears.

Different voices.
One consistent message:

Your power is in today.

Practical Ways to Embrace the Present

If we want to move beyond nostalgia and into growth, we need practice — not just perspective.

1. Practice Mindful Awareness

Pause. Breathe. Notice.
Engage your senses. Be where your feet are. Presence is a skill that strengthens with repetition.

2. Train Gratitude Daily

Gratitude interrupts comparison. Instead of asking, “Why isn’t this like it used to be?” ask, “What is available to me right now?”

3. Set Micro-Goals

Dream big — but act small. Tiny consistent steps reshape identity. Progress builds confidence.

4. Guard Your Inputs

Your environment shapes your outlook. Choose conversations, content, and communities that fuel growth rather than nostalgia-fueled negativity.

The Real Truth About the “Good Old Days”

One day, today will be someone’s “good old days.”

The question is:
Will you have been present for it?

The past is memory.
The future is imagination.
The present is stewardship.

You are not called to relive yesterday.
You are invited to build today.

And through the remarkable design of your mind, your faith, and your daily choices — you can shape a future that one day will be worth remembering.

Embrace the present.
It is not a downgrade from the past.
It is the raw material of your becoming.

Final Thought

The “good old days” were once uncertain, unfinished, and uncomfortable too — just like today.

What made them meaningful wasn’t perfection.
It was participation.

So don’t sit on the sidelines of your own life, waiting for things to feel easier, clearer, or more nostalgic. Lean in. Grow through it. Shape it.

Because one day, when you look back, it won’t be the ease of this season you remember —
it will be the courage you showed in living it fully.

Shalom!

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