THE SUBTLE ART OF USING YOUR HEAD
If you ever went to the beach, sat down on a bamboo stool, watched the marine scenery and thought about things in general (past and present events, principles, standards and successes), you would’ve realized that nothing under Gaea ever happens accidentally. Little wonder the popular saying, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” There is always a plan, even if it is for there not to be a plan. And one can only claim to be in control of their lives when they realize that it is in their hands to plan it.
Successful men became so by planning their ways through setbacks and overcoming them. The police plans a repel on robbers who also planned earlier an attack. War Lords got their high ranks by successfully carrying out battle strategies they formulated. Let me tell you a story.
In the early days of ancient Spanish military captain Hѐrnan Cortés’ career, he had a feud with the Governor of Cuba and when he wanted to take over the land for a colony, he used one of the strategies that make him to be considered as one of the toughest military personalities ever in world history. Hѐrnan got close to the Cubans. He got them gifts, helped them with chores, learnt their language and in no time, became one of them. So when the Governor sent his soldiers against Hѐrnan, the Cuban people fought for him. They rose against their own soldiers. That single strategy helped him win a battle against another man in his own house.
In the same way, you need strategy to overcome the battles of life. Every single day we live, we face over a million situations where we require planning. The moment you begin to live life as fate decides is the point you begin to stop living. Be of full awareness that good things are not serendipity. It all happens in your head. The way you use your head is very important as it helps you in:
1. Getting a Vision.
Perhaps you did not know, famous black president and activist, Nelson Mandela, said that if a man does not have something he can die for, then such man doesn’t deserve to live. At every point in your life, you need to have a picture in your head that drives you. You need a vision you will work towards achieving. It is the most basic, yet most important way of using your head rightly.

2. Focusing On That Vision.
Your head is that lens. Once you’ve gotten the driving image, strive to keep your eyes on it. Kill distractions. Shut your eyes to attractive sidelines that will derail you and fix them on the goal instead.

3. Strategize.
This is the subtle art of planning out a successful plot and putting it into effect. Battles are won by strategy. Success is attained by deep strategy. Strategy gives you more chances of making things happen.

4. Keep Faith.
In as much as we do not want them, it is only plain reality that bad times will come. Life is a bed of roses; beautiful but has thorns in it. The low times will come at certain points and the only thing that will keep that vision in your head fresh and alive is the belief and faith that you have in that vision and in yourself. Unless you believe that it can happen, it will never come into reality, the resources you pump into it regardless.

CONCLUSION
Your head is a very powerful asset. Use it wisely and to your advantage. Learn and spread the gospel about the subtle art of using your head.

Itty Okim is a content expert and PR enthusiast. He posts @IttyOkim on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.