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The Quiet Battle Within: What You and Wise King Solomon Have in Common

 


Let me start with something slightly uncomfortable. You already know what to do. Eat better. Wake up earlier. Call that person. Repair that relationship. Break that habit. Start that thing. You know.

In fact, if knowledge were the problem, you would be unstoppable by now. You’ve read the books and watched the videos. Listened to the podcasts. Saved the tweets. Even sent some to your friends, like, “This is deep.”

But here’s the strange part. When the moment comes to act, you freeze. Or you delay. Or you negotiate with yourself like a seasoned politician.

“Let me start next week.”
“Today has been hectic.”
“I need to be in the right mindset.”

And just like that, nothing changes. What exactly is going on? This is not a discipline problem. No, no. This one is deeper.

1. Solomon Was Rich, Powerful and Still Confused (Just Like You)

I want you to imagine Solomon. Not the Instagram version. Not the “wisest man who ever lived” highlight reel. I mean the real situation.

Young. Inexperienced. Living in the shadow of a father who was not just successful but legendary. David wasn’t just a king. He was that guy. Warrior. Poet. Giant-killer. God’s favorite. Imagine that pressure alone. Now imagine you are Solomon. You’re stepping into that role.

Behind the throne? A family full of drama that would make Kenyan WhatsApp groups look peaceful. We’re talking betrayal, murder, power struggles, and complicated relationships. And on top of that, you are expected to lead a nation that is thriving yet fragile.

Now pause.

Remove the palace. Remove the gold. What are you left with? Pressure. Expectation. Uncertainty. Identity confusion.

Sound familiar? Is that you?

Maybe you’re not ruling Israel, but you’re ruling something: a business, a career, a family, or even your own expectations. And like Solomon, you’re trying to figure it out without fully knowing how. Now here’s where it gets interesting.

When God asks Solomon what he wants, he doesn’t ask for money. Not even a small “just in case” amount. He doesn’t ask for peace. Not even “just reduce the drama slightly.”

He asks for discernment. Wisdom. The ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Which, if you think about it, is a very inconvenient gift, because once you can see clearly, you lose the ability to pretend you don’t know.

2. The Real Problem: You’re Not Confused—You’re Divided

Let’s bring this home. Most people say, “I don’t know what to do.” That’s a lie. A polite, socially acceptable lie. But still a lie. Why? Because when you sit quietly, you know. The issue isn’t confusion. It’s conflict.

There are two versions of you:

Version 1:
The one with vision. Disciplined. Focused. Growth-oriented. The one who says, “This year, we are changing things.”

Version 2:
The one who wants vibes. Comfort. A soft life. Minimal stress. The one who says, “Relax, we’ll figure it out.”

And these two aren’t friends. They don’t collaborate. They don’t compromise. They take turns.

Monday—Version 1 is in charge. Gym. Water. Journal. Life is together.

Wednesday—Version 2 shows up. Snacks. Netflix. “We deserve this.”

Friday? We don’t even talk about Friday.

And this cycle continues, not because you are weak, but because you are undecided.

3. You Don’t Have a Discipline Problem. You Have a Discernment Problem.

Let me say this slowly. You don’t struggle with discipline. You struggle with clarity. Discipline is what you do after the decision is clear. But if your mind is constantly negotiating, if every action feels like a debate, if every choice feels like “Should I or should I not?”

Then discipline becomes exhausting. You’re not executing; you’re arguing with yourself. And guess what? You’re very good at arguing. You have data. You have excuses. You have emotional justifications. You can convince yourself of anything.

And that’s the problem. Without discernment, you will always choose what is easy in the moment over what is right in the long term. Solomon understood this. He didn’t ask for strength. He asked for sight.

4. The Day I Ran Away from Growth (Yes, I Literally Did)

Let me confess something. The first time I walked into a Toastmasters meeting, I mentally resigned. Immediately. I was 21, fresh from campus, full of potential and ego, neatly packaged. I walked in and saw people speaking confidently, articulating ideas and standing with presence.

Instead of thinking, “Wow, I want to learn this,” my brain said, “These people are doing too much.” Let’s be honest. That’s how we protect ourselves. When something exposes a gap in us, we don’t lean in. We criticize it. We label it “Too much,” “Not authentic,” or “Not my style.”

 But deep down?

It’s not rejection. It’s recognition. Envy isn’t hatred. It’s a signal. It’s your soul whispering, “You could be this, but you’re not yet.” Instead of accepting that, I ran. Not physically—but mentally. I chose comfort over growth. For years, I convinced myself I was fine. Until life said, “Let’s test that theory.”

5. Crisis Has a Way of Removing Your Excuses

Fast-forward. I hit 30. Quit my job. Started asking deeper questions.

“What am I doing?”
“What do I actually want?”
“Why are people with everything still dissatisfied?”

Then life added more lessons: My father passed away. My perspective on health changed. My marriage faced strain, and suddenly, all the things I thought I understood didn’t hold.

That’s when I went back. Same Toastmasters environment. Same structure. Different man. This time, I was not trying to impress anyone. I was trying to understand myself. And that changed everything.

6. Identity: The Real Game You’re Not Playing

Here’s the part most people skip. Your habits don’t come from your goals. They come from your identity. If you still see yourself as...

  • “I’m not disciplined.”
  • “I struggle with consistency.”
  • “I’m just not that type of person.”

Then your actions will always follow that script. You can set goals. You can make plans. But your identity will override them. Every time. Because behavior always aligns with self-image, not with intention.

7. Pain Is Not Your Enemy (Avoidance Is)

Let’s address another lie. “Life should be easier.” Says who? Growth is uncomfortable. Let’s not romanticize it.

  • Waking up early? Pain.
  • Exercising consistently? Pain.
  • Having hard conversations? Pain.
  • Facing your own patterns? Deep pain.

But here’s the twist. That pain is not punishment. It’s refinement. The problem is that we’ve become experts at avoiding it. We scroll instead. We distract. We postpone. And every time you avoid discomfort, you strengthen the version of you that stays stuck.

8. So, What Actually Changes?

Not motivation. Not hype. Not another plan. Clarity. When you clearly see what matters, what aligns, and what slowly destroys you, decision-making becomes simpler. Not easier. Simpler. And once the decision is clear? Execution becomes natural.

Conclusion: The Real Question You Must Answer

Here’s where we land. Not in motivation. Not in inspiration. But in truth. You already know what to do. The question is: Why are you not doing it? And more importantly, which version of you is currently in charge?

CALL TO ACTION

Don’t rush past this. Sit with it. Ask yourself honestly:

  • Where am I choosing comfort over growth?
  • Where am I pretending not to know?
  • What am I avoiding that I know will change my life?

Then do one thing. Not ten. One. Because transformation is not built on intensity. It is built on consistency.

If this message stirred something in you, don’t let it fade.

1.       Join my LinkedIn Habit Coaching Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/habits-with-coach-edwin-7399067976420966400/

2.       Join my Habit WhatsApp Community at https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAmKkOBvvsWOuBx5g3L  

3.       Ready to level up your life? Join my 12-Month Personal Transformation Program and let’s intentionally build the next version of you — with clarity, discipline, and momentum. Call or WhatsApp me directly at +254 724 328059, and let’s begin.

 

 

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