Hi everyone, thank you so much for joining me today on Willful Positivity. My name is Alma Ohene-Opare, and I am so excited to be spending the next few minutes with you.

 

Since this is our first episode, I wanted to focus a little on what the show is all about and the inspiration behind it. I also want to share a bit about myself and what brought me to this point in my life.

 

So, let’s get started. I am originally from Ghana in West Africa. I have been living in the US for the past 17 years. I came to the US at the age of 19 as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I served my mission in Los Angeles, CA. I remember when I landed at LAX and stepped outside for the first time. I could not believe how cold it was in May in LA.

 

After my mission, I came back to America to attend Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Some people have asked me why I chose BYU. Well, apart from the fact that it is a great school, as a Latter-day Saint, it was always my dream to come to BYU. I did not even consider applying to any other school. I loved every bit of my experience there. I graduated from BYU in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. A few years later in 2016, I received my MBA from Western Governors University.

 

My wife, Evelyn, and I have been married for 14 and a half years, and we have 4 beautiful kids. Two boys and two girls. The oldest is 13 and the youngest turns 4 in November.

 

In my professional life, I work as a software solutions engineer. I am also a writer and public speaker and now a podcast host. I am currently writing my very first book. The working title for the book is American Privilege. I will share more about the book later.

 

I know 2020 has been quite crazy and eventful, to say the least. But for me, it is also a very special year. In May of this year, I finally became eligible to apply for American citizenship. After 17 years of living in America as an immigrant, it’s hard for me to express how excited and grateful I am for this possibility.

 

In fact, it is part of the reason I created this podcast. The journey to this point in my life has been a really long one, with twists and turns and many disappointments along the way. But one thing that kept me going was maintaining a sense of positivity that fueled my willingness to persevere through the trials and challenges of life as an immigrant.

 

The truth of the matter is, when I look at my 36 years on this earth, I can honestly say I have been blessed with many wonderful experiences that have taught me that hard work, never giving up and most importantly choosing positivity and optimism even in the face of difficulty and trial is what the success is all about.

 

Unfortunately, I see a generation embracing hopelessness. I see people all around the world who see life only through the lens of its imperfections. I see people increasingly believing that they are powerless to change their stations in life. Some even believe there is a systemic and invisible force holding them back.

 

As a software engineer, I have always been interested in critical thinking and effective problem-solving. With that mindset, I wanted to understand what it really takes to succeed in life. As a father, I also wanted to make sure my children embrace a philosophy of self-reliance and self-determination, rather than a feeling that they are victims of circumstances they cannot control.

 

I want to show my kids that the only things that can hold them back in life are the choices they make each and every day.  They have the power to make their dreams bigger than their fears or to limit their ambition and choose victimhood over self-reliance and self-determination.

 

I created Willful Positivity as a philosophy of hope. A place where we can all be challenged to see the silver lining in every situation we may be in. I believe the changes we seek in our personal lives and as a society as a whole can only be brought about through positive engagement with each other, not negative agitation and endless insurrection.

 

I also believe it is in our power to be positive irrespective of our circumstances. Being positive is a choice you make long before the trials come. It is a mindset that allows you to think clearly during difficult situations. It helps you control your emotions and keep your frustrations in perspective.

 

Now, I don’t mean to suggest that there should never be a point of frustration in our lives. Lying at the root of our very existence is the law of entropy. The dictionary defines entropy as a lack of predictability or a gradual decline into disorder. So if life is destined to trend towards disorder, it will take an enormous amount of energy to turn the tide towards civility, peaceful coexistence, and order.

 

So my message with this podcast is to show you and anyone who would listen that the energy needed to make this world a better place lies dormant in the hearts and souls of each one of us. It is up to us to recognize its existence and activate it consciously and deliberately.

 

It is my sincere belief that the fuel behind that drive to change the world is a mind that chooses hope over fear. Willful Positivity is hence, the process of putting your hopes and dreams ahead of your trials and fears. It is the ability to squeeze every ounce of goodness out of any situation you may be in. It is the process of choosing to be a uniter and not a divider; it is choosing love over anger and vitriol.

 

There is an African proverb that says, “happiness is like a perfume, you have to put it on yourself for others to appreciate it”. For me, willful positivity means, making a deliberate effort to see the good in the world, to choose optimism over cynicism, to choose courage over comfort, to let your light shine wherever you go.