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Power of Positive Attitude: The Dr. Robert Schuller Story!
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“I really don’t know what my talent is, but I thought this would be a good chance for me to give what I think I owe you all, and that is an explanation. If I have one talent, it is this: I can tell you that during that time my faith became very real to me.” – Carol Shuller
Having examined the possibilities of grace and wisdom, let’s consider the triumph of a positive mindset, using the incredible story of the Schuller’s family.
For four years, Dr Robert Schuller and his family watched how their daughter, Carol, amazingly moved from a hospital bed to the ski slopes. When they arrived from Korea to Carol’s bedside in Sioux City, Iowa, after her motorcycle accident, Schuller had been shocked by what he saw. His daughter lay in her bed in intensive care. Her body was bruised, broken and disfigured. But her spirit was whole and hearty. Incidentally, while on the way to see her, Schuller had relentlessly pondered his opening line. What would be my first words to her? But on getting to her, she solved the problem by speaking first: “I know why it happened, Dad. God wants to use me to help others who have been hurt.”
It was this positive attitude that saw Carol through seven months of hospitalisation, intravenous feedings, and consequent collapsed veins. This positive attitude gave her the courage to fight a raging infection that threatened her limb and her life. She hung on until a new drug was released by the United States’ FDA (Federal Drug Agency). It was the right drug at the right time – a real miracle.
Moreover, it was the same positive mentality that helped Carol to make the transition from a hospital patient to a “handicapped” member of a family and school. It helped her feel normal and whole again. She refused to allow the inconvenience of an artificial limb to keep her from pursuing the active life she loved, including soft ball.
The summer after her accident, Carol shocked her father by saying: “Dad, I am going to sign up for softball again this year. “That’s great!” Her dad responded, not wanting to discourage her. At that time, Carol’s artificial leg had been attached just below the knee. She was plagued by a stiff knee that could barely bend a thirty-degree angle. She walked very stiffly. Running was out of the question.
However, Dr Schuller took Carol to the local school where all the parents were lining up with their girls to sign up for the girls’ softball team. Carol signed up and went back to check her uniform. As she swung her stiff plastic leg into the car and rested her jersey, socks and cap in her lap, her father turned to her and said, “Carol, how do you expect to play ball if you can’t run?” Instantly, she replied, “I have got that all figured out, Dad! When you hit home runs, you do not have to run.”
Carol eventually hit enough home runs that season to justify her presence on the team! She learnt the lesson: Tough times never last, but tough people do. She has had six more surgeries since that first amputation. She soon became a regular skier and ultimately met her goal, which was to win a gold medal in the qualifying races that, in turn, admitted her to the elite corps of skiers participating in the National Ski Championships! Some years back, she pulled her goggles on and took her place among champions in the country- at the young age of eighteen years! Yes, she still walked with a limp. She drew curious looks from strangers. But her positive attitude helped her even with that.
Now, this is the most incredible part. Few years ago, the Schullers were privileged to be guests of the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company on a one-week cruise; it is a custom on the last night to have a talent show in which any of the passengers can participate. Carol, then seventeen years old, surprised her family one day by saying, “I am going to be in the talent show tonight.”
Carol was not into singing or dancing. So, naturally, her father was curious as to what she would do that night. Carol is not in the least ashamed to be seen in shorts or swimming attire, although her present artificial left leg covers her stump to just below the hip. But she is very conscious of the fact that people look at her out of the corners of their eyes and wonder what happened to her.
On the night of the talent show, Schuller and his wife sat in the lounge along with six hundred other people. The talent show was scheduled to take place on the stage in the big, glorified cocktail lounge. As you can imagine, it is a very secular scene. The acts that performed that night were typical of amateur talent shows. Then it was Carol’s turn. She came on stage, wearing neither shorts nor Hawaiian garb, but a full-length dress. She looked beautiful. She walked up to the microphone and said:
“I really don’t know what my talent is, but I thought this would be a good chance for me to give what I think I owe you all, and that is an explanation. I know you have been looking at me all week, wondering about my fake leg. I thought I should tell you what happened. I was in a motorcycle accident. I almost died, but they kept giving me blood, and my pulse came back. They amputated my leg below the knee and later they amputated through the knee. I spent seven months in the hospital – seven months with intravenous antibiotics to fight infection.” She paused a moment, and then continued, “If I have one talent, it is this: I can tell you that during that time my faith became very real to me.”
Suddenly, a hush swept over the lounge. The waitresses stopped serving drinks. The glasses stopped tinkling. Every eye was focused on this tall seventeen- year-old blonde. She said, “I look at you girls who walk without a limp, and I wish I could walk that way. I cannot, but this is what I have learnt, and I want to leave it with you: It is not how you walk that counts, but what walks with you and who you walk with.” And she sang a powerful song,
And He walks with me,
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share
In our time of prayer
(originally, “as we tarry there”)
None other can ever know
“Thank you,” she ended.
According to Schuller, “There was not a dry eye, not a life that was not touched that night as Carol gave those powerful words. Tough times never last, but tough people always do! Because tough people know that with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible! What makes a person survive and thrive? Why are some people tough enough to win over their tough times? These are questions that have before been important as they are today, because we are going through the toughest time that our country has ever faced. We cannot merely talk about strategies for success. We have to get down to hard core principles that will work. And the only principle that we can believe in are the principles that are tested, tried and proven (trusted).”
Possibility-mindset works! It has helped countless people survive very tough times. It can help you too. It helped Robert Schuller; it helped Carol Schuller; it helped David in the Bible; it helped Daniel; it helped Joshua, it helped Joseph; it helped Apostle Paul…and I repeat, it can help you too!
Possibility thinkers are go-getters. Everybody has challenges. But you can learn to solve and manage your challenges, turning them to stepping stones to your rightful destiny. No matter how bad your situation may seem, know that it could always be worse. So, be glad it is not worse. In fact, it is actually surmountable! Put your challenges in the proper perspective. Stop making mountains out of a molehill. You are a natural champion – live it out!
Thank you all for reading.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke is an accredited ISO 20700 Effective Leadership Management Trainer.
E-mail: adegoketolulope1022@gmail.com;
The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, has expressed deep satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing recruitment exercises for its orderly and transparent nature across the country.
He made the commendation, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), while receiving feedback from filed officers across the country and described the process as not just a routine exercise, but a critical step toward rebuilding public trust and enhancing the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Minister urged all participants to remain law-abiding, disciplined, and patient throughout the screening process. He emphasized that integrity and respect for due process are as important as physical and academic qualifications, noting that the future of policing in Nigeria depends largely on the character and commitment of those who wear the uniform.
“This is more than recruitment; it is a call to national service,” he stated. “Nigeria needs men and women of honor, individuals who understand that security is the foundation upon which development and prosperity are built.” Gaidam stressed.
The Minister also extended heartfelt appreciation to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for its bold and strategic approval of the recruitment of 50,000 police personnel.
He stressed that the unprecedented move demonstrates a clear resolve to address longstanding gaps in manpower while repositioning the Police Force to meet modern security challenges, just as he noted that beyond numbers, the current administration is focused on meaningful reform—transforming policing into a more professional, accountable, and citizen-centered institution.
Gaidam stated that from improved training frameworks to enhanced welfare and operational support, the reform agenda signals a new era for law enforcement in Nigeria.
The Minister noted that the ongoing recruitment exercise, therefore, stands as a symbol of renewed hope—a bridge between the present challenges and a future where communities feel safer, justice is more accessible, and the rule of law is upheld without compromise.
As the screening continues across the nation, the Minister called on all stakeholders—traditional leaders, community members, and institutions, to support the process and encourage eligible youths to participate with sincerity and patriotism.
“Nigeria’s path to a safer, more secure future is being steadily strengthened through deliberate reforms and renewed commitment to nation-building noting that at the heart of this progress is the ongoing nationwide police recruitment screening exercise, an initiative that reflects both hope and responsibility for thousands of young Nigerians,” the Minister concluded.
Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, has launched a scathing attack on Rauf Aregbesola following the latter’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The exchange comes hours after Aregbesola, while speaking at the convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday, described the Tinubu administration as a government of “scammers”, urging Nigerians to block it from retaining power after the 2027 general elections.
“If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power,” Aregbesola said.
In a swift response, Onanuga dismissed the remarks and accused the former Governor of Osun State of hypocrisy and poor performance during his time in office.
“My attention has been drawn to Rauf Aregbesola’s attack on the Tinubu administration at today’s illegal elective convention of the ADC — a party of desperados and power mongers who, to date, have not articulated any credible plan for Nigeria,” he said.
Onanuga further criticised Aregbesola for failing to reflect on his own record before attacking his “former boss and benefactor.”
“Unfortunately, Aregbesola did not undertake any honest self-reflection on his own record in public office — as governor or as Minister of Interior,” he stated.
He alleged that Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun State was marked by hardship and poor economic management.
“His eight years as governor of Osun State were characterised by unmitigated hardship for the people. Under his half-baked socialist policies, civil servants went unpaid for months, and those who were paid received only a fraction of their salaries,” Onanuga said.
“It is to Aregbesola’s infamy that Osun became known as a State receiving negative federal allocation and paying just 20 to 30 per cent of normal salaries. It was worse for pensioners in Aregbesola’s Osun State. Many pensioners who relied on their meagre monthly payments died because they were not paid at all.”
Turning to Aregbesola’s tenure as Minister of Interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Onanuga said it recorded major security lapses.
“As Minister of Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari, his tenure witnessed the highest number of jailbreaks in Nigeria’s history — including the infamous Kuje Prison escape in Abuja,” he said.
“During his four years, obtaining a Nigerian passport became a nightmarish process, and there were 15 major attacks on correctional facilities in Jos, Abolongo, Imo, Kabba, and Okitipupa, resulting in over 4,000 inmates escaping to join criminal elements.”
Onanuga added, “For someone who failed so woefully to secure our correctional centres and uphold his duties between 2019 and 2023, it is ironic that Aregbesola now seeks to lecture others on insecurity.”
He further accused Aregbesola and other ADC leaders of lacking credible policy alternatives stating, “The real scammers are the politicians inside the SPV called ADC.”
Defending the current administration, Onanuga said the government had acknowledged challenges arising from reforms but was implementing measures to mitigate their impact.
“The Tinubu administration has never shied away from acknowledging that policy reforms have brought unintended consequences, impacting the most vulnerable,” he said, adding that efforts such as wage increases, social support programmes, and economic reforms were underway.
He insisted that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was yielding results, including improved economic indicators and increased investor confidence.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam,” Onanuga said, maintaining that the government would continue its policies to stabilise the economy and address security challenges.
Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, has argued that Nigeria’s lingering insecurity could be decisively tackled within six months if the Federal government demonstrates sufficient commitment.
Ndume stated this on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, where he expressed concern over the recent escalation of violence, particularly in the North-East.
The lawmaker stressed that beyond complaints, what is required is decisive action and political will.
“It is not about complaining. It is not about asking somebody like me as a senator to say why these things. I always believe that if the President and the Federal Government of Nigeria are serious about this, we can end this thing (insecurity) in six months.
“All we need is to train our soldiers, equip them, arm them very well, and then motivate them,” Ndume said.
The senator lamented the continued loss of military personnel, including senior officers, noting that such incidents highlight deeper operational challenges.
“After killing their commanders, they now come back to kill our commanders and they are still taking about five, six, or even seven. Even today, around Northern Borno, we lost a colonel, I understand, with some soldiers. This should not continue. This is now the problem,” he said.
Ndume also attributed the worsening security situation to inconsistent and incomplete implementation of security strategies.
“The escalating security situation has really been enhanced by the challenge and the threat, and the actions that have been taken that have never been completely done. We have to be very serious about this matter; we have to walk the talk.”
Speaking on the issue of foreign support, the lawmaker emphasised the need for intelligence, technology, and specialised expertise rather than relying on external forces.
“What we need is intelligence. What we need is air support. We also need the expertise of those that are specialists. We even have some that were trained outside, special forces. We have capable hands already on the ground; all they need is equipment, ammunition, and motivation.
“We do not have enough drones. Look at what Burkina Faso is doing, it is technology. We can use technology to finish or minimise these things within the shortest possible time. If you deploy drones and have trained people to operate them, with proper command centres, we can achieve results,” he said.
The Borno South senator further noted that Borno State would have suffered greater devastation without the efforts of Governor Babagana Zulum and commended his interventions in stabilising parts of the State.
Ndume’s comments come amid renewed security concerns in the North-East and across Nigeria.
A recent airstrike at Jilli Market along the Yobe–Borno border on Saturday has come under scrutiny over reported civilian casualties.
The Nigerian Air Force said the strike targeted suspected Boko Haram insurgents and that it is investigating reported civilian casualties.
While casualty figures remain unclear, several deaths and injuries were reported, with victims receiving treatment in nearby facilities.
The incident also followed a deadly attack on Thursday on a military formation in Benisheikh, where troops repelled insurgents but suffered casualties.
Security challenges, including banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes, persist nationwide.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu, during a recent visit to Bayelsa State, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Earlier, the United States Department of State had issued travel advisories and begun reducing its staff presence in Abuja. Federal government, however, described it as a routine precaution and not a reflection the country’s security situation.
