The term ‘Over-sabi’ or ‘Sabinus’, is a term used to describe a person who behaves or responds as if they know everything.
According to the Urban Dictionary, a person described as an ‘Over-Sabi’ is,
“A person who feels the need to act like they know it all. They are annoying to be around, and try to compensate for the fact that they are not cool in any way. When trying to prove they are more intelligent than you, they may foam in the mouth and have mini seizure. It can also be used to refer to a person talking pure nonsense about things they have no idea about”.
Obviously, this is a very comical definition but you get the idea.
I behaved like an over sabi today and was taught a serious lesson. The walk of shame down from that high mountain of shame is long and shame tends to hang in the air for a while.
You see, I have a lot of confidence in my work (rightly so) but I almost never account for human error. I am currently in the finishing stages of the work I am carrying out and was asked to retrieve data about someone or other. After checking my work, I provided what was requested from me. I was then asked to check again because it seemed incorrect. I responded with emphatic confidence that it was not incorrect and went on to explain why (because I get it right 100% of the time…).
The person I was working with asked whether I was certain and asked that I check again.
I insisted that I was correct but in an attempt to prove him wrong, I checked again and found that he was right and I was wrong.
Oh my! Obviously, I did not get any “I told you so(s) BUT!!!!
What is it they say?
“18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” – Proverbs 16:18 New Living Translation (NLT)
And boy was that fall long.
Obviously, he did not know I went to check to prove him wrong but I knew. God knew. (God ALWAYS knows your heart!).
This ‘Over Sabi Syndrome‘ has been regularly highlighted to me for a few weeks now (in different ways and through different people). If you are my friend on FB, you will remember the ‘I don’t know’ story I shared. Clearly, it is a problem I have and need to deal with FAST!!!
My family tell me (OFTEN) but I have not listened so far…
I am listening now! (Lol!)
It sucks when we learn the hard way!
The thing is, I had done the work, checked it twice (I need to start checking it three times) I just made a mistake. The mistake part is okay, the issue was my dragging ‘rightness’ with someone who has more experience and knowledge.
Next time, I will simply go and check before I open my mouth even (especially) if I am sure because I AM human after all and therefore prone to error. It will not have killed me to just check.
So, what did I learn from this? I imagine I hear you asking…lol!
Over-Sabi is pride (in Nigerian form)
Pride in this context is always unhelpful
Where there are others with more knowledge in the room, that is the time to close your mouth and LISTEN.
LEARN as much as possible and most importantly, leave Over-Sabi alone!
Humility is always the better choice
Henry Ford was quoted to have said;
“Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though sometimes it is hard to realise this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward.”
Now I know better, I pray to be able to do better!
Live long and prosper my people!
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