TEN KEYS TO A BETTER YOU!

KEY#1- BELIEVE

You must believe in yourself. Many of us harbor false beliefs. Sometimes we do not realize this. These false beliefs may have been with us our entire life.

We need to rid ourselves of this excess baggage. Many times, these false beliefs only serve to reinforce negative thoughts. This in turn prevents us from doing all the good we might otherwise do. The next time you “talk to yourself", stop and listen to what you said. Is it really true?

 KEY#2- VALUE

You must value everyone and everything that you have. Unfortunately, some of us do not appreciate what we have until it is taken away from us. It is then that we realize our loss and what we had. But then it is too late. Each day we should focus on what we have and give thanks. Remember that by focusing only on what we want and never valuing what we have, we become unhappy.

 KEY#3- SECURE

ARE WE LOSING THIS WAR?

Those who know me very well are aware that I am an ardent optimist any time, any day. I see hope in the midst of hopelessness; and why won’t I when I’ve made myself a self-styled Motivator? Nevertheless, I do not lose faith at all in my calling but when the Motivator needs some motivation, “You know say water don pass garri.” But never mind, “my own water never pass garri.” But now, I’m worried on the state of our nation. I first saw this headline in an article sponsored by Transparency International, “Nigeria is gradually losing the war against corruption.” It got me thinking; yes, it did. Most people in public offices and a good number of Nigerians have eroded the true spirit of nationalism.

Why are we losing this war against corruption?

TOUGH LOVE

                             

        Friends, it doesn’t feel so good to be far away from you for so long a time. As some of you already know, I was on my National Assignment in Kwara state, Nigeria and I had very limited access to the internet but now, it feels good to be back so we can inspire each other again! I missed you a lot and I hope you missed me too. I’m sorry for some of the expectations I could not meet  up with- some calls unreplied, some columns not written especially that of Explorer magazine but right now, I'm glad to be home.

        

 Please consider this short piece; I hope it says something to you.

It was ten minutes past ten. The night was cold and lonely, the silk cotton moved rhythmically to the spinning fan on the ceiling. As Mama Emeka knelt down, tears percolated in her eyes and streamed down to wet her palms. She clenched her teeth and muttered something under stiff breath. She had lost count of how long she had been kneeling there but she had been beckoning on God to restore her one and only son, Emeka.

           “Oh God, let my son come back to me!” She silently said with a weird mixture of faith and hopelessness. The night was cold but she managed to open the door to step out in the chilly cold and dangerous night in search of her son.

She felt she needed to stretch her faith beyond measure. She searched many places and finally found her son exhausted and abandoned in a “Pot Avenue” Emeka had been smoking and had lost consciousness. Emeka had preached in the church, sang in the choir, led many to Christ yet the alluring fantasies of a supposedly sweet world would not let him be.

One step after another, he derailed, became a frequent visitor at the jail house, an addicted smoker and a gangster.

Mama took him home amidst tears. “I had you in my womb for nine months, I breastfed you, I have always loved you. I could even die if only that will make you live; but son, come back to the Lord!” She wailed silently.

Indeed, Emeka later gave up his bad habits and returned to God, got rehabilitated and restored.

Indeed, Mama’s love could be tough but God’s love is even tougher! Would you take that love for granted? Don’t give up on God because he would not give up on you. Are you lost right now like Emeka, the waiting arms of the Lord are ever ready to welcome you back!

Just call home; Jesus is waiting with open arms!

Yours in active service!

Chijindu.

MOSQUITOES' PLANET.

His head was bowed and his hands folded behind his back. In one moment, he reached his hands down into his pocket and brought out a white handkerchief, ran it across his face and remained calm. “Don’t worry, this is a small case. We are on top of the situation”, a police sergeant said. Beads of intense perspiration hung loosely again on his forehead and trickled helplessly unto his starched brocade.

“Dr. Mike, it’s obvious you don’t love your wife. If you love her, then another 5million naira will not be too big. You must pay in another 5million naira before dusk or else…or else…” the call from the kidnappers cut and then, the connection broke. Dr. Mike had spent years in the U.S with his family and has been in the Nigeria for one year and six months. He had worked hard to empower inner city kids and get them back to school. Tales of kidnapping had only been tales to him until now. “How can they ask for another 5 million” he deeply wondered.

“Sir, our men will need 20,000 naira to fuel our car to intensify our search. We’re truly on top of the situation” The pot-bellied sergeant said in an unconcerned tone.

“You must be a devil’s advocate and some sort of stupid accomplice.” An angry Dr. Mike retorted at the police man. “Hey Dr. be careful with your mouth. You must know that we are on top of this situation.” The police officer stuttered.

After several unsuccessful attempts to rescue the wife, he paid another 5 million naira. When his wife was finally released, she had been shot and crippled on one leg. Speechless, he took his wife and returned after the kidnap saga back to the U.S and a helpless and weak security system are still on top of the situation. Dr. Mike returned back to the U.S. with fears, with scares and with tales of woes for a country for which he had been once patriotic.

This may sure be fiction but it does represent the moments encountered by many people in a nation that seems more like a Mosquitoes’ Planet where everyone is trying to get a bite off the other. Where shall we run to; the latest in line being the kidnap of the mother of the Nigeria finance minister. This will definitely not be unconnected with those involved with looting the nation’s treasury through the controversial fuel subsidy which Prof Okonjo Iweala is trying to bring to book. While she works to fix our economy, some mosquitoes are working to “fix” her back home; and to hear that the kidnappers are demanding 1 billion dollars is grossly laughable.

For a lot people, this represents their fears about Nigeria; a nation with plenty mosquitoes, both human and animal elements. Yet, my question is this, how can we run away from the only country we can call our own?  Shall we all run away for fear of being haunted? By no means! It’s a fight that we must fight; a fight that is needful and we must fight it with the last drop of our blood.

It’s not easy anywhere, but ours is a unique case and we must rise above these numerous evils. This is our nation and it is 'ours to plough; not to plunder'! May God help us!

WHERE IS YOUR TALENT?

Iyke Udoh was raised in the streets. He grew up under the shadows of violence in the ghetto. Well, by no fault of his. Every evening, to cool off from the hostility of the environment in which he found himself, he would compose and sing songs that often made his listeners’ ears glued to his voice. Every time he listened to established singers, something within him always told him that he could do as well if not better.

On the birthday of the girl he had always admired, he decided to sing her a special tune. As he sang tears fell on the cheeks of the people who listened to him and they marvelled at such awesome display of an undiscovered talent.

You may be like Iyke Udoh, with a great but undiscovered talent. Where is that your talent? Have you been admiring others and forgetting that within you is everything you need? Do you look at people, envy them and enter into unnecessary competition with them? You are in a competition with your last performance. Polish your talent and be your best; you may be age mates with the person you envy but not grace mates, so paddle your canoe.

Don’t underestimate that little talent you have. Don’t hide it. Your biggest breakthrough might be connected to the talent that you’re hiding. What you need to be the best is not too far from you but rather it’s within and around.

Yours in active service,

Chijindu.

9/11; WHEN MEN WERE MOVED TO TEARS.

The memories of the pain and agony inflicted on the world by terrorists who bombed the world trade centre on 11^th September, 2001 remain evergreen especially every September 11. It was one tragedy too many and the pains remain indelible especially in the hearts of those who lost dear ones. Lives were lost, families were ruined and the world was thrown into what has become one of its biggest and most sophisticated terrorist attacks. A lot of people were buried in the rubble; with their dreams, plans and aspirations.

What a world of uncertainties and transient life! That wicked act was masterminded in the heart of an evil genius, Osama Bin Laden and that emphasizes the power of thought and what one man’s idea could do to a world either positively or negatively. Someone said that evil persists when good men do nothing. Hence my challenge to you is this, what are you doing to the betterment of our world? May the souls of those that departed rest in peace and may we arise in our time to make our world a better place.

HOPE WHEN IT HURTS.

When everything in our lives is going on well, it’s easier to smile and stay excited; we even feel better about the place of God in our lives.  At such times, we have better reason to stay on top of our world. But what happens when the feeling is not all too rosy; when your expectations aren’t streaming in like summer spring? The real test of your character is not your disposition when the going is good but by how you react when you’re hurting.

 It‘s easier to feel good when all is going fine but how about when the going is tough? Will you give up? In times like this, don’t forget what you do have.  Celebrate your life, your gifts and rare friends and be grateful for the things that God has given you. It’s amazing to know how many people allow circumstances to determine their life’s course. Life’s too precious for you to spend your life hurting. Make some allowance in your life for people who might piss you off sometime; you have to let go and move on. Remember, as long as there’s life, there’s hope.

If you’ve ever come to the point where you’re hurting, I dare to remind you that God is God both on the mountain and in the valley. Whatever the problem may be,  God is in control and knows everything and how you choose to react to all these is what makes all the difference. 

When you’re hurting, let go and let God! Allowing God to step into that situation would make your mind clearer and cause mountains to tremble before you.No matter what you’re going through, there is grace to sail through!

One with God is majority

I believe in the strength in your character; you’ll come out stronger.

Stay on Top of your Game! 

Chijindu