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  • Writing Blog Posts Using a Mobile Phone

    This is day number five of straight writing. I have been writing atleast an article for the last four days. I have never posted five consecutive articles in five days. This is my very first time WOW.

    A few days ago as I was doing my usual reading ritual I came across an article on medium, that has changed my productivity in terms of frequency of writing. It has taken my productivity to another level.

    I have been writing for some time now and to be honest, have struggled to write consistently. I have been looking for a formula that would help improve the translation of my thoughts to paper.

    I have never doubted my ability to read and write. It is the ability to write regularly that I have struggled with. I have so many ideas that need to be transmuted to paper.

    I have read many suggestions, some of which are very good and have helped me. But not everything has been beneficial. I have tried and tried many methods to improve the speed at which I produce articles but with no success.

    Am very sure that some of you are struggling like me. Well, I hope my discovery will be of help to you as well. It is only the beginning but I can strongly sense a feeling that this is the right one for me.

    Over the years I have come to appreciate the principle of writing every day. It helps you develop the muscle of writing. The more you practice the better your writing becomes. I have struggled to write creatively daily.

    As they say, practice makes perfect but I say practice creates room for improvement. There is always room for improvement.

    My biggest discovery was the use of my mobile phone. This I believe is a game-changer for me. I needed a medium that is not destructive one that would keep me focused and can be accessed all the time.

    I was looking in the wrong places yet I had the gadget and did not know how else to use it apart from making phone calls. Look, explore the gadgets you have. They could just be what you have been looking for to improve your productivity.

    Being from the old school I tried the old conventional way of using a writing pad and then typing the document on my computer but this is very tedious and time-consuming.

    You may ask why not type straight on your computer? I tried this and for a long time, this has been my preferred method. Most of the articles on this website were produced like this.

    The problem I have is that every time I sit on my computer I have so many distractions. I want to do so many things and unfortunately for me by the time I open my word processor the idea of writing has evaporated.

    The other disadvantage is that sometimes the urge to write will come when I do not have immediate access to my computer. The only thing I can do is probably just write the idea in a notebook.

    By the time I get to sit down to put it to paper, the mind is switched off. But with the phone, I am always with it. All I do is just find a secluded place and am good to go.

    Writing needs some level of concentration and yes even though I can type faster on my computer’s keyboard I would rather be slow and be more productive than do nothing at all.

    I have discovered that I am more productive using my android phone to produce the meat and later transfer it to my computer for final editing and proofreading. With the use of Google Docs, I can access my documents from anywhere in the world.

    I can sit down and produce a 1000 words article within one to one and half hours on my phone without interruption. Previously it would take me much longer and would struggle to concentrate.

    With this method, I now take my time with editing and proofreading. It has freed up my time to concentrate on other aspects of my productivity.

    The proof is in the 4 previous articles that I wrote whilst on a bus commuting to work. The beauty of a phone is that it is pocket size yet big enough for typing.

    At first, when I tried for the first article I thought it would not work but I tried again, and alas here I am now writing the fifth article using my android phone. I hope not to break the streak and see how it goes.

    Previously I have attempted a one-month writing challenge and failed terribly. I hope with my newfound method I can revisit the challenge and conquer it.

    Just like with every other skill you need to find what works best for you. I like to think on paper and let the fingers do the talking. Don’t bother about your spelling and concentrate on what is flowing from within.

    If you are locked in you will be surprised at how words can flow from you. It will of course be not perfect but you have the meat of your story and what remains is putting it together to make it more sensible.

    The moment you start concentrating on your spellings, you interrupt the flow of your writing. Just write until the end, you will have time to do your spell check and corrections once you have emptied your ideas.

    The other thing about using Google Docs is that it has auto-correction and some words will be corrected on the go. This reduces the correction process.

    Conclusion

    Writing is an expression of our being. I write to tell my story and hope that someone out there can be inspired to even achieve more with their own lives. We share our stories through writing. Find a method that works for you and continue telling your story.

  • 4 Reasons Why You Should Get Busy Living and not Busy Dying

    If you are not busy with your life, then you are not making progress. Those who are engaged in pursuing their dreams are always busy and focused.

    But also being busy does not necessarily mean you are being progressive. What you want in life is being busy for the right reasons and doing, the right things.

    Getting busy living means being focused on achieving your goals. Doing everything in your power to ensure that you achieve your life’s purpose.

    Taking action and putting things in place that will help you achieve your goals to the fullest is what it means to get busy living.

    Getting busy living is a personal decision. No one will make the decision for you. It is entirely up to you to make the choice either to get busy living or get busy dying.

    Why do I say get busy dying, well if you are not busy living then off course you are busy dying.

    Don’t dwell so much on the negatives, otherwise, you will be discouraged. Instead, concentrate on the positive things on matter how small they are, to help you stay focused and motivated.

    There are many things you do every day that are positive and worth dwelling on. If your current conditions do not allow you to express yourself create a more conducive environment for yourself, to thrive in and succeed. 

    Here are some reasons why getting busy living is preferable to getting busy dying.

    Life is too Short

    Time is a limited and scarce resource, and none of us knows how much we have. Getting busy living entails making the most of the time we have, pursuing our passions, and creating meaningful experiences.

    Remember life is all about experiences. The better the experiences the better the life we lead.

    The best we can do is to try and utilise and make good of the time we have on our hands. Life is too short, so savour every moment you have.

    Do the things that need to be done in the time that you have. Otherwise, you may live to regret not having done them. Make every effort and do not let chance pass you by.

    Make the most of every opportunity that comes your way to do the right thing—knowing that humanity is all about service.

    Always go the extra mile and not just what is required of you. Doing extra will also improve your reliability and in business increases your value.

    People always want to be associated with people who are reliable. They want to work with someone they can rely on. They want to be associated with some they can trust.

    Make the decision to live a happy life and remind yourself every day about it. This will help you stay focused on being happy.

    Yes, negative things will come your way, but your mind will be more focused on the positives. There is something about making decisions. It makes you feel responsible for the outcome.

    Personal Growth

    When we get busy living, we challenge ourselves to learn and grow. We push ourselves out of our comfort zones and develop new skills and habits, that lead to personal growth and self-improvement.

    The main benefit of pursuing your goals is personal growth. You will experience personal growth when you are focused on achieving your life’s purpose and not when you are busy dying.

    This personal growth can be incredibly rewarding. It opens up many facets of your life. Personal growth is what you as a human being should aim for. It should be your deliberate personal policy.

    However, personal development does not come easy. It needs your full attention and endurance for it to be achieved and even then it is a continuous process.

    There is never a stop to personal development and self-improvement. Every achievement propels you to pursue even more and greater goals. The more you achieve the more you want to achieve.

    Every attempt you make to pursue your goals is a contribution to your personal growth. Every achievement is a motivation for the next challenge.

    So it doesn’t matter if you fail on your first attempt. At least you will have learnt what not to do or what needs improvement.

    The thing is to never give up but to continue to rise and keep trying until you succeed. Remember there is no success without failure and it does not come on a silver platter.

    Connections or Relationships

    When we get busy living, we have more opportunities to connect with others who share our interests and passions. 

    Building meaningful relationships can bring joy, support, and fulfilment to your life. Relationships are key to the survival of humanity as a whole.

    We are a social species. Humanity thrives better on good relationships. The more meaningful connections you create the easier it becomes to pursue your dreams.

    You will realise that most of the things you do come down to enhancing or creating new connections. The more connections you have the better the chances of success.

    We thrive more especially when we have a good support system or network looking after our back. 

    If you have good strong relationships your mind is more at peace. A peaceful mind allows you to explore your talents to the max.

    It allows you to show the world what you are made of, more freely without holding back. Look, when you know that people have your best interests at heart, believe me, not even the sky is the limit. You will soar like an eagle.

    Fulfilment

    “The chief condition on which, life, health and vigor depend on, is action. It is by action that an organism develops its faculties, increases its energy, and attains the fulfilment of its destiny.” –  Colin Powell

    Pursuing your goals and passions can bring a sense of purpose and fulfilment to your life. When we are engaged in activities that we enjoy and are passionate about, we feel more alive and fulfilled.

    When we are fulfilled we contribute more to humankind. We become the solution to the world. The feeling of fulfilment cannot be replaced with anything. It is just on another level.

    Conclusion

    Overall, getting busy living means taking action and pursuing a life that is meaningful and fulfilling. It can help us make the most of our time, grow as individuals, connect with others, and find purpose and fulfilment in our lives.

    It’s a reminder to live our lives to the fullest and not let fear, regret, or complacency hold us back. 

  • Stop Being the Victim and Become the Victor

    We all have been victims at some point in our lives be it willingly or unwillingly. When you are a victim the results could be devastating and could have a long-lasting effect on your life.  

    To stop being a victim and become a victor, you need to take responsibility for your life and make conscious choices to take control of your situation. 

    Granted, some situations may not be easy to overcome. But if you have to move forward you need to change your mental attitude and let go of that situation bad as it may be. 

    Here are some steps that can help you shift from a victim mindset to a victor mindset:

    Change Your Mindset

    Start by recognizing that you have the power to change your circumstances. Reframe your thoughts and language from victim language to empowering language. Instead of saying “I can’t do anything about it,” say “I choose to take action.”

    Your mind is the window and door to your subconscious. The state of your mind will largely determine the state of your well-being. If you have a negative mind you will most likely be living a life that is not pleasing.

    Changing your mindset requires you to identify your current beliefs and thought patterns and deliberately shift them to more positive and empowering ones. Here are some strategies you can use to change your mindset:

    Identify Limiting Beliefs – Start by becoming aware of the beliefs that hold you back. These can be beliefs about yourself, your abilities, your circumstances, or your future. 

    Write them down and ask yourself if they are true. Challenge these beliefs by finding evidence that contradicts them.

    Reframe Negative Thoughts – When you catch yourself thinking negatively, try to reframe those thoughts in a more positive light. For example, instead of saying “I can’t do it,” say “I can learn how to do it.”

    Watch your thoughts and what you say. Remember they say you are what you think about most of the time. The Bible says “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

    Practice Gratitude – Focus on the positive things in your life and be grateful for them. This can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and toward more positive ones.

    There are many things that we can be grateful for. It does not matter whether you have been battered by life. There is still something you can be grateful for if not for the fact that you are still alive. 

    Stay Focused on Your Goals – Imagine yourself achieving your goals and visualize the steps you need to take to get there. This can help you stay motivated and focused.

    Focusing on achieving your goals directs all your energy and thoughts to find ways and solutions to be implemented along your success journey. It keeps your mind busy and motivated. 

    Seek Out Positive Influences – Surround yourself with positive influences, whether it’s people, books, or other media. Seek inspiration and encouragement from these sources.

    The more time you spend with positive influences the more like your mind will be. You will begin to speak positively towards yourself. 

    Use Positive Affirmations – Repeat positive affirmations to yourself throughout the day. These can be statements like “I am capable and strong,” or “I am worthy of success” and “I can do all things possible through Christ who gives me strength.”

    Take Responsibility

    Stop blaming others for your problems and take ownership of your life. Recognize that you have the power to make choices that can lead to positive outcomes.

    In other words, take responsibility for your actions. I believe that no one can do something to influence your actions without your consent. 

    Stop doing things to please other people. Just because your friends have invited you to a party does not mean you have to attend. Do what you think is right for you and not for them. 

    By taking responsibility for your life, you can create a sense of control and empowerment that can help you achieve your goals and overcome many challenges in life.

    Remember that taking ownership is a process that takes time and effort, but with practice, you can become more resilient, confident, and successful.

    Here are some ways to help you take responsibility for your life:-

    Accept Your Mistakes – We all make mistakes, and it’s essential to accept them and learn from them. Instead of blaming others or making excuses, take responsibility for your mistakes and work to correct them.

    Be Proactive Instead of being Reactive – Instead of waiting for things to happen to you, take proactive steps to create the life you want. Identify what you want to achieve and take action towards those goals.

    There is a time for everything. When it’s time to work it’s serious business. Focus on the task at hand and ensure you do your best. 

    Make Decisions – Don’t wait for others to make decisions for you. Take the time to weigh your options and make decisions that align with your values and aspirations.

    The choices and decisions you make are what will define your character and help chart the path for your success.

    Manage Your Emotions – Take responsibility for your emotions and how you respond to situations. Practice mindfulness and emotional regulation to stay calm and focused during difficult times.

    Do not make important decisions when your emotions are charged up. But settle down and make decisions with your head. 

    Emotional decisions are usually not the best ones. You will end up regrating after some time. 

    Learn and Grow – Take ownership of your personal and professional growth by seeking out opportunities to learn and improve. This can include taking courses, attending workshops, or seeking out mentors.

    Learn From Your Failures

    Instead of dwelling on failures or setbacks, use them as opportunities to learn and grow. Reflect on what went wrong, and identify what you can do differently next time. 

    Learning from failure is an important part of personal growth and self-development. Here are some ways you can learn from failure:

    Reflect on What Happened – Take the time to reflect on what happened and why the failure occurred. Ask yourself what you could have done differently and what you can learn from the experience.

    Analyze the Situation –  Break down the situation into smaller parts and analyze each part to identify where things went wrong. This can help you understand the cause of the failure and what you can do differently in the future.

    Seek Feedback – Ask others for feedback on what happened and how you can improve. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

    Take Action – Most importantly use what you have learned to make changes and take action towards improving. This can include developing new skills, changing your approach, or seeking out new opportunities.

    Remember that failure is a natural part of the learning process. By learning from your failures, you can gain valuable insights and improve your chances of success in the future.

    Practice Self-care

    Take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This includes getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, exercising, and practising mindfulness.

    Remember that your overall well-being is important to your overall personal development and self-improvement. 

    Conclusion

    Remember that becoming a victor is a process that takes time and effort. It requires a shift in mindset, taking responsibility for your life, learning from failures, surrounding yourself with positivity, and practising self-care.

    With determination and perseverance, you can overcome the victim mindset and become the victor in your life. Free your mind.

  • Why it is Important to Have a Sense of Purpose

    Having a sense of purpose is incredibly important for several reasons. Before we go into the importance of having a sense of purpose, let’s start by understanding what exactly it means to have a sense of purpose.

    A sense of purpose refers to the feeling that one’s life has meaning, direction, and significance. It involves having a clear understanding of what one wants to achieve or contribute to the world and a commitment to working towards those goals. 

    Sense of purpose can be driven by personal values, passions, or a desire to make a positive impact on the world.

    When you have a clear purpose, you know what you want to achieve and can focus your energies and efforts towards those goals.

    You have a much clearer path to follow, than when you do not have a life’s purpose.

    I encourage you to find your purpose early in your life as this gives you a heads start. It makes you align the rest of your long life with what you want to achieve. 

    However, if you are advanced in age it does not matter you can still find your purpose and enjoy the rest of your life doing the things you love.

    Having a sense of purpose can help you stay motivated and committed, even in the face of obstacles and challenges.

    It Gives Meaning, Direction and Fulfilment

    It provides a sense of direction and focus in one’s life and can serve as a source of motivation and fulfilment. Having a sense of purpose can also add meaning to your life.

    When you have a purpose, you feel like you are working towards something that matters to you and to the world. You have a sense of direction for your life.

    This can give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that can improve your overall well-being.

    You will live a more meaningful and fulfilled life when you have a sense of purpose. You will know exactly what you want to achieve with your life and be in more control of it.

    You tend to do things that have a general inclination towards helping you achieve your life’s purpose and objectives.

    Having a sense of purpose often involves goals that are aligned with your values. When you are working towards something that is important to you on a personal level, it can provide a sense of fulfilment that comes from living in alignment with your values and goals.

    Creating a sense of purpose often involves working towards something that has a positive impact on the world or on others. 

    When you feel like you are making a difference, it can provide a sense of fulfilment that comes from contributing to something larger than yourself.

    It Helps You Make Better Decisions

    Having a sense of purpose can help you make better decisions by providing a framework for evaluating different options and choices. When you know what your purpose is, you can ask yourself whether a particular decision or action is in alignment with that purpose. 

    This can help you prioritize your time and resources, and make decisions that are more likely to lead you towards your goals.

    For example, if your purpose is to make a positive impact on the environment, you may be more likely to choose a career in environmental advocacy or to volunteer for an organization that works to protect natural resources. 

    Similarly, if your purpose is to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, you may be more likely to prioritize exercise and healthy eating when making decisions about how to spend your time and resources.

    Having a sense of purpose can also help you make decisions by providing a sense of clarity and focus. With knowledge of your purpose, you can evaluate different options based on how well they align with your goals and values. 

    This can help you make better choices more quickly and confidently, without getting bogged down in indecision or second-guessing.

    It is a Source of Motivation

    When you know what you want, you are naturally motivated to do everything you can to achieve your goals. You will be more motivated even when things are not going the way you want them to.

    Because of your intent on achieving your targets, temporal setbacks will not stand in the way of your success. You will have that extra motivation and energy to pursue your goals.

    You will be motivated because you have meaningful goals to pursue. These goals are often aligned with your values and are important to you on a personal level. 

    This can make them more motivating than goals that are imposed by external sources. That is why your life’s purpose should be your own and not something imposed.

    Working towards a purpose can provide a sense of progress and accomplishment. As you make progress towards your goals, you can see the impact you are making and the progress you are achieving. 

    This can be highly motivating, especially when the goals are challenging or long-term. When you are challenged, you tend to bring out the best in you. 

    A sense of purpose often involves an emotional connection to the goal or cause. When you feel emotionally invested in what you are doing, it can provide a powerful motivation to keep going.

    Something at the back of your mind keeps urging you to keep going and not to give up. Believe me, at the end of it all you will have something to show for your hard work.

    Having a sense of purpose can tap into intrinsic motivation, which is motivation that comes from within. 

    When you are working towards something that is important to you, you may be more motivated to do it because it feels satisfying and fulfilling in itself.

    Conclusion

    Overall, having a sense of purpose can give meaning and fulfilment by providing a sense of direction, connecting you to your values, giving you a sense of accomplishment, and allowing you to make a positive impact on the world. 

    These few factors can contribute immensely to a greater sense of well-being and happiness. What you want in life is to live a happy and fulfilling life.

  • Take More Responsibility as You Grow and Embrace the Challenge

    As a person grows and develops in their personal and professional life, they usually gain new skills, knowledge, and experience. 

    With this growth comes an increased ability to handle greater responsibility and more complex tasks. It is just human nature.

    For example, in the workplace, an employee who has been with a company for a longer period of time may be given more responsibility and leadership roles as they gain experience and expertise. 

    Similarly, in personal relationships, as individuals mature and develop stronger emotional intelligence and communication skills, they may take on greater responsibility for maintaining healthy and productive relationships.

    Taking on more responsibility should not scare you. It should actually challenge you to show maturity and it also offers you an opportunity to grow and enhance your personal development endeavours. 

    It is, therefore, important that as you grow you prepare yourself for the next challenge that may come your way. When you over a challenge you naturally create an opportunity for a new one.

    Do not let opportunities that offer you the chance to grow, pass you by. Be expectant and always on the lookout for the next opportunity.

    Increase Your Skills and Knowledge

    As you grow and develop, you will gain new skills and knowledge that will make you better equipped to handle more responsibility. 

    Yes, some skills are gained naturally but have a deliberate personal policy to keep learning to gain new skills, on a regular basis.

    Increased knowledge is a good recipe for taking on more responsibility. For example, learning how to manage time effectively or how to communicate more clearly can lead to being given greater responsibilities in the workplace.

    In this world of computers and information technology, acquiring knowledge has become much easier than ever before. You do not have to attend formal education to improve your knowledge.

    You can attend seminars, watch relevant videos and read materials that will help you. That does not mean formal education is not important. Actually it is very important that you acquire atleast basic formation education.

    The more knowledgeable you are the more improved your skillset is primed. It is, therefore, important that as a human being, you continue on the trajectory of improving your knowledge.

    Improve Your Decision-Making Abilities

    Improved decision-making abilities, can make individuals more capable of handling complex tasks and situations. This increased capability can result in being given more responsibility.

    There are a number of ways which can help you improve your decision-making abilities. This is a skill that needs to be developed as you poise yourself for taking on more responsibilities. Here are a few strategies that can be implored:-

    Define Your Goals and Priorities – Clarify your goals and priorities so that you know what you’re trying to achieve. Goals are a very important aspect of life and it is very important that you know what you want to achieve with your life.

    Your goals must be set in such a way that they are achievable and measurable. This way it will be easier to keep track of your progress and you will know when you have drifted away from them.

    Goals must also be in tandem with your life’s purpose and objectives. Without having a defined life’s purpose you live an aimless life.

    Gather Information & Evaluate the Pros and Cons – Learn how to seek out information relevant to the decision you need to make. Information is power this can include data collection, expert opinions, or the experiences of others who have faced similar challenges.

    Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each option. This will help you identify potential risks and benefits associated with each choice. 

    Whatever the case or situation you are facing right now, decisions have to be made, wrong or right, good or bad the choice is yours. But you need to make decisions.

    Consider Different Options – Explore different options for how to proceed. This can involve brainstorming, mind mapping, or other techniques to generate new ideas and perspectives.

    This may not be the case with all decisions. But implore the above method, especially when making decisions that will have a long-term effect on your life.

    Consider how each option will impact you and others in the long term. This will help you make decisions that are sustainable and aligned with your values.

    Overall, improving your decision-making abilities involves being intentional and thoughtful about how you approach decisions, seeking out relevant information, and reflecting on your experiences to identify areas for improvement.

    Build Trust

    Personal growth and development can also lead to building trust with others, such as colleagues or family members. This trust can result in being given more responsibility because others have confidence in your abilities and judgement.

    Trust is the cornerstone of relationships. People want to be associated with people they can trust or people who trust them.

    If you are in a relationship and there is no trust, believe me, that relationship is bound to fail. It is weak and worse still if it’s an intimate one do something to build trust otherwise it’s a dead relationship.

    Building trust among your peers can easily help you achieve more responsible roles than those who are not trustworthy.

    But trust takes time to build and nurture. What you do today will count towards your character so be extra careful with what you say or do.

    Besides being trustworthy is just the right thing to do. Having the best intentions for other people will earn you lots of kudos, even when you make mistakes people will genuinely support you.

    Demonstrate Leadership Qualities

    Personal growth and development often involve developing qualities such as self-awareness, empathy, and strong communication skills.

    These qualities can be essential for effective leadership, which can lead to being given more responsibility in a leadership role.

    When you demonstrate leadership you open the doors for more leadership responsibilities. Many people who are in leadership positions today do not actually demonstrate leadership they are there for personal gain, especially those in the political world.

    To me, leadership is about people. It is about putting the interest of the people first. In other words, leadership is about service and not personal gain or glory.

    Leadership is not a position. If you want to take responsibility because of a position you are not a leader. You will be respected only whilst you hold the position and that is the truth. 

    We have seen how people who once yielded political power are treated once they leave office. Especially those that abused there power when they were in office.

    Generally, demonstrating leadership qualities involves being intentional and proactive in your actions, and consistently striving to set a positive example for others to follow. 

    Conclusion

    Overall, personal growth and development can lead to increased responsibility because it equips individuals with the skills, knowledge, and qualities needed to take on more complex tasks and leadership roles.

    We must not shy away from taking responsibility but rather rise to the challenge and fill the void. 

  • Learn How to Appreciate One Another

    One of the most detrimental aspects of life today is that we do not appreciate one another that much.

    We seem to concentrate so much on our own achievements. We have become more self-centered than ever before. The Ubuntu way of life has disappeared.

    People do not just set time to appreciate one another’s achievements and accomplishments. They are more focused on themselves.

    There is so much negativity around that we have forgotten the core value of co-existence. This however should not be the case.

    No man is an island. We were created to co-exist. Created to live side by side to complement each other.

    We were created to appreciate and accept each other’s uniqueness. We should, therefore, look out for one another.

    Our uniqueness and diversity are our greatest strengths. It is what has made the world to be what it is today.

    What brings us together is greater than what divides or separates us. All the man-made developments and creations you see around, are a result of our diversity and ingenuity.

    It is a result of our ability to create. This ability to create is endowed in each and every human being.

    Black, white, yellow, or whichever skin colour, you have the ability to create. We are all equal before the creator of the universe because we are all created in his likeness.

    It doesn’t matter which part of the world you come from, you have a place and space to flourish.

    Be Thankful and Gracious

    Being thankful is expressing gratitude to one another. It is recognising and appreciating the other person.

    It does not hurt to just say thank you when you are served or compliment someone when they have done something worthwhile.

    It will not take away any part of your being. You will still remain yourself. In fact, it only helps increase your respectability.

    Being thankful also increases the chance of being served even better. After all, we are all looking for better service aren’t we? It encourages the person serving as this simply shows that they are being appreciated.

    You will agree with me that it is much easier to serve a grateful person than one who does not show gratitude. You would rather deal with a thankful soul than a grumpy one.

    We all come from different backgrounds with different situations. So if we have to live in harmony we need to put our differences aside for the sake of harmony and the betterment of our lives.

    Because if the next person’s life is improved chances are that they will try and help improve someone else’s life as well.

    Creating a habit of being thankful could actually go a long way in uplifting one another. It improves people’s moods.

    You just may never know that you could hold the key to motivating someone and encouraging someone by the words and actions that come out of you.

    Be Available When Needed

    I know that we are all busy getting our lives on track. I also know that sometimes it is very difficult to attend to other people’s needs.

    But life demands that we make ourselves available to other people when the need arises.

    Remember that for you to achieve what you have, someone sacrificed their time for you. Your parents or guardians sacrificed their time and resources so you could be where you are right now.

    Someone was available for you to learn the ropes. Someone had to put whatever they were doing on hold just so that they could be available for you.

    They say one good deed deserves another. If someone showed you kindness, why not take the time to show someone kindness

    Besides, we succeed better when the people around us are successful. If you are in a leadership position, your success as a leader will be measured by how successful the people you lead are.

    When you are climbing the ladder of success be it financial or personal success, it is not for you alone.

    It is meant for you to distribute wealth by way of empowering those around you and those you come into contact with. Remember you are only a medium that God is using to reach many others.

    The world would be a much better place if only we could spare a little of our time to help lift someone up.

    Look if someone was available for you it shows that they cared. It may have been very little time they shared but at least they showed some love. It is your turn to show some love to someone who is in need of it.

    Lend a Helping Hand

    There is always someone out there that needs your help. I don’t think there will ever be a time when no one needs help. We all need help most of the time.

    Being available is not enough if you cannot be helpful. If you make yourself available make sure you are also making a difference in someone’s life.

    Like I always say, helping does not necessarily have to be in monetary terms. There are many ways you can help someone. We all have no excuse not to help.

    My former employers who are very prominent lawyers in our country used to help in cleaning the ablution block at their church.

    Now, who would think a wealthy lawyer with all the money at his disposal, could clean an ablution block?

    If you think you cannot find anyone you can help please join the many charitable organisations in your locality.

    The world is in desperate need of people who can find time to help out. Try and always be the first to offer help. Sometimes, people might not have the courage to ask for help.

    Be More Sociable

    Human beings are usually identified by the social groupings they belong to. Social groupings are an integral part of society. Find one that suits you.

    It is from our social interactions that friendships are built and solidified. Most of our business networks stem from our social networks.

    The more sociable you are the more dependable and reliable you become. What you want for your life is to be relevant and dependable in a group setting.

    Look, what’s the use of having all the success and not being relevant to society? We accumulate wealth so that we can sure.

    One of the reasons why we pursue success, apart from having a decent life, is to be relevant and contribute positively to society and humankind.

    Keep in Touch

    Communication is key in every relationship. One of the ways to show appreciation is by communicating frequently.

    In this world of the COVID-19 pandemic, things can change very quickly. Today you see someone, tomorrow they are gone.

    It has become very cardinal to check on each other frequently. This is an area of my life that needs a lot of improvement.

    With the coming of the new season, I hope to do more than before in this area of my life.

    Pray for Each Other

    Prayer can move mountains. Those of us who are Christians know that our Christian faith is anchored on prayer.

    Believe me prayer yields results. Prayer is very important to a Christian. The Bible encourages us to pray for one another and also to pray as a group.

    Make it a point to include one or two people in your daily prayers. They don’t have to know that you are praying for them. Just go out there and appreciate them before God Almighty.

    Conclusion

    Appreciating one another is key to achieving human harmony and peace amongst ourselves.

    You can help change the narrative by showing appreciation and gratitude for the different divergent voices out there.

  • Six Free Tools That Can Help Improve Your Writing Skills

    Writing or content creation is always a challenge, especially if you are just starting. It can be a daunting task. However, there are a few ground rules and tools that can be followed and used to alleviate the pressure and give you a head start. 

    It is always nice to prepare yourself before you start writing. Make sure you have your plan laid out before you delve into the writing process. It’s very interesting how you just get carried away once you start writing.  

    To get started just dump your thoughts on paper and forget about the spelling, punctuation and grammar. You will have time for that. 

    You will come back to do the editing after you have finished dumping your thoughts on paper. Don’t interrupt your writing to correct the errors, because this will make you will break the flow of thinking.

    There is always time for everything. Aim to write a minimum of about 500 words per article or per shot. I usually aim for 1000 as a minimum. This way I am able to explain myself more logically and it also gives the article more meat to feed on.

    Remember the more words the better for the search engines as well. It’s not an easy fit but with practice, it is achievable. They say practice makes room for improvement. 

    You improve your writing muscle by practising every day. Just write on anything even if you are not going to publish the article. Write for the sake of it. 

    There is so much to write about and you will be amazed at what can flow from within you. But this can only be known if you set down and gave it a try. 

    There are many writing tools that can help you with content creation and sometimes, choosing the right tools can be very overwhelming. 

    I find that getting ideas from people who are already in the writing business can cut down on the learning process of finding good tools. 

    The use of the following tools could greatly increase and improve your writing skills and hence your production of content. 

    Google Docs

    This is perhaps the most important tool for me. The good thing is that it is free and comes as part of the Google package. 

    To know that I can write from anywhere without worrying about translating my document or retyping it is a wonderful thing.

    All you need to have is a Google account and you are good to go. Better still Google Docs is a word processor. Some corrections will be done on the fly as you are typing. Again don’t worry about them just transfer your thoughts on paper. 

    Using google docs I can type my articles on my mobile phone and continue the editing process on my desktop or laptop. All I need is to sync gadgets online. 

    If you do not have a google account and you are a content creator I highly recommend that you register for one. It could just be a game changer for you. Besides, it’s free for goodness sake. 

    Headline Studio

    Now, I have not been using this for long but hey, how I wished I had known about it sometime. This is one tool that helps you create smashing headlines that will stand out. 

    Headline Studio will analyse your heading and make suggestions for improvement. It will score your heading on a scale of  1 – 100. One being the lowest and a hundred being the highest score. 

    You see, there is no use in creating content that cannot be found or read by people. What you want is content that will be found by both human beings and search engines. Not only being found but being read.

    The tool will help you create catchy headlines that will compel people to read your articles when they come across them. This then will grow your readership and following.  

    Again am very comfortable with the free version though you can upgrade to the full version and enjoy more options. You are given full access rights to the full version for a limited time when you first subscribe.  

    Writing Dot Com

    I use this tool to improve my typing skills. I feel it is very important to keep improving your typing skills, especially your typing speed. Look, the quicker you type the more productive you are. 

    I use both my laptop and mobile phone to write articles. I used to find it easier to use my mobile phone because it is less destructive and I can type using two fingers yet faster than when typing on the laptop.

    However, over the last few weeks, I have also discovered that I can improve my typing speed on the keyboard by practising on the writing dot com platform.

    My speed has seen an increase from 20 wpm to about 40 wpm over the last one month of daily practising. I know, that I can do better than this and I am pretty sure that by the end of the next month or so if I put my mind to it, I will achieve my target speed of 75wpm and 95% accuracy.

    Typing Practice

    This is more like the writing dot com platform. As the name suggests it is a typing improvement tool. I have been using it in conjunction with writing dot com. 

    With typing practice, you have the advantage of setting your own daily targets. The system will keep your daily practice and aggregate your results as appropriate. 

    Again I use the free version and so far so good, it gives me what I want. The goal, for now, is to keep improving my typing skills at the lowest of costs. 

    Grammarly

    This is basically a Gramma tool. I currently use the free module and it’s enough for me.

    Grammarly can easily be integrated with Google docs and Microsoft word. It could be the difference between writing a well-punctuated article and one that is not well punctuated and structured.  

    However, don’t be a slave to rules and tools. They are just here to help and guide you. Always keep in mind that you are the final decision maker. 

    If you have to have your own style you need to be in control of your final product and so do not let machines or tools do it for you. 

    Power Thesaurus

    This is basically an online dictionary to use for your spell check and looking up the meaning of words. 

    Power Thesaurus has both free and paid subscriptions, again am more than happy with the free subscription it does meet my requirements. 

    Conclusion 

    With the use of the above free tools I hope you get to write some awesome articles and share your stories with the rest of the world. 

    Writing is fun it is an expression of yourself. There are many people out there waiting to hear your stories. You never know who you may touch and inspire with what you write.

  • Don’t Let the Mistakes of Yesterday Hold You Back From Your Destiny

    We all make mistakes and we all have made mistakes, but you should not allow the negative consequences of your past mistakes or failures, prevent you from moving forward in your life. 

    It is natural to make mistakes and experience failures, but dwelling on them too much can hinder your progress and limit your potential for success. We are all candidates for success or failure. 

    Instead of letting the mistakes of the past define you, learn from them and use those lessons to make better choices and decisions in the present and future.

    This is the only way I know, that can help you avoid repeating the same mistakes and move closer to achieving your goals and aspirations.

    In essence, this quote “don’t let the mistakes of yesterday hold you back from your destiny” encourages you to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and to focus on what you can do today to create a better future, rather than dwelling on what you could have done differently in the past.

    However, letting go of the past can sometimes be easier said than done. There are things that have happened to us that can be very difficult to let go of.

    Moving on from previous mistakes can be challenging, but there are some steps you can take to help you move forward.

    Acknowledge Your Faults

    The first step to moving forward is to recognise that you made a mistake. It is essential to acknowledge and take responsibility for your error. 

    This means admitting that you made a mistake and accepting the consequences of your actions no matter how hard or difficult the situation is. 

    When you admit your failures you release yourself from being captive. You take responsibility for the next course of action. 

    Acknowledging your mistake is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of maturity. It is not a sign of self-blame either, it is a sign of taking responsibility for the mess you created.

    You are simply challenging yourself to make sure that what you did wrong will be dealt with precisely and accordingly. 

    Learn From Your Mistake 

    Learn from your errors. Do not just accept them and shut the door. Try to understand why you made the mistake and what you can do differently next time. 

    Reflect on what you could have done differently, and what you can do in the future to avoid similar occurrences. 

    Sometimes it may take a little bit of time to understand, but it is necessary that you take the time. You will appreciate that as you try to understand what really transpired you will be adding more knowledge to your skill set.

    Forgive Yourself

    It’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that it’s okay to forgive yourself. Forgiveness releases you from captivity it frees your soul. 

    Avoid dwelling on your mistakes and beating yourself up about them. Instead, focus on what you can do to improve and move forward.

    If what you did has an effect on other people, it is also very important to ask them for forgiveness. Or if indeed you are holding a grudge against someone forgive them.

    Look, holding a grudge will not take you anywhere. Actually most of the time the person we have a grudge against doesn’t even know about it.

    They go about their life with a peaceful mind where as you have no peace because you are carrying the burden. 

    Take Action

    Take steps to make amends for your mistake if necessary, and work to improve yourself and your situation. Take action to prevent similar mistakes from happening again in the future.

    Your actions speak louder than your words. What you do after the negative situation will determine the progress you make.

    Be sincere with your life as you take action to remedy the situation. Don’t just sit and say things will sort themselves out, no. 

    Learn to take action. Remember if you do nothing, nothing will be done to resolve the situation. And life the way it is, has a way of catching up with you.

    If it’s a disagreement with a spouse take time to talk about it and reach a mutual agreement. In these situations, I always say it’s a give-and-take situation.

    Ultimately without action, there can be no progress. there is nothing to talk about if you do not act.

    Stay Positive

    Focus on the present and the future, rather than dwelling on the past. Stay positive and motivated, and continue to work towards your goals and aspirations.

    Staying positive can help you lead a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life.

    Try out the following few tricks to help you stay positive: 

    Practice Gratitude – Take some time each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for in your life. This will help you to focus on the positive aspects of your life and appreciate the good things that you have.

    If you think you have nothing to be grateful for at least be grateful for the gift of life, thank God that you are still alive. Better still list them down and you will be amazed at the list generated. 

    Surround Yourself With Positivity – Spend time with people who lift you up and support you, and avoid those who bring you down. Fill your life with positive influences, such as uplifting music, inspiring books, or motivational quotes. Make the Bible your number one spiritual and motivational book.

    Focus on Finding Solutions – When faced with a problem or challenge, try to focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of the situation. It has happened, its history, and look for future solutions. 

    Practice Positive Self-talk – Be kind and compassionate towards yourself and avoid negative self-talk. Use positive affirmations to reinforce a positive mindset. This will help change and refocus your mindset.

    Remember, staying positive is a mindset that takes practice and effort. By adding these tips to your daily routine, you can cultivate a positive outlook. 

    Let Go and Move On

    Finally, let go of the past and focus on moving forward. Remember yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift that is why they call it present. Enjoy the present while it lasts. 

    Use the lessons you have learned to make better choices in the future and work towards your goals with confidence and determination.

    Conclusion

    Remember, it’s important to be patient and kind to yourself as you move on from your mistakes. It may take time, but with effort and persistence, you can move forward and create a better future for yourself. You owe it to yourself to move and push through with the agenda of achieving your destiny. 

  • Your Imagination is a Preview of Things to Come

    Your imagination can be a preview of things to come because imagination is a powerful tool that allows you to create mental images of possible future scenarios. 

    When you imagine something, you are essentially picturing it in your mind, and that mental image can influence your thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment.

    By using your imagination to visualise and focus on what you want to achieve or create, you are essentially setting the stage for those things to manifest in your life.

    For example, if you imagine yourself achieving a particular goal, such as running and winning a marathon, you are creating a mental blueprint or preview of what that accomplishment might look and feel like. 

    This mental preview can motivate you to take action towards your goal, such as training regularly and eating a healthy diet. 

    It can also help you overcome obstacles and challenges along the way because you have already mentally rehearsed what it will be like to achieve your goal.

    Furthermore, your imagination can also help you come up with new ideas and innovative solutions to problems. 

    By visualising different possibilities and scenarios, you can gain new insights and perspectives that can lead to creative breakthroughs and new opportunities.

    Keep Your Vision Alive

    Allow yourself some time each day to daydream and let your mind wander. This is one of the ways you can keep your dream alive.

    Using your imagination gives you the motivation to keep doing what you need to do for you to achieve your goals. 

    The beauty of daydreaming is that you are the only one who has privileged access to your thoughts. 

    By frequently daydreaming you are helping to stimulate your imagination. Unless to reveal it to some else no one has access to your imagination apart from you.

    Visualise Your Goals

    Visualisation is a powerful tool and concept that can help you achieve your goals by keeping you focused, motivated, and inspired. 

    Use your imagination to create vivid mental pictures of your goals and aspirations. Visualising your goals can be a powerful way to keep them at the forefront of your mind and staying motivated to achieve them. 

    To help you practice and appreciate the visualisation concept make sure that you set clear goals.

    Take some time to write down your goals in detail, including what you want to achieve, how you will know when you’ve achieved them, and how you will feel when you’ve accomplished them. 

    The following techniques can also help in implementing the visualisation concept:-

    • Create a Mental Image – Close your eyes and create a mental image of yourself achieving your goals. Imagine what it looks; what it feels like; and what it sounds like, and try to make the image as vivid and as detailed as possible.
    • Use Visual Aids – In addition to the above, use pictures, diagrams, or other visual aids to help you visualise your goals more effectively. For example, if your goal is to travel to a specific destination, create a vision board with pictures of that destination to help bring your goal to life.
    • Use Positive Affirmations – Use positive affirmations to help reinforce your visualisation. Repeat phrases to yourself such as “I am successful,” “I am achieving my goals,” and “I am making progress every day.” You are the only one authorised to use the “I” in reference to yourself.
    • Practice Regularly –  Visualisation is a skill that can be developed with practice. Set aside sometime each day to visualise your goals, ideally in a quiet and undistracted environment.

    Engage in Creative Activities

    Participate in creative activities, such as writing, drawing, or playing music. This can help stimulate your imagination and allow you to express yourself creatively.

    When you are fully engaged in doing something your mind tends to bring out the best in you. There are many activities you can undertake to stimulate your creative side.

    Writing – Writing in a journal is a great way to express yourself creatively. You can write about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, or use it to explore new ideas and perspectives.

    Perhaps writing is the greatest way to express yourself. When you write something it comes from your heart. 

    Look for classes in your area that teach creative activities like writing, painting, or pottery. This can be a great way to learn new skills and meet like-minded people.

    Drawing or Painting –  If you enjoy visual arts, try drawing or painting. You don’t have to be a professional artist to enjoy the process and express yourself creatively.

    Play a musical Instrument –  If you enjoy music, try playing an instrument. You can take lessons or teach yourself using online resources.

    Tryout Something New – Break the routine, if you’ve never tried a creative activity before, now is the time to start. You can try something simple, like colouring, or something more challenging. 

    Reading and Watching Creative Material

    Engage in creative stories through books, movies, or TV shows. This can help inspire your imagination and expose you to new ideas and perspectives.

    Reading opens and exposes you to other people’s ideas. As a result, you begin to get a new perspective on your current situation.

    There is no substitute for taking the time to learn. The only way you can improve your mindset is by learning. So open up your mind to learning.

    Practice Mindfulness

    Mindfulness – “the fact of remembering and considering when to do” – Oxford Dictionary. 

    Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment or distraction.

    It involves intentionally paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings in a non-judgmental way.

    This helps you become more aware of your automatic reactions and behaviours and allows you to respond in a more conscious and intentional way. In other words, being mindful is being conscious. 

    Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation practices but has since been adapted into a secular practice that can be applied in daily life.

    By being present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts and surroundings, you can better tune into your imagination and allow it to guide you.

    Mindfulness practices can include breathing exercises, body scans, meditation, and other techniques designed to cultivate awareness and presence. 

    Regular mindfulness practice has been shown to have numerous benefits, including reducing stress, improving focus and concentration, increasing emotional regulation, and enhancing overall well-being.

    Mindfulness is a powerful tool for cultivating greater awareness and presence in our daily lives, which can help us better manage our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and live more fully in the present moment.

    Conclusion

    Your imagination allows you to mentally preview possible future scenarios, which can influence your thoughts, emotions, and actions in the present moment and help you achieve your goals and create new opportunities.

  • 5 Ways to Incorporate Personal Development into Your Daily Routine

    Personal development and self-improvement are essential for achieving your goals and living a fulfilling life. 

    One of the mistakes we make is thinking that when you overcome a few challenges, you have arrived at the destination called personal development. 

    You relax and think you have made it, NO, personal development is an ongoing process that involves improving yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. 

    It is a continuous and never-ending journey. Your achievements only propel you to aim for greater heights. You should never be satisfied with yesterday’s achievements.

    There is always room for expansion and growth. By making small changes to your daily routine, you can enhance your personal growth and become the best version of yourself.

    Even when you have achieved this there is still more room to advance even further. You should never reach a point when you think that you have made it. You should always think that there is room for doing even better.  

    Learn Something New Every Day

    One of the best ways to incorporate personal development into your daily routine is to commit to learning something new every day. 

    This could be as simple as reading an article on a topic you’re interested in, listening to a podcast, or watching a TED talk. Look there is always something new to learn every day you just have to be on the lookout.

    By expanding your knowledge and skills, you’ll not only improve your personal growth but also increase your confidence and ability to tackle new challenges. The more knowledgeable you are, the more skilled you become.

    Whether it’s a new skill, language, or hobby, challenging yourself to learn something new can enhance your personal development.

    Make it a habit to deliberately set aside sometime each day for learning, even if it’s just 15 minutes. Over time, these small daily efforts will add up to significant personal development.

    Bear in mind that it is the small things that make the big things. Do not aim for the big ones, but your focus must be to complete the small daily tasks. 

    Keep your mind focused on achieving your everyday routines and make sure that you do them well. The more you meet the targets the more you grow your knowledge and ultimately improve your skill set. 

    Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude

    Another way to incorporate personal development into your daily routine is to practice mindfulness and gratitude. 

    Mindfulness involves being present in the moment and fully engaged in what you’re doing, without judgment or distraction. 

    This can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and increase overall well-being. 

    Gratitude involves focusing on the positive aspects of your life and expressing appreciation for them. This can help shift your mindset from one of scarcity to one of abundance and improve your overall outlook on life. 

    Try incorporating mindfulness and gratitude practices into your daily routine, such as taking a few minutes each morning to meditate or write in a gratitude journal.

    Practising meditation can help you reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and enhance your emotional well-being.

    Even just a few minutes of daily meditation can have significant benefits.

    Morning Reflection and Planning

    Take a few minutes each morning to reflect on the previous day and plan your goals for the day. This will help you focus on your priorities and keep track of your progress.

    Making plans for the day makes you prepare and concentrate on what you want to achieve for the day. Yes, distractions may come but your mind will be focused on what you have planned.

    The best time to plan for your day is usually in the morning. I usually do it the night before and review it the next morning. 

    In the night before sleeping, I have some time to myself and review the day’s activities before going on to plan for the next day.

    Daily Exercise

    Exercise not only benefits your physical health but also boosts your mood, reduces stress, and helps enhances your cognitive abilities. 

    Incorporate daily exercise into your routine to stay energised and focused throughout the day. Exercising gives your body that extra energy you need to see you through the day.

    There is no best suggested time for doing exercise. My personal preference is in the morning. Some people prefer the afternoon and still, others prefer the evening.

    Whatever, time you think is right and convenient for you, make sure you exercise regularly. If you are not in the habit already start now and just know that the start is usually the difficult part.

    It is also advisable to consult your physician before getting into the habit of exercising especially if you have any underlying medical condition.

    There are many benefits to exercising and I strongly recommend that you develop the habit of working out frequently. 

    Reading

    Reading is an excellent way to broaden your knowledge and improve your vocabulary. Reading books, articles, or even just a few paragraphs each day can help you expand your perspective and enhance your knowledge.

    How does it improve your vocabulary? It introduces you to new words and phrases, which helps to enrich your choice of words. This will enhance your communication skills and help you express yourself more efficiently and effectively.

    Apart from improving your vocabulary and expanding your perspective reading strengthens your memory as it requires you to remember characters, plot lines, and other details, which strengthens your memory and improves your cognitive abilities.

    Reading also exposes you to a variety of ideas, opinions, and perspectives that you may not encounter otherwise. 

    The more reading you do, the more enhanced your critical thinking skills get as reading requires you to analyse and interpret information, which enhances them. 

    And as you may know, critical thinking helps you make better decisions and solve problems more effectively.

    Reading is a big part of learning and learning is a huge component of personal development, you cannot achieve meaningful growth without learning.

    Reading about different experiences and perspectives can help you develop empathy and understanding for others which can help you build stronger relationships. 

    Conclusion

    Ultimately personal development is a personal choice. It is not a destination but a journey and way of life. There is never a period when you will rest and say you have arrived, it is a continuous and never-ending process. 

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