...early morning musings...

Hello everyone, 

The countdown continues...9 more days!!!

Woke up this morning with some thoughts on my mind and I thought to share them.

1. The people with whom you spend time matter. They influence you in unconscious ways, both positive and negative.  Your potential to achieve greatness can be limited by the negative influence of the opinions of the people around you. Similarly, if all your friends were living self-empowered and awesome lives, wouldn’t that rub off on you to live extraordinarily? CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS CAREFULLY.

2. We really don’t need very much (stuff) to be happy. Less is more. SAY LESS, LISTEN MORE, OWN LESS THINGS, and you’ll experience more freedom. *BTW, Less does not mean compromising on quality*

3. The most important thing we can do is to love ourselves. By making self-love a priority, everyone and everything we care about will be better because of it. We become better parents, employees, spouses, friends and contributing members of society. Remember, the commandment “Love your neighbour as yourself”? LOVE YOURSELF!!!

4. People are really kind and helpful if you give them a chance. Be open to receiving without feeling the need to “pay them back.” Let others know what they’ve provided for you, and how much you appreciate their help. Fully receiving what someone else has to offer is a gift in itself. LEARN TO RECEIVE EVEN AS YOU GIVE.

5. We are stronger and more resilient than we think we are. The most damaging influence in our lives is the limiting beliefs we hold about ourselves. It’s the unexamined limiting beliefs that cause us to sabotage our success, sell ourselves short, and limit our own potential to living extraordinary lives. If you are not achieving the kinds of results you want in your life, sit down with a journal and examine your thoughts and beliefs. YOU CAN DO IT.

6. Complaining, criticizing and gossiping is a waste of time and saps your energy. Being a victim is a lot easier than being a leader. Leaders take responsibility and own up to their part in the doing. Leaders take action to change themselves and to overcome setbacks. Victims refuse to take responsibility for their own actions and emotions. Victims would rather sit back passively and give their power away by placing blame on an external trigger. Be the leader of your life. You are the only one capable of the job. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF YOUR OWN EMOTIONS.

7. Master creations in the arts (writing, drawing, music, dance, even software programming) are the result of someone’s love of the process of creation. Masterpieces are often never created as a result of someone trying to be brilliant. Get out of your head and get into your heart. Stop overthinking! Just relax, start creating and fall into the flow. Create for the sake of creation. Create out of love of the process, and you just might find that your resulting creation turns out to be a masterpiece. FOCUS ON WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITHOUT BEING CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL THINK.

8. When you passionately and genuinely believe in something, it will change you. You will embody the energy of your passion, and the world will notice the light that you shine. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, OTHERS WILL BELIEVE IN YOU TOO.

9. If you don’t want to do something - go to a party, accept an obligation, meet someone - just say “no, thank you.” You don’t owe anyone an excuse or explanation. LEARN TO SAY NO SOMETIMES.

10. My body knows what I need. Sometimes, I get sick because my body is trying to get my attention. Its message is usually something like this: relax, recharge, you’re working too much, drink water, exercise and get more sleep.LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY..

and most of all...

DRINK LOTS OF WATER. 

...my birthday in a bit...

In some 12 days time, I would have walked this earth for a total of 31 years. Hmmmm, THAT SOUNDS LIKE QUITE SOME TIME. *laughs*

When I was little, I used to think people in their 30s were really old. Now that I’m in my 30s, that perspective has changed. Standing where I am today, I still feel like a little kid, except I’m doing my best in playing the part of an adult, am trying to fit in with other grown-ups, and subsequently hiding the little kid within (as society expects me to do). Bla bla bla...

Lately though, I feel like I’m becoming more and more in touch with the little kid inside - no inhibitions, innocent wonder and enjoying the moment - and am so loving it. Now am consciously and consistently working on being that "beautiful, Nigerian lady with a very fulfilling life".

Looking back at my life and standing here today as a (slightly wiser) 31-year-old girl, I’ve learnt a lot. 

Over the next few days, I will be sharing some of my thoughts.

1. You will never be ready for what you want to do. The trick is to just start it anyway, and to develop the discipline to work at it consistently. Taking baby steps consistently in the direction you want to go means that you will eventually get there. KEEP MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAM.

2. Don’t be afraid to dream. Dreams create the vision that governs the story of our lives. Our dreams create our future. DREAM BIG. Remember, Life is short. Live it in such a way that will make you happy.

3. Fear comes from uncertainty of the unknown. It happens to all of us. It is part of the natural mechanisms for our survival. Its job is to keep us safe. You can never suppress fear, nor ignore fear, nor cure fear. The trick is to fully embrace fear by simply acting despite the feeling of fear. ACT INSPITE OF YOUR FEAR!!!

4. Money is a renewable resource. If you lose some money, don’t sweat it. You can always make more. However, if you spend valuable time stressing over money, or lost opportunity, you’ll never get that time back. TIME IS MORE VALUABLE THAN MONEY.

5. Time is the most important resource in the world. It is the only non-renewable resource in your life. CHOOSE WISELY HOW YOU SPEND TIME, AND WITH WHOM YOU SPEND IT.

...Am excited!!! It's my birthday in a few days...THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...