Iyabo Ojikutu's Blog, page 10
August 2, 2017
Day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure
A day at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure!
Pictures and Inspiration.
At the entrance to Universal Studios
At the entrance to Islands of Adventure.
Have you had an adventure recently? A life changing adventure? There are many ways we can have adventures. By travel, by reading, journaling, movies, and so on. Try to experience adventures as
often as you can.
Adventures are building blocks for the mind.
This sign was interesting. How many times have we tricked our own minds to feel trapped? To feel stuck? Where we feel we cannot return to have a second or third run at life? Remember, life gives
us many chances to redefine ourselves, reshape our thinking, and evolve into a better version of ourselves.
NEVER feel you are on a one way, no return path of life.
You can return to change your life! Yes, you can!
The Doom's Fall? Some of us may be feeling this way right now. Remember, it's only the Doom's Fall if you....only you decide to stay there.
You can get out of any doom. Make the decision and make your way out!
The sign speaks for itself!
When on vacation, I spoil myself and have loads of fun! Feeling like a kid again is loads of fun!
Our insides is where our real beauty lies!
The outside will fade, the inside never fades.
The inside only fades if we allow it to.
Theme parks are loads of fun, but a lot of work! Crowded places, scorching sun. I can't wait for our next destination-way more quiet and peace.
I love theme parks minus the fast and high rides. I am NOT a roller coaster type of person. No convincing whatsoever will get me on them.
I'm quite aware of my limitations. It's part of self care and permanent Happiness!!! Lol!
Post Universal/Islands of Adventure. Pre Dinner at Four Seasons. Time for a good meal and reflections of the day with my daughters.
Another fun filled, inspiration filled day!
July 31, 2017
A Day at Epcot, Walt Disney World
My day at Epcot, Walt Disney World, and what inspired me.
Leaving from our Four Seasons hotel, Walt Disney World, Orlando, to catch the bus to Epcot.
So happy to be on vacation!
At the entrance to Epcot (above).
Must have a selfie with my kids, of course (below)!
This ride (pictured below on the left) inspired me so much just from the name: Journey into Imagination. This is what I do on a daily basis. I imagine. I dream. I take journeys in my mind to the
impossible. I hope, and then I act.
Are you dreaming, imagining, and executing?
I love pretzels! This one was extra special, as it was shaped like Mickey and I was eating it in Disney World!
This ride inspired me in many ways. We soared around the world in 10 minutes and saw all the beautiful sights—the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall, the Eiffel Tower, safaris in Africa. So much to see in
the world. So much to learn, so much to experience, so many people to meet! I've seen many countries, but I still have many on my list.
How about you? How many countries do you have on your bucket list?
World Showcase at Epcot. This building of China is so eye catching and beautiful.
And of course, how did they know I was stopping by? Lol! Thanks, China at Epcot, for putting this sign up in my honor! Ha-ha!
One of my favorite things! Funnel cakes. O my! So yummy! And it tastes better when it's shared with my daughters (the one in the picture, and the one taking the picture)!
Back at the hotel, post-Epcot. Predinner at Ravello, Four Seasons, Walt Disney World Resort.
A truly fun day!
July 28, 2017
#LIVENOURISHINFLUENCE | #Influence
My hashtag #livenourishinfluence was inspired by my book Permanent Happiness. In my book I outline three steps we need to practice in our daily lives in order to enter and remain in that state of
peace and "permanent happiness."
To find out what those steps are, please purchase my book on Amazon. It is available in print and e-book.
I'd like to engage you in a practical way on the blog this week.
We will break down the three parts of the hashtag together.
#Influence
Do you feel influenced by yourself?
Do you practice self-love?
Do you feel inspired by yourself?
Whom have you influenced positively in the past week? Month?
Do you have a plan to continuously influence people in a good way?
How does this make you feel?
How does it make the people you influence feel?
Do you and they grow from this process?
Are there specific groups of people you like to influence?
How does this process of influencing change our world?
The questions are endless.
The answers will be enlightening.
The perspectives will be varied.
But this is where we gain strength from each other. By learning from each other. Learning how we are collectively changing the world by influencing one another.
I'd like to read your responses, thoughts, and comments.
Who has gained and grown tremendously from your influence?
Then I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram and post pictures of yourself doing something to positively influence someone else, and attach the hashtag #livenourishinfluence to your post.
Together, we will then continuously be able to visit that hashtag page to gain strength and inspiration from each other.
Only together can we make a difference in the world.
Let's start today with a simple hashtag on a simple post on Instagram.
You'll be inspired by the additive and phenomenal effect this will create in people's lives.
May we collectively be permanently happy!
July 26, 2017
#LIVENOURISHINFLUENCE | #Nourish
My hashtag #livenourishinfluence was inspired by my book Permanent Happiness. In my book I outline three steps we need to practice in our daily lives in order to enter and remain in that state of
peace and "permanent happiness."
To find out what those steps are, please purchase my book on Amazon. It is available in print and e-book.
I'd like to engage you in a practical way on the blog this week.
We will break down the three parts of the hashtag together.
What parts of your life do you have to nourish daily to live well?
How do you feel strong and alive every day?
What does nourishing your life mean to you?
Why is it so important to nourish our lives daily?
What happens if you stop nourishing your life for a season?
Do you bring others along with you during this process? Family? Friends?
Do you need ongoing motivation to nourish your daily living?
The answers will be varied from person to person.
Perspectives will be interesting.
But this is where we gain strength from each other. By learning from each other. Learning what makes the next person's life feel nourished.
I'd like to read your responses, thoughts, and comments.
What makes you feel like you are nourishing your life well?
Then I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram and post pictures of yourself doing something to nourish your life, and attach the hashtag #livenourishinfluence to your post. Together, we will
then continuously be able to visit that hashtag page to gain strength and inspiration from each other.
Only together can we make a difference in the world.
Let's start today with a simple hashtag on a simple post on Instagram.
You'll be inspired by the additive and phenomenal effect this will create in people's lives.
May we collectively be permanently happy!
July 24, 2017
#LIVENOURISHINFLUENCE | #Live
My hashtag #livenourishinfluence was inspired by my book Permanent Happiness. In my book, I outline three steps we need to practice in our daily lives in order to enter and remain in that state
of peace and "permanent happiness."
To find out what those steps are,
please purchase my book on Amazon. It is available in print and e-book.
I'd like to engage you in a practical way on the blog this week.
We will break down the three parts of the hashtag together.
#Live
What does that mean to you?
What does living well mean to you?
What does living a full life mean to you?
Does it mean being wealthy?
Having riches, material possessions?
Being healthy?
Being kind?
Being of good character?
Being resilient/hardworking/optimistic?
Helping people?
Going on vacation?
Doing well at work?
Having many friends?
Having peace?
Sleeping and eating well?
The list is endless.
The options are endless.
The perspectives will be varied.
But this is where we gain strength from each other. By learning from each other. Learning what makes the next person thrive.
I'd like to read your responses, thoughts, and comments.
What makes you feel like you are living life well?
Then I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram and post pictures of yourself doing something that makes you feel you are living and thriving well, and attach the hashtag #livenourishinfluence to your post.
Together, we will then continuously be able to visit that hashtag page to gain strength and inspiration from each other.
Only together can we make a difference in the world.
Let's start today with a simple hashtag on a simple post on Instagram.
You'll be inspired by the additive and phenomenal effect this will create in people's lives.
May we collectively be permanently happy!
#LIVENOURISHINFLUENCE
My hashtag #livenourishinfluence was inspired by my book Permanent Happiness. In my book, I outline three steps we need to practice in our daily lives in order to enter and remain in that state
of peace and "permanent happiness."
To find out what those steps are,
please purchase my book on Amazon. It is available in print and e-book.
I'd like to engage you in a practical way on the blog this week.
We will break down the three parts of the hashtag together.
#Live
What does that mean to you?
What does living well mean to you?
What does living a full life mean to you?
Does it mean being wealthy?
Having riches, material possessions?
Being healthy?
Being kind?
Being of good character?
Being resilient/hardworking/optimistic?
Helping people?
Going on vacation?
Doing well at work?
Having many friends?
Having peace?
Sleeping and eating well?
The list is endless.
The options are endless.
The perspectives will be varied.
But this is where we gain strength from each other. By learning from each other. Learning what makes the next person thrive.
I'd like to read your responses, thoughts, and comments.
What makes you feel like you are living life well?
Then I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram and post pictures of yourself doing something that makes you feel you are living and thriving well, and attach the hashtag #livenourishinfluence to your post.
Together, we will then continuously be able to visit that hashtag page to gain strength and inspiration from each other.
Only together can we make a difference in the world.
Let's start today with a simple hashtag on a simple post on Instagram.
You'll be inspired by the additive and phenomenal effect this will create in people's lives.
May we collectively be permanently happy!
July 21, 2017
When Are You Most Creative?
Did you know we all have some form of creativity within us? Some of us have a few. Some, just one big one.
Let's start with first exploring what it means to be creative.
Being creative means doing that thing that allows you to "flow" in life. Being innovative. Being inventive. Being explorative.
Creativity is usually that effortless gift we have. The gift that brings us so much happiness and joy with very little effort.
Again, it helps us flow. It requires no hustle. We could be doing it for hours in a day, and it does not seem like we've spent that much time at all.
It may be brought on as an academic or emotional experience. We just have to somehow listen to ourselves as we get the whispers and the nudging to explore our own creativity. We do get the
reminders all through our lives. Some of us listen. Some of us don't.
Examples are painting, sculpting, writing, fashion in all forms, singing, acting, cooking, writing, blogging, editing. Inventing stuff, carpentry, poetry, dancing…the list is endless.
It could be related to your current career path, and it may be totally unrelated and may just come to you as a big surprise. Or you may have been listening to it whispering to you most of your
life, and just chosen to ignore it.
I believe my creative gift is writing. I had nudges and whispers on and off in my adult life, but I totally ignored them, as I had no time…or at least I thought I had no time. I'm pretty busy
now, but I still find lots of time to write.
So it's really not about the busyness. It's about being at peace with life, and this allows the creativity to flow effortlessly within and through you.
The difference for me was finding peace and quiet and learning to let go of negativity and all the bad stuff that used to crowd my mind and soul, preventing my creative gifts from blooming.
I realized solitude and peace were essential for the birth, growth, and sustenance of my creativity. I got it. I totally did. That aha moment came upon me in December 2015, when my writing gift
exploded out of me.
I had embraced solitude. Embraced the practice of emptying my thoughts of all the rubble and allowing clean, creative ideas in.
My writing found a way out of me, but it first needed my full attention. It had been seeking my attention for quite some time.
I have found my most creative time is early mornings. I have written two books, about 55,000 words each, in a space of five months, and most of the content came to me as I woke up at 5,6,7 a.m.…
The contents would literally flood my brain as I woke up, and I would make notes and points in my journal or on the notes page of my phone.
I would then go through my usual morning routine of emptying my thoughts, being quiet for a few minutes, then pray, read my Bible, and journal. I will then get up to start my day, or if I'm off,
I will write.
Many creative people embrace solitude for their creative processes.
Creativity requires flow, which requires solitude and mind engagement.
The chaos, noise, and restlessness of life stifles creativity.
I hope you will listen to that inner voice you've been ignoring and start to explore your creative side.
Find time to be alone.
Be open to yourself.
Get to know yourself all over again.
Give yourself a break from life's stresses and never-ending demands.
…And find your creative side.
Then figure out what time of day ideas spring forth to you the most.
And off you go! You are on the way to innovating, inventing, exploring, and then using the final product to change lives positively.
Trust me…it's an amazing feeling!
July 19, 2017
Our Relationships Are Our Life Building Blocks
Life is all about relationships. Let's think about it. We only exist because some people existed before us, and before, and before…
We can only thrive if we have people in our lives—family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances. We meet and interact with people everywhere and every day.
Some encounters are fleeting. Just a smile, hello, hug, handshake, and we never see them again. Some are in our lives for a season. Some stick around for a long time.
Life is all about relationships, so we must be wise about who we allow into our hearts as building blocks.
There are some relationships we cannot choose. Our children are our responsibility. We must nurture, care, and provide for them unconditionally until they are ready as adults between the ages of
18–21 to navigate the world on their own. It is very important that we teach and arm them with proper life skills so they can be good at relationships themselves.
We must also be good role models for all children. Those passive relationships are crucially important—those children we don't even know but who are watching us in our immediate communities, and
all around the world, in some cases.
We must be conscious of the fact that all children need as many good adult role models as possible.
Now, how about the adult relationships we have? Adults are no longer children. They must now be acting as adults. That means being responsible for their own thoughts, actions, and general
behavior.
Let me tell you a very bitter truth. You cannot change any adult. Yes, you heard that right.
You cannot change someone above the age of 18–21 who is already fully molded into an adult.
From that age group onward, people only change if they want to change themselves.
Once we are adults, we are solely responsible for ourselves. What we allow into our own hearts and souls, how we act, our choices, our behaviors, our attitudes are our own responsibility.
More so, how we let the people we allow into our hearts and souls affect us are also our sole responsibility. People can only make you feel bad if you allow them to. They can only affect your
life if you allow them to. We teach other people how to treat us. If you permit other people to treat your badly, they will continue to behave badly toward you.
Relationships are our building blocks. We must choose whom we allow into our hearts and souls, as they could build us up or tear us down.
Have you ever given deep thought to this? That maybe the reason for your being stuck, feeling dejected, not feeling good enough, not being able to live your dreams is because of the company you
keep?
Your friends, your work colleagues, some family members, and (this last one is tough for all of us to hear) your spouse or life partner may be the reason for your inertia, apathy, sadness, and
hopelessness in life.
We become like the people we spend our time with.
If you allow negative elements into your soul for long enough, you will become negative or just become stuck, confused, or apathetic.
If someone tells you long enough you are not good enough, you will eventually believe it.
If you hear why you shouldn't start that project, life passion, or big idea for long enough, you will never fulfill your life purpose.
If someone gossips about others to you for long enough, they will draw you into their negativity. (And you can be very sure they are gossiping about you to others as well.)
If a friend cannot be there for you during your ups and downs, during your successes, as you are there for them during theirs, that is not a valuable relationship.
Again, the people we associate with are our building blocks. If you want a solid life, a life without all the extra confusion, the extra bitterness, without being in the feeling-stuck and
apathetic modes, reevaluate the building blocks in your life.
A solid life that brings you joy, peace, and fulfillment and brings out the authentic you requires building blocks that are solid, positive, and steadfast.
We each choose whom to allow into our lives. No one chooses your life for you. No one can. Only you are responsible for you.
You owe yourself peace, joy, and happiness.
If you have flimsy and negative building blocks shoring up your heart and soul and life, you will continue to fall, falter, and fail at living out your ultimate life purpose.
Some of us give every possible reason for holding on to negative relationships, and we wonder why our lives don't work, why we just can't use our gifts to birth that project, why we just don't
feel free and purposeful.
It's often because of the people influences that are insidiously seeping into our souls, and we don't even know it until our entire lives have passed by us, and we've wasted it all away because
we couldn't break free and protect ourselves.
In the past 10 years or so, I've become very mindful of whom I allow around me and who seeps into my heart and soul. This awareness has been a life and game changer for me. My life has been so
much better, and I've been able to hear God's voice clearer.
Are the human influences around you muffling God's voice in your life?
Are you so entwined with the human building blocks that you can't even decipher God's calling for you?
It may be time for you to take inventory of all the human building blocks involved in your daily life, connect deeply with yourself and to God, and then examine your life, and be honest with
yourself.
It may be time to let go of the flimsy, negative, and weak building blocks in your life and replace them with strong, supportive, positive, and steadfast building blocks, and watch your life
totally turn around.
All it takes is self-trust, courage, and faith.
Relationships are the foundation of our lives. Choose them wisely.
July 17, 2017
I Met the Love of My Life…Yes I Did!
I've been divorced for about seven years. The last time I was in a relationship was three years ago. I've taken a break from dating. It was a decision that just happened. I didn't consciously
decide to stop dating.
I've just been busy with so many parts of my life. My daughters have taken a lot of my attention. My older daughter was transitioning out of high school to take her SATs and secure her college
admission. College admissions are grueling. Decisions, college visits, being there for her through it all. My younger daughter is entering adolescence, and we all know what that means. Friend
issues, strictly female issues—the 'hormones". Navigating through all the school and after-school activities. Attending all the games, concerts, and plays. My daughters are precious to me. I had
to make time to give them all the support I can give, and my older daughter is now off to college this year after taking a gap year off. A prestigious college. One of the top colleges in the
country. I'm proud of her. She worked hard for it. My younger one is going into her last year of middle school and excelling.
My pediatric practice. That has kept me busy. Lots of growth, which is good but requires my time. Seeing patients a few days a week, managing the practice and all that comes with that. Teaching
medical students. Being there for my staff and supporting the physicians.
I love being a pediatrician. I love to teach—I believe this is one of my callings in life. My practice has kept me busy for the past 13 years, but more so in the past 5 years because of rapid
growth.
Then came my brand-new calling in 2015—my gift of writing, which had lain dormant in me. Little did I know I had this gift lurking in my soul somewhere just waiting to burst out! It finally did
hatch out in December 2015, and I haven't stopped writing since then. I write all week during any free time I have. It's my time of spiritual growth. I choose to write on some Friday and Saturday
evenings instead of going out to socialize. I write on vacations. Writing makes me very, very happy! It takes all my cares away. I like to get lost in writing for hours. I currently write
nonfiction, but I'm looking forward to the day I'll start writing fiction. I can't wait to start making stuff up and writing it all down! What fun that will be!
A hot cup of honey ginseng tea, some quiet and peace, a non-cluttered space, my shutters open, and off I go into my own world.
This gift has definitely pulled me even further away from the fact that I'm single and should be dating.
So there you go. I've been super busy!
That's why I haven't been dating or actively looking for that special guy.
And then, boom. I found the love of my life! I didn't go out searching for him. My kids had actually found him on an online site somewhere and asked if I liked him. I said he was pretty cute, but
I wasn't sure if I was ready to commit to the responsibilities of being with him. I told them I'd think about it. They reminded me on and off and showed me his picture as a tease. I pondered it a
lot.
Would I be able to give this guy my full attention with all the responsibilities I listed above?
Would he even understand my current lifestyle?
Would he support me through it all?
Would I be able to continue writing as we got to know each other?
Would he be too loud and distract me?
Would he be too demanding on my life?
A lot of thoughts skipped through my mind for months.
In May of 2017, I finally gave in. I listened to my daughters' pleas to give this guy a chance. To just be open and see how it goes.
I met him, after all the anticipation, and it was love at first sight. He was cuddly and had intense-looking eyes. We connected immediately, and it's been great since our first encounter.
He lets me be me.
He lies down beside me quietly while I write.
He falls asleep on the carpet peacefully while I'm writing and occasionally opens one eye to make sure I'm still around him.
He welcomes me with so much warmth when I return from being out, I can hardly contain myself from all that affection.
He's always super happy to see me, and he shows it.
He's very authentic and real.
I love taking walks with him. Going to the park with him.
He loves my kids too, and my kids adore him.
I found the love of my life, and his name is Luca. "Man's best friend."
I found unconditional love with my dog!
Here's his picture.
May we all become permanently happy…with our loving dogs.
Now I see why they are called "man's best friend."
July 14, 2017
Are Your Fears Holding You Hostage?
We all have fears. I have mine. I certainly do. I have a fear of fast-moving cars. I do not like to sit in cars that are too fast. I do not like to drive fast. I have a fear of driving on huge
highways, and I happen to live in a city that has many of those. Atlanta houses highways with up to eight lanes! Lucky me! (with a tone of sarcasm).
I also have a fear of heights—I really do. You’ll find me sitting on a plane, but you will not see me jump off a plane anytime soon. Actually, I'm not a "never person," but I think I can
confidently say you will never see me jumping from any height from a plane—or from a cliff into water. I won’t even hike up mountains. It's not my thing. I do not like heights, period. Nor do I
like caves or depths—I will not be deep-sea diving anytime soon! Count me out of those.
I derive my pleasure and adrenaline rush from other sources. A one-hour workout class will give me the same effects. I'll take that instead.
In summer 2015, I planned an exciting trip with my daughters and my daughters' friend and her mom. A four-country European tour. We spent a few days in Athens, Greece, then took a big ferry from
there to Santorini. Fun all the way, until the announcement was made that we were approaching the dock in Santorini. I looked out the window from the ferry, and I immediately panicked. What on
earth am I looking at? Is there an alternative way to get out of here? In the very near distance, I saw high hills with what seemed like hairline roads winding around them, sometimes at sharp
angles, and the cars and trucks driving on them seemed like toy vehicles. The roads were on cliffs that had no barriers from the edge. The vehicles could tip over the cliffs at any time!
What did Iyabo get herself into? I failed to fully research the terrain of this area before booking the trip. I was too mesmerized by the beauty of Santorini as depicted in online images.
My daughters, their friend, and friend’s mom laughed at me and tried to calm my fears at the same time.
I was excited to be here, but my heart was beating really fast…but there was no turning back. We were here. I had to face my fears!
I closed my eyes during most of the drive from the ferry dock to our hotel. That 40 minutes or so seemed like 40 hours. I heard the rest of my party commenting on how beautiful everything looked,
but I could only peek for split seconds here and there.
When we arrived at our hotel, I was in awe. Santorini is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The ocean view, the white buildings stacked on cliffs everywhere. Beautiful flowers and
sparse greenery was interspersed between all this beauty.
Our hotel also sat on a cliff, but I had to muster up courage and face my fear. I had no choice.
I did enjoy the trip overall, but even with the exquisite beauty, I don't think I'll return there in a hurry.
My fear of heights still exists. It’s not leaving anytime soon.
Those are my fears.
However, they are not life-limiting fears. Even if they try to be, I will not allow them to be.
Other than those two I have explained to you, I have no other fears (OK, OK, there is another little one—crowded elevators).
But aside from those two and a half fears, I stare any other fears that try to limit my life straight in the face. I will not allow any fears to hinder me from my life purpose.
I rarely drive myself now. I Uber most places. I only drive in my immediate neighborhood. I stared that fear straight in the face and found a good alternative. I do certainly need to get around
to fulfill my life purposes, so I quickly found a way out.
I do not have to return to Santorini or any similar terrains where cars drive on hairpin roads on cliffs. There are so many other destinations to visit and savor. I will choose those other places
for now.
I can patiently wait for the next elevator and avoid the crowded ones.
I will not allow my fears to define me, hold me hostage, keep me in bondage, and annul my destiny.
I have too much to do on this earth. I have to bring my God-given gifts into existence and fulfill my life purpose.
No fear will hold me back.
What are your fears?
How many do you have? One enormous one? Three small ones?
Have you allowed them to build a fortress around you? To keep you in constant "stuck" mode?
Is your life purpose on hold because of these fears?
Are you biting your fingernails, experiencing palpitations or jittery legs because of your fears?
Do you have nightmares because of your fears? Wake up soaked in sweat because your daytime fears reflect in your subconscious asleep state?
That fear of starting the business you've always dreamed of?
The fear of going back to school to finish your education?
Of leaving the emotionally or physically abusive marriage you've endured for way too long?
The fear of asking your boss for a reduced schedule so you can make time to birth your new creative project?
Or of not keeping up with the Joneses anymore, not having the lavish lifestyle anymore, if you change your life in any way and decide to start afresh. Restart from scratch?
Or just that simple fear many of us carry around—the fear of judgement from other people? That simple fear is extremely weighty on us. Why do we care so much about what others think of us?
These types of fears, if you allow them to build a fortress around you, will cripple you for the rest of your life. You will stay stuck and wake up one day in your 70s, 80s, and 90s and have
regrets, as you realize life just left you behind...as you realize you had your gifts squeezed tightly in your hands because you were too fearful to open up and use them to fulfill your
life-given purposes.
Too many of us allow these types of fears to define us. For way too long.
My fears have solutions, but I had to search those out. They are not life defining, at least not for me—because I won’t allow it. I am quite sure they cripple some people though.
But they don’t have to. There are solutions for every fear.
One way to propel yourself to stare fears in the face, and find solutions to combat them, is to constantly remember you have unique God given-gifts that you must utilize to make your dreams come
true.
To live out your life purpose in full magnificence.
To influence others to the fullest.
To make the world a better place than when you entered it.
Fear is the opposite of faith. Drop fear. Pick up faith. Live life to the fullest.
The solution for fear is faith.
We must change our mindsets. We must replace our fears with faith. Then we must step out and do the works necessary to fulfill our calling.
May we all become permanently happy…minus our fears!
