Iyabo Ojikutu's Blog, page 11

Formal Education Is important, but Life Education Is Essential

I completed high school, medical school, residency, became board certified in pediatrics, and I still have to take ongoing classes for continuing medical education. I also still have to take
courses to maintain my board certification. CME, and MOC as we call it in medical lingo.

I've read and studied a LOT of academic books…a lot!

But did all these prepare me for life?

Did all these big, complex scientific books arm me with all the tools I needed to face the roller-coaster ride called Life?

Did passing all my exams give me a fixed check mark for life?

NO!

 

My academic achievements have enabled me to reach some heights. Absolutely no doubt about that. They have certainly given me my daily bread. My voice and confidence as a woman. And they have
given me options for achieving different goals in life.

However, without my emotional and spiritual growth and achievements, I would not be who I am today. These achievements have armed me with humility + strength; failures + wins; losses + gains;
despair + joy; disappointments + successes; and I've been able to stand tall through each of those life pairings.

Why?

 

Because I've been paying attention to growing emotionally and spiritually. Unfortunately, there are really no classroom courses for this. Really unfortunate! We just have to pay attention as we
grow and learn from our daily lives.

 

I've had to become a sponge to absorb all the life lessons being thrown at me daily. I ponder them carefully to use them for my growth.

Key influences around me have been my teachers in the active and passive modes.

My dear parents, friends, family, mentors, life coaches, employees, students, kids, and even my dog have taught me many, many life lessons.

My daughters have taught me to have patience—a lot of patience. I have had to give them space for their own personal and individual growth while giving them the needed support. They have taught
me what true unconditional love really means. They love me unconditionally, and I love them unconditionally. Allowing our kids to grow into their own persons, and balancing that with parental
guidance, is not an easy thing. It requires some major emotional and spiritual balance in a parent.

Since I've had my dog, I've also learned even more of what unconditional love means. This little puppy loves and cares for the three of us beyond imagination. He connects with the three of us
differently, understands each person’s limitations, and listens to rules, while at the same time loving us, as we show him love too.

The lessons I've learned from my kids, and now from my dog, have grown me greatly as a person, and it has grown them too. Win-win for all.

My
heavenly Father and the Word, however, lead in my emotional and
spiritual growth. I dig deep daily in the Word, and I allow these to
fill my heart.

Are you still believing that your bachelor's, master’s, PhDs are your passport to your dream life?

Yes. Those are important. Very important. Education is key for life provision. But…

Are you growing emotionally and spiritually?

Are you attending the true-life classes by paying attention to all the lessons in your daily life?

Formal academic education can be pricey. Emotional and spiritual education is free, but the cost to our lives is extremely high.

Without the latter two, we simply cannot make it in life.

 

I've met and know of people who completed only high school but are extremely successful today because they have a ton of emotional and spiritual education. They utilized the free form of
education to reach higher heights—those nonpalpable traits of hard work, humility, versatility, openness, perseverance, kindness, and mentorship that are so essential for life momentum and
growth.

And, on the other hand, there are those who have all the degrees in the world but are miserable, feel like failures, and are stuck.

Academic education was, is, and will always be important. Emotional and spiritual education was, is, and will always be essential and necessary for life growth and life momentum.

 

How are you going to start growing in your emotional and spiritual life?

Will you start paying more attention to all the free life lessons in your daily life?

How about finding one to three mentors? Or life coaches?

How about reading and studying your holy book regularly?

Journaling? That works too.

Reading books that teach you emotional and spiritual growth? (My book Permanent
Happiness is one of those.)

Listening to uplifting and inspirational music daily?

Long walks in nature?

Travel to explore other cultures?

There are many ways to take "classes" in emotional and spiritual education. Many of the classes are free…as listed above.

 

Start today, and watch your life come together as you grow as a person and fulfill your life purpose.

Academic education—important!

Emotional and spiritual education—essential!

May we all be permanent happy…from a solid, all-inclusive education.

Tangible and Intangible Values

As humans, we generally place a lot more importance on the tangible aspects of life, as opposed to the intangibles.

We like to see, feel, touch, hear, and taste. Our senses are acute, and we need those senses served and stimulated. A tangible thing is something that can be touched, that can be palpated.
Something real and concrete.

That's what we mostly desire.

 

The rat race of life is a perfect example of this tangible quality enthralls us. If it's not happening now…if the business isn't booming now, growing now, making a huge profit now, it's not of
value to us.

 

If we don't get what we want now, the venture is a failure. Where is the profit? Where is the success? Show me something tangible, so I can validate this venture.

Our lives are so rushed, so intense, so packed now that we must see the tangibles quickly—otherwise we lose hope.

We want results right away. Patience has been thrown out the window. Instead of focusing on the hard work and sustained dedication to the project or plan at hand, we focus on the results. The
rewards. The feel-good results and outcomes that we connect with better. The palpable results!

We want to skip over the process to hold the results in our hands. We want the tangibles right now…the part of the process we can identify with, because others can also see them, and we attribute
our value to those tangibles.

 

However, in my opinion it's the intangibles that have the most value.

Those aspects of our lives that we can't measure, touch, or palpate are the most valuable.

Education, leadership, mentorship, dedication, self-confidence, loyalty, faith…and the list goes on and on. These are examples of intangibles in our lives.

We cannot skip over these ever-so-important intangible traits because we are so focused on tangible results.

Simply said, what is money worth to us if we made it losing our souls?

This love of tangibility has even been further exaggerated in the new era of social media. We see all the celebrities online in their flashy things, and we want the same. Now. At all costs.
Regardless of the cost to our souls and to our pocketbooks. We don't mind going into debt as long as we can palpate some things and live a life of materialism.

We also want to palpate rewards at the cost of our heart and soul values.

Intangibles are heart and soul values (a few are listed above), and tangibles are material values.

Are you more of a tangible person? Or are you more of an intangible person?

Have you ever even thought about life in this way?

Do you want it all now? Right now?

Or are you patient enough to put in the intangibles over and over and wait for the eventual tangibles?

I strive every day to be more of a person who focuses on intangibles because I believe this is the way to change the world in a positive way.

Tangible versus Intangible values.

I hope you will ponder how these personally affect your life, and maybe you can then start to make some key shifts.

We don't have to touch "It" to believe "It" exists. We can hope, dream, act, do, create…repeat, and then wait for the results to manifest. Focus on intangibles again and again, and the tangibles
will show up at the perfect time.

Focusing on intangible values in life is key to happiness and fulfillment.

Time—the Most Precious Gift

Time makes me excited. It brings out the optimist in me. The big dreamer in me.

Every morning I wake up and realize I'm still here…still here to continue living. I give thanks, a huge thanks to my heavenly Father.

Time is the most precious gift we have. With time, everything is possible. The gifts we are born with need time to be birthed. As God gifts us more time every morning, we must
give thanks, and use it wisely.

Time has granted me fulfillment after fulfillment. How could I have finished my education, become a physician, touched so many lives, and be touched and inspired by so many? Write a book, and
another, and start yet another, without time?

There are so many phrases about time. So many Bible verses about time. That shows how important it is.

 

A stitch in time saves nine.

In the nick of time.

Time will tell.

Third time's the charm.

Time waits for no one.

Time heals all wounds.

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.

Psalm 90:12: So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

Time allows us to make the impossible possible. If we have time, we can love more, create more, influence more, and change the world for good.

I share the beauty of time with my children and my pediatric patients. I tell them that with time and faith, the sky is their limit. They can conquer the world with these two elements. Just those
two elements, and they are on their way.

Have you made good use of your time so far on this earth?

Have you fully embraced the fact that time is a really precious gift?

That without time, we are no longer in existence?

Do you have a vision of how you'd like to utilize the remaining time you have on this earth? How to make every day a meaningful day?

Time is a precious gift, a rare gem, a priceless commodity. Use it wisely.

From this time forward, please write down the plans you have for using your time wisely.

Do Me a Favor—Get My Name Right

My name is Iyabo Ojikutu, formerly Iyabo Okuwobi. I'm originally from Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. I'm now a proud Nigerian American.



My name is my identifier. It is unique. It has meaning. I love the meaning. It makes me proud. Truly proud.



Iyabode (my full first name) means the "mother has come back." Ojikutu means "wake up early in the morning." These names are me.

My passion is the well-being of our children. I'm a pediatrician, and from now till I depart from this earth, I will be an advocate for children in any way I can. So I do fully embrace the
meaning of my first name.



I'm also an early bird. I've always been. From my primary and secondary school days, I would wake up early to study and get all my projects and assignments done and ready for school. I went to
bed early during my school days and woke up early. I was very productive in the early morning hours all through my school and college days. I still do the same now as an adult. I'm at my best,
sharpest, and most creative early in the morning when I wake up. It is my sacred time for myself and time spent with God. I also write best in the morning—most of my books and my blogs have been
created in my early mornings.

So I also fully embrace the meaning of my last name—my father's family name.



These two names, Iyabode and Ojikutu, are my pride, my crowning glory, and my unique identifiers.

Please do not mess them up any longer.

Do not ask me if I have an easier name.

Do not ask if I have an English name.

Do not ask if I have a nickname.

Do not add in letters to make it easier for you to pronounce.

Do not take out letters to make it easier to pronounce.

Do not immediately change the subject because you would rather not pronounce it.

I cannot trust you or take you seriously if you do any of the above. Any of the above immediately creates a dent in the meeting/encounter.

I can pronounce any names.

I have to.

I will.

I must.

Because the name you tell me you are is your crowning glory and your identifier.

I cannot mess it up.

I must honor you.

I must respect your name.

 

Schwartz, Fitzgerald, Montgomery…just tell me. I will pronounce it.



If I'm having difficulty, I will politely ask you to please help me out. Because I just must get it right. It's super important.



Because it's important that I honor you as a fellow citizen of the world.



Our first encounters with people start with a smile, a hello, a hug, a handshake. Then comes the name introduction. I am Iyabo Ojikutu. I am John Fitzgerald. I am Francoise Janssen. I am Mohammed
Al Jabir…

 

Then the titles. I am Mrs. Mary Williamson. Dr Aisha Suleiman. Professor Lian Niang.

Our titles are also our unique identifiers. We are proud of them.

These
first encounters are extremely important in building trust, honor,
respect, and connection with others. It is a crucially essential step in
racial and religious reconciliation. In fact, it is a step in
reconciling all forms of human division.

I introduce myself. I am Iyabo Ojikutu. You make a face—a confused face, a scared face, a demeaning face. You ask me, "Where is that name from?” You say, "Oh, Diablo." Or, “Oh, Pirayo.” Or, "Do
you have another name? Can you give me an easier name?”

Or, "Sorry. I cannot pronounce that name."

Or worse still, you immediately change the topic and give up. And maybe even walk away and talk to someone else. The name is too complex for you. Not worth your effort or time to get it right.
You would rather have a conversation with someone whose name is familiar to you.



That first impression was mishandled. The connection was never made. A missed opportunity with respect of others—a key step to world peace and human reconciliation. What a shame. That missed
connection may have been the precursor to a great partnership. A great collaboration…missed because of an unfamiliar name that could not be easily made familiar. A name that could not be
welcomed.



Since I left Nigeria to go to England, and then the US, my name has been messed up so many times, I am now numb to it. In fact, I expect it. It used to shock me. Now it makes me laugh. I find
humor in it, because it truly is funny. Funny, shocking, and sad at the same time that people give up so easily when it comes to pronouncing other people's names. All it takes is sounding out of
letters and joining them together. I believe we all learned this in first or second grade English and grammar classes. If you have completed a few years of primary or elementary school, you
should be able to pronounce any names—at least after a few tries. Yet I have met college graduates and holders of advanced degrees who completely give up at acknowledging my name.

Quite astonishing that we will not take a minute to sound out a fellow human’s name and honor, acknowledge, and fully connect with that person.



No wonder there is so much hatred, violence, racial, economic, social, and religious head-butting in the world. No wonder we judge each other so easily. How could we not? When we cannot take one
short minute, when meeting new people, to fully engage them by honoring their names.



It happens in person. It happens on the phone, and in cyberspace. People demeaning people by butchering their names and not trying harder to get them right.



At my daughters' school functions, as soon as the speaker or presenter pauses, makes a face, or moans and groans, I know it's my daughters' name he or she is trying to pronounce. The audience
laughs and giggles.

 

It's actually not funny, the moaning and groaning. I never find this funny. It is demeaning…to me, to my daughters, and it should be to the speaker.



Fellow humans, let’s stop this. Everyone wants to feel honored and respected. It starts with that very first encounter—in person, on the phone, on chat online, and elsewhere. It starts with a
name introduction. Please take that very important minute to get that person's name right. Ask them politely to help you out if you're having difficulty.

That person may be the person who may save your life one day, or your children's lives. Be respectful.



Example: "I'd love to get your name right. Could you please help me spell and pronounce. I'll say it, then please let me know if I got it right."



Wow! If everyone did this, imagine the giant steps we would take to love, respect, and honor others.



If you know me, please respect my name, and my daughters' names. It is my given name. Their given names. I identify with my name wholly and strongly. Please get it right. And if you don’t know
me, I'll help you. Just ask!



Thank you.

Like Your Own Life First

Waiting for Likes is a waste of time.



Likes. Followers. Cyber friends. This is the new norm. How many of these can we get in a short period of time? These give us an adrenaline rush. An ego boost. A false validation. A rush that is
even better than thirty minutes of exercise. No wonder we are getting more and more obese and unhealthy (side comment!)

Social media is great, but in some aspects, not so great. Especially for our kids' emotional well-being and self-esteem. Studies have shown Instagram and Snapchat can be negative contributors to
our kids' mental health and could be detrimental to them socially, academically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.



I have a 13-year-old daughter. I am skeptical about her presence on social media. We had a long talk before I allowed her to create an Instagram page just a couple of months ago. I helped her
fully understand that the number of Likes she gets is meaningless. What is meaningful is how much she likes herself, how many likes and check marks she gives herself on a daily basis. She is her
own social media empire. We agreed that if she gets too consumed in the speed of Likes on her posts, or gets wrapped up in what her friends are doing, her account will be deleted. My daughters'
self-esteem, self-confidence, and emotional strength is super important. I teach both my daughters the importance of self-love and self-acceptance regularly.

Do you do this with your children? How often?

I interviewed a nanny for my daughter a few weeks ago. A beautiful lady in her early twenties. On our first few introductory texts, she told me she recognized the origin of my name and understood
my native language, Yoruba. She texted me a couple sentences in Yoruba. She is Caucasian, from Georgia. She told me she took an elective in college in Yoruba. I was impressed. I made an instant
connection with her, even before we met in person.



When we met in person, I connected with her even more. She seemed sweet. She talked about her family a lot. We connected talking about my book and my passions. She shared her passions and told me
she would like to eventually teach and help kids in some way. She said she was at a crossroads and was not sure what she would eventually like to do. We had a great conversation. She seemed like
a good fit. My daughter liked her too.



Until we checked out her Instagram post a few days later and saw her 50K followers along with hundreds of nude/seminude/sexually provocative posts and pictures.

My heart broke. I did not expect this. Why would this be the image this sweet, lovely young lady would want to portray?



There are many accounts like this on Instagram. Young ladies with nude/seminude pictures. A little bit of girliness/cuteness is OK in pictures (at least, in my opinion), but excessively sexual
pictures are a no-no.



Our young kids and adolescents are identifying with the number of followers/Likes they get on social media. They are doing this at all costs. At the cost of their dignity. At the cost of their
future careers and life purposes. I doubt there is any serious prospective employer who would not question the decision to hire such candidates after reviewing their sexually provocative social
media accounts.

 

I did not hire the lady above. I could not. Our values did not mesh. I'm sure she is a good person, but I could not have her nanny my 13-year-old daughter. The wonderful connections we had on our
initial texts and in-person meeting was totally annulled by her superficial social media life. And I could not overlook what I saw. It was not just one or two provocative posts. It was all her
posts.

It is up to us adults to guide our teens and youth in appropriate social media behavior. We should let them know that their value is intrinsic. It is within them. It is not what others think of
them or how others view them. Young women, for example, must present themselves in a respectful, strong, yet feminine way on all platforms. They cannot have different personalities in different
situations. Different at work, on social media, in person. They should stay true to themselves on all platforms.

Social
media has its pros and cons. We must make our children aware of this. We
must teach them self-love, self-care, self-acceptance. We must teach
them ways to increase their self-esteem and to not to place their value
in others' hands.

Five thousand Likes from others is senseless and meaningless if you have zero Likes for your own self.



It is time to guide and protect our children and youth from the dangers of social media.



Start now. Engage your kids in conversations. Check out their accounts and their online pages.



Our children need our guidance. Adults, we must be proactive!



On a side note, some of us adults also make this same mistake—we identify with the number of Likes, followers we have. That mindset change must start with us.

Our children are watching!

No Man Is an Island—Teamwork Is Key

Are you working on a project, a business idea, a passion, a dream, the next big thing? How is it coming along?

Do you have a solid team beside you? Or are you navigating it alone?

Are your friends, family, loved ones giving you tips and advice?

Has this helped you? Do you know what to do with their advice and guidance?

Are you feeling overwhelmed with your day-to-day duties as a parent, a spouse, an employee, an employer? Does that statement work-life balance seem unattainable to you? Does 24 hours seem just
not enough to accomplish everything you need to do?

"It takes a village to raise a child." We are all aware of this saying.

However, it also takes a village to raise an adult. We adults cannot do it all alone either. Without help, we cannot move forward in life. All it takes is asking and being open to receiving.

Are you seeking help in the right places?

From the right sources?

From the right people?

How much networking are you doing?

Or are you still taking care of all the moving parts by yourself?

 

I'm all for work-life balance, but I handle work life and family life separately. Both have to be balanced independently of each other. You cannot sacrifice the attention of one for the other.
That never works. If you put your projects and passions on hold for family life for too long, you will have regrets and resentments and eventually feel apathetic about your life purpose.

If you neglect your family life for passions and business dealings, the outcome of that speaks for itself. Your precious loved ones will become resentful. Your children and spouse will suffer
from your absence, and this never ends well.

To be successful in life—working on the projects and ideas above, as well as having a happy, stable family life—you will have no choice but to ask for help.

 

I'm not talking about the obvious help from your spouse. Your husband or wife or life partner should be supportive of your dreams, but that person should not put their dreams on hold indefinitely
in order to support you.

Ladies, listen in closely here. You have gifts you were born with. God gifted them to you to enable you to change and touch the world positively. Do not leave your gifts dormant because you're
allowing your spouse and children to live their dreams and life purposes. You cannot keep being the helper for everyone's dreams and not finding the freedom to birth your own dreams.

How do you use your gifts effectively and birth the next big idea? The next big thing that will have a huge, positive impact on the world?

By asking for help outside of your immediate family. This help could be paid or unpaid.

 

Join associations that are relevant to your project idea.

Research online about like-minded groups and networking events—many are free (check with your chamber of commerce too).

Hire a babysitter or nanny, or find a good daycare! There are good ones out there. Let go of fear. Do your due diligence with hiring care for your children.

Muster up confidence.

Dress appropriately, and smile.

Go out and start meeting people, learning about that particular field, and start to brainstorm.

As you network, look for three experts/consultants/entrepreneurs in the same field—paid or unpaid—whom you really connect with, and allow them to elevate you and help you get your project off the
ground.

I have repeatedly mentioned “paid or unpaid” a few times on this post. Yes, be prepared to pay for strong, solid expert advice, and be prepared to receive some words of knowledge and advice for
free. It is always a combination. Be open to both.

However, the buzzing noise and advice of 20 or more family, friends, and colleagues will not get you anywhere. You will only be more confused.

Narrow the advice down to experts, and find help in your family day-to-day life and in any existing businesses you may own or run.

I've paid for daycares and nannies since I started having kids—married and now as a single mother. Nannies, cleaners, occasional food-catering services to free me from cooking, handymen, Uber
drivers, more efficient staff for my existing medical business, book editors, design team, publicists…they've all made my life better and freed me to work on new projects.

These don't have to be expensive. Start off with a part-time nanny, occasional cleaner…work on your dreams, and watch your life come together.

Start asking for help outside of your immediate family and close circle of friends, and watch yourself grow and your dreams come to fruition!

It does take a village to raise an adult up. Find your unique village, and allow them to help you soar in life.

Declutter Your Living Space to Declutter Your Mind

Is Your Living Space Conducive for Your Life Growth?

Do you have to wade through piles of clothes to find your bed?

Is your kitchen sink full of dirty utensils and pots and pans from ten days ago?

Is your car full of rubbish and the crevices and cup holders teeming with dirt?

The condition of our environments is directly related to the condition of our minds. If you're settled, peaceful, happy, and at ease with life, it will reflect on your living
space. You will make time to clean the spaces around you and keep them tidy because in that peaceful state, you are fully aware of the connection between your happiness and where you
dwell.

On the contrary, if your mind is in chaos and is unsettled, your living space will likely follow closely behind. Your home will become as chaotic and disorganized as your mind.

At the same time, a cluttered, disorganized home leads to unrest and chaos in our minds.

A clean, organized home with airy rooms leads to peaceful minds.

A cluttered home brings unrest to the soul. An airy, clean, lightly filled home brings peace to the soul.

We must declutter our homes and living spaces on a regular basis. Every season, dedicate a few hours to sorting through all your “things” and give some of them away to charity and to those who
may need them. Throw stuff away if it is not in giving condition. Have a yard sale if you can. Empty out the cabinets in your home, and do a deep cleaning periodically. Give away some furniture
to create a more airy atmosphere. Tackle your garage, and declutter this also.

Involve your spouse, your kids, and anyone else who lives with you.

Instill this value in your kids. Teach them the importance of having a clean, decluttered home or living space in order to have peace in their lives.

Our homes must be our sanctuaries. You must look forward to going home after a hard day's work and just relaxing on a clean couch with clean pillows, taking a nap on a bed that is neatly made
with clean sheets, or soaking in a clean bathtub, or taking a nice shower in a fresh and airy bathroom.

This is essential for permanent happiness and peace—having a house or living space we can truly call home. A home that is so clean and airy that everyone who steps in has a feeling of peace
immediately.

What types of accessories, artwork, and colors do you have in your home? Are they all uplifting to your soul? Do you have artwork with uplifting quotes, prayer verses, positive words, peaceful
images and paintings?

No matter the sizes or types of homes we live in, or what part of the world we live in, we can still keep our living spaces clean and emitting peace.

It's not about how luxurious our homes are. It's about how clean, airy, and peaceful they are.

Declutter and clean your living space to help declutter and clean your mind.

Start today, and watch how your life changes for the better.

Physical Health = Spiritual Health = Physical health = Spiritual Health…

Are you moving every day? Or are you a couch potato?



Are you too tired to exercise? Do you schedule your regular exercise routines, or do you just fit it in when you have some spare time?



Do you give up after the first few times because your body aches so badly?



Have you gained so much weight over the years, it's become so difficult for you to move?



Do you encourage your kids to be active every day? Do you exercise with your kids?

Did you know that regular physical activity is essential for permanent happiness and also increases your life span?



These are all questions we must ask ourselves.



You must first schedule exercise into your daily routines. You must have the time of day in your calendar. Find the time of day where you'll be most consistent with it.

First thing in the morning, or straight after work, or even midday (if your work schedule permits).



I find I'm most consistent with my exercise early in the mornings. I work out mostly at 6 or 6:30 a.m., and I get it out of the way. It also helps prepare me for my day. I
feel energized and refreshed and ready to face the daily challenges. (I'm most likely to skip exercise if I schedule it for the end of the day.)

Find out what time of day works best for you.



Find out the type of exercise you enjoy, whether it’s working out in the gym, swimming, running, fitness classes, dancing, hiking or simply walking…find one or two or several,
and stick with them.



Exercise at least 3–4 times a week for a minimum of 30 minutes, and increase to 1 hour as soon as you can.

Be prepared with the appropriate gear you need for each activity, and pack them in your bag the day before. Scrambling around for everything you need 10 minutes before is a sure
recipe to skip your workout. Appropriate shoes, gym wear, sports bras, clean towels, etc. Remember to also fill your water bottle.



And for the ladies…choose hairstyles that are easy to manage after sweating. Don't let “I can’t ruin my hairstyle” be a deterrent to working out.



Remember, beauty comes from the inside out. Exercise makes you feel good from the inside out, and then your outside will become gorgeous.



If you need some motivation, take a friend or two with you. Friends who are inspiring or that you inspire. Positive thinkers, steadfast friends who can share in your physical
fitness journey, and you can both reap the benefits together.

Set a good example for your children. Our kids must see us being active, and this helps them get up from the couch and take a break from all their electronic devices! Play sports
with them, go to the park, walk the dog with them, do some gardening with them, or go swimming together as a family.



And lastly, get out into nature as often as you can. Running on a treadmill in your cluttered basement is good exercise, but the benefits are tenfold if you get
out to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the beautiful outdoors as you exercise.



So, to recap:

Schedule exercise.


Find the types you enjoy.


Frequency is a minimum 3 times/week.


Pack appropriate exercise gear.


Go with good company.


Set an example for your kids.


Get outdoors in nature.

If you practice all this, you will be a much happier, healthier and more confident person after four weeks.

But you must be consistent, and stick with it!

 

Start today.

Giving Our Souls the Benefit of Travel

Travel is an expense that is worth every dime. I love to travel. I really do. It's at the top of the list of my favorite things to do.



This is because travel is an experience for our souls.



Travel has many benefits.



It helps us learn about other cultures, religions and other mindsets.



We can relax fully and forget about time constraints and deadlines.



We can soak in all the new and beautiful sceneries.



We enjoy foods from other cultures.



We renew our minds.



We connect better with those we are traveling with.



We gain lots of new knowledge by immersing ourselves in the new environment.

Santorini, Greece

We make new friends during trips.

We cure ourselves of the most malignant disease of our time—ignorance. The disease that is leading to all forms of human division today. As we learn about other people, we become less judgmental
and can love and accept others better.



Travel does not need to be expensive. There are many ways to travel. It doesn’t need to be international. You can take a road trip, a train ride, bus ride, ferry ride, or some people even
trek with others on an adventure. Travel just means leaving your immediate environment and heading out farther away where you can create new experiences and new memories.

 

Take advantage of the many forms of low-budget travel and non-peak-season options. If you budget travel into your monthly expenses, you will make it happen. If you look at all the material things
you spend money on and just let go of those from time to time, you will have saved up for travel in no time.



You will be so thankful to yourself.

You will discover that all those material things do not bring you lasting happiness, but the travel experiences will help bring you permanent happiness.

 

Travel teaches us to laugh, relax, and love others more.



International travel, however, in my opinion, brings the most lasting happiness.

Extracting yourself from the country you live in and venturing out to faraway lands is key in our peace pursuits.

 

You will return humbled, transformed and more excited and hungry to influence people all around you.



You will come to discover we are all the same, no matter where we come from. We are all in need of the same things in life.

My daughters and I have created lovely experiences and memories with all our travels—local and international—but our fondest memories are from international travel. When we huddle together to
look at our pictures, we have a great time just reliving all the precious moments and wonderful people we met.

Which brings me to this crucial point. We must travel with our kids. "They are too young. They won't remember," some of us say. I choose to disagree on that statement. Kids do remember. I
traveled to England from Nigeria many times as a kid growing up, and I still remember most of the details of those travels. Those memories have shaped me into who I am today. They have given me a
more tolerant view of other people, and have broadened my thinking and life perspectives.



There is enough ignorance in the world. We don't need to spread it to our children. If you have the means and the opportunity, please travel with your kids and teach them to embrace, enjoy and
discover all the lovely and unique people of the world.



Start planning today. Start saving up. Go to Google to search and plan. It's easier than you think. Promise yourself to take an interesting trip in the next 12 months. Then, when you go, enjoy
every moment of it, and come back a better and renewed person.



Then…you won't be able to stop traveling. You'll find yourself planning your next trip on your current trip.

 

May we all become permanently happy…from travel!

Learn to Love the Lightness of Life

It's the little, light, lovely everyday things that bring us joy.



We have to learn to consciously let go of the heaviness of life temporarily or permanently in order to renew and heal our hearts.



We can’t let go of some forms of day-to-day heaviness—deadlines, projects, business matters, financial woes, relationship and kids’ issues. Those are part of our lives, and we do need to handle
them strategically, but if we are not careful, they will weigh our souls down and block us from peace.



During those heavy life situations, we must find time to empty our hearts from time to time from those situations by actively embracing the lighter side of life.



Reading an uplifting book in a clean, clutter-free room while sipping a cup of hot tea.

A time of solitude in any environment.



Noticing sunrises and sunsets and taking time to soak them in.



A walk in the park, noticing the beauty of the trees, happy families walking by, toddlers and children running around, dogs playing with their owners.



Noticing the beauty of a full moon.



Feeling your every breath as you take a walk and noting the warm or cool air touch your face.



Dancing with your partner.



Dancing with your kids.



Some of us have not taken the time to embrace the lightness of life in a while. We focus solely on the grueling demands of life and forget to create time to empty our minds of those never-ending
tasks or goals.

 

We must give our minds a break sometimes.



We must continuously renew our hearts.



We must guard our hearts.

Our souls need rest from time to time.

The demands of life will never go away. If we focus on them 24/7 and don't give our complete selves a break, we will fall, falter and possibly fail at life.



Make a promise to yourself today that you will make time to smell the roses every single day.



Write it down in your journal so you can fully connect with that promise.



Remember, once we write it down, it sticks better.



"I make this promise to myself today that I will take time to consciously enjoy some form of lightness in life every single day."



You will be glad you did!