6 Things You Should Love About Your Life!

1. Time spent on personal growth and goals. The wisest and happiest are those who are respectful of their time, annoyed at the needless loss of it, and use it dutifully to grow as they age. Sadly, too many of us age much faster than we grow. We spend so much of ourlives going through the external motions of what society tells us ‘maturity’ is – getting married, buying houses, working our way up the corporate latter, etc. – that we fail to concentrate on our own inner growth and goals. We never allocate enough time just for us. Part of the problem is that we’re always waiting for some condition to resolve itself at some point in the future. We believe that the right time to take the next step is somehow going to magically happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, etc. But one daywe wake up and realize we’re no closer than we were long ago. We find ourselves asking, “How did it get so late, and why haven’t I moved?” In other words, we’ve aged, but we never grew to our potential. We never fulfilledourselves. Let this be your wake-up call. This is life. Right now. Indulge in it. Make it count. Because it’s happening. Read 1,000 Little Things . 2. Living your truth every day. The world can easily be a tragedy if all you do is feel without ever acting. To feel something and believe in it, and not to live it, is lying to yourself. If you do this for too long you will never do more than exist meekly from one robotic motion to the next. You will live a lie every day as the truth haunts your thoughts every night. You simply can’t get away from your truth by moving dishonestly from one place to the next. If any of this hits too close to home, take a stand right now. Stop sipping the denial cocktail and take a shot of the delightful truth. Wherever your heart is, there you will find thereality that brings YOU to life. The time to act on your truth is now. 3. The joy and freedom of an open mind. Your perspective on things is important; it enables you to make sense of the life you lead. Always keep in mind, though, that different people have different perspectives, and yours isn’t the only one that makes sense. There arefew black and white facts in this world. Most facts are simply interpretations. You begin to learn wisely when you’re willing to see life from other people’s perspectives too. Even as you grow wiser and wiser with age youmust remind yourself that an understanding isnever absolutely final. What’s currently right could easily be wrong later. Thus, the most destructive illusion is a settled point of view. Since life is continuous growth and movement,choosing a fixed point of view is essentially a declaration of death. Success in life does not depend on always being or proving that you’re right. To make real progress you must let go of the assumption that you already have all the answers. You can listen to others, learn from them, and successfully work with them even though you may not agree with every opinion they have. When people respectfully agree to disagree, everyone benefits from the diversity of perspective. Read Buddha’s Brain . 4. Relationships that improve you. It’s not about finding someone to lose yourself in, it’s about meeting someone to find yourselfin. When you connect with someone special – a friend or lover – this person helps you find the best in yourself. In this way, neither of youactually meet the best in the each other; you both grow into your best selves by spending time together and nurturing each other’s growth. When you honestly ask yourself who these special people are in your life , you will often find that it’s those who, instead of giving you things or taking things from you (advice, answers, material possessions, etc.), have chosen rather to share in your joy and pain, and experience life along with you through good times and bad. 5. The story you tell yourself every day. Forget what everyone else thinks of you; chances are, they aren’t thinking about you anyway. If you feel like they always are, understand that this perception of them watching you and critiquing your every move is a complete figment of your imagination. It’syour own inner fears and insecurities that are creating this illusion. It’s you judging yourself that’s the problem. You judge yourself by telling yourself a story inside of your head. Every moment of every day you’re telling yourself this story. You are building your future around this story, so tell itright. Create a positive narrative about your dreams and goals that include only the circumstances that matter. What you think others are thinking about you is not part of this narrative, and neither are your negative self-judgments. Read Uncertainty . 6. The positive spin of life’s surprises. You are never at the total mercy of life’s surprises. No matter what life throws at you, you can decide what these events mean to you in the short term, the long term, and how you will integrate them into your life. Everything that happens is subject to your interpretation of it. Thus, far more important than what happens, is what you choose to do with what happens, and your options are abundant. The life you live is ultimately the life you choose. Choose to focus on the negative, and negativity will indeed surround you. Turn your focus to the positive possibilities , and these possibilities gradually become realities in yourlife. M&G!

A Night Fergie Will Never Forget!

While CNN, BBC, and other news websites were awash with the depressing news that Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, had passed on, Manchester United gaffer, Sir Alex Ferguson had more devastating pains to attend to. It was a night when controversy returned to football, and instead of action on the pitch being the deliberation of pundits, officiating once again took centre stage. Whether Nani' challenge was a deserving red card is a debate that will outrun Usain Bolt. However, if the rules are to followed to the latter, the referee could be slightly vindicated. However, given the magnitude of the spectacle, you expect officials to be more 'certain' before opting for pivotal decisions. However, one should mention that referees, unlike the millions of arm chair critics around the world, does not have the luxury of hindsight or replays. Perhaps, conspiracy theorist will remember that this was the same referee that sent off John Terry against Barca last season. Whatever the analysis, United fell too easily after the red card. We know that Madrid is not just any team, but we have seen teams win big matches with a man down. Especially, when one considers that they were one nil up. Having said that, United should take solace in the fighting spirit they displayed at the closing stages. It is interesting to state here that there is something ironic about United moaning about officials. Even Fergie won't deny that they have been benefactors of officiating shenanigans in the past. In all, kudos should go to Jose Mourinho and his Real Madrid side. Despite the red card, they still had a job to do, and they did in clinical fashion. They will now be fancied as firm favourite for the trophy. Finally, it is a night Sir Alex will always ruin. A night that was decided in split seconds. Many believed he shouldn't have dropped Wayne Rooney out of the starting line up, but all those punditry will count for nothing. This could well be the Scot's last chance of tasting European glory. Maybe, a missed opportunity he will never forget. He now has to look to the League and FA Cup for some domestic success reprieve. Again, Jose has the last laugh in what has been an incredible ten days for him. A double win against Barca followed by a Champions league triumph against Man U at Old Trafford is pure footballing fantasy. It is a night he reminded us all, that he was still special!

10 Questions You Should Know the Answers To

1. What would make you proud of yourself? When you follow your heart and intuition, people won’t always agree with you. When you find something that makes you happy, not everyone will be happy for you. When you show unwavering kindness to others, some people will question your motives. When you are honest to the core, some folks will attempt to use your honesty against you. When you look for the best in everyone you meet, a few of them will take advantage of it. Don’t let any of these people stop you from doing these things. These people don’t matter. In the end, what does matter is how you feel about yourself and the life you have led. You will ask yourself one question: “Am I proud of how I lived?” Make the answer: “Yes!” Read 1,000 Little Things. 2. How can you make a positive difference? Even when it seems like a hopeless effort, do the right thing. Always live firmly by the forces of love and truth. The bullies and cheats who seem unstoppable in the short term always fall from power in the end. Love and truth always rise to the top. Keep injecting your goodness into the world, one small act at a time. It’s these small acts of goodness stacked together that eventually change the world. You may never see the full result of your positive actions, but they will be accounted for and realized in time. If you do nothing, there will be no result – no positive change ever. 3. What are you trying to accomplish and why? Know the answer to this simple question and remind yourself of it every single day. You must identify, without any doubt, the specific reason you do the work you do. Success can only occur when there is a target and a reason to hit it. When you have a reason to do something, you have a legitimate purpose behind your efforts. When you connect this reason to a desired result, you’re able to summon the discipline and persistence necessary to get the job done. Give yourself a good reason and you will find a way to succeed. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. 4. What are the roadblocks standing in your way? A roadblock is only a roadblock if you don’t know about it. If you know about it, it’s just a challenge. Look around and evaluate the challenges you face; within them lie the opportunities to make lasting progress. You are in the best position to make the most of these opportunities, because you know exactly where you are, where you want to go, and what resources you have at your disposal. Remember that the roughest roads often lead to the top, and the best way to get over a roadblock is to go through it. Thus, you must run toward your challenges with all your might, because the easiest way through them is to trample them beneath your feet. You have what it takes right now. You know what you must do and you know why. Step confidently into your challenges until you reach the road on the other side. 5. What’s the next step? Remember, you will never make a bigger mistake than sitting back and doing nothing simply because you can only do a little. So go head and start small. Take a small step, and if you can’t take a small step, take a tiny one. Do what you can with the resources you have right now. Get yourself moving in a positive, productive direction. The best thing about big success is that it comes one step at a time. A flash of success, no matter how small, creates the momentum necessary to create even more success. Every positive step forward puts you in position to take the next one. 6. What are your flaws and faults? You will never be flawless. You will never be faultless. Acknowledge your flaws and faults and accept them. Let the difference between your flaws and the flaws of others be that you have accepted their existence and moved past them, while others are hopelessly trying to hide them. Let the difference between your faults and the faults of others be that you have addressed them and learned from them, while others are still living in denial. Don’t fall victim to fabricated illusions. Don’t hide from reality. Face your deficiencies and use them to bask in the glory of your personal growth. Read The Untethered Soul. 7. What issues do you need to resolve with yourself? When you feel lonely you look around for someone to fill the void in your life. You assume that your loneliness stems exclusively from being alone. But once you find company, it doesn’t take long before you realize that there’s still a void in your life. You still feel lonely and unfulfilled, so you blame it on your company and you move on to someone else… and then someone else. This cycle perpetuates for months, or even years, until you are eventually ready to face the truth. The truth is, a partner, or even just a friend, can add lots of beauty to your life, but they can’t fill a void that exists within you. You alone are responsible for you own fulfillment. If you feel desperately lonely when you’re alone, it means you’re in bad company. It means you need to work on your relationship with yourself first. To believe otherwise is to delude your mind and perpetuate your loneliness as you hop from one failed relationship to the next. 8. How are you burdening yourself? If you feel like your back is breaking from the weight your mind is carrying, perhaps it’s time to lighten the load you carry. There are many burdens you can easily let go of if you’re willing. Start by leaving your worries behind you; worries only fill your mind with negativity. Instead take constructive action – get involved in something worthwhile that takes your mind off of things. Next, drop your grudges. Grudges and resentments simply suck energy and time away from you without any positive return. Once you’ve gotten this far, it’s time to stop pretending like you know everything. Rather than attempting to prove yourself, open your mind, eyes and ears to new and real possibilities. And before you wrap things up, let go of your impatience. Two of the most vital virtues of your personal growth will be your patience to wait for the right moment and your courage to make the best of it. As you can see, dropping burdensome negativity from your life is fairly easy once you realize how much of it you’re carrying around with you. Do yourself a favor today and lighten your load. 9. How have you celebrated your progress lately? Focus on the progress you’ve made, on the next positive step, on the silver lining between where you once were, where you are now, and where you’re headed. Do not think of yesterday’s failures, but of the success that is possible today. Be proud of yourself. The fact that you’re trying is immensely impressive. You have conquered complacency. You are crushing your fears with every new effort you put forth. You aren’t where you want to be yet, but you’re making progress. Step by step will get you there. Even if you feel like you’re running in place, you aren’t. No effort that you make to attain something worthwhile is ever lost. It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t give up. Read The Success Principles. 10. What do you love about your life? Life is a series of highs and lows. There will be times when bad things happen. When these times strike, it’s important to keep things in perspective. How you respond to life’s inevitable difficulties defines the strength and growth of your character, as well as the quality of your life. The idea that you are a victim of any particular circumstance is simply inaccurate. The fleeting ups and downs that occur on a daily basis are tiny threads in the overall fabric of your life. Each one adds to your personal growth. The quality of your life is ultimately your choice. You can choose to be immobilized by the gravity of your disappointments, or you can choose to rise from the suffering and treasure the most precious gift you have – life itself.

Is Messi Really Better Than Ronaldo?

It is a debate that has severed the opinions of the entire footballing world, a question that has divided pundits, an issue that will probably linger for epoch to come. Perhaps, the god of soccer was simply so prodigal for deciding to lavish us mortals with two incredible soccer talents at the same time in history. If either existed at different eras, each would have ruled the soccer planet with minimum fuss, and save us an herculean comparison. But alas, nature gave us the twin geniuses at the same time. Without sounding too naïve, it is a slight misnomer to ever make comparison between two football players. This is because of the peculiarity, team involved and manger among other factors that comes to play. However, Lionel Messi and Cristaino Ronaldo are both attack minded players, thus, it makes comparison inevitable. Some have argued, perhaps out of proportion, that the ingenuity of the Barcelona team makes Messi thick. While there are some iota of truth in that, one cannot deny the little pee his due. If Barca makes Messi very good, so does Messi makes Barca. Ronaldo might not have the luxury of Iniesta and Xavi around him, but it will be foolhardy to deny that Ozil, Di maria and Alonso are not equally world class. In comparison, both players deliver on the big stage, and the records are there for the sceptics. Suffice it say, I believe a number of factors makes Messi the better player, and explains why FIFA and a vast majority of analysts think along this line. Character is a great factor in determining a true success, and in this, the Argentinian is almost faultless. Unlike Ronaldo who expresses fury so often against opponents, referees and at times fans, Messi is the reverse. Though he is not entirely devoid of this, he does not take it to Ronaldo's level. Moreover, Ronaldo earned an infamous reputation since his days in England for diving and simulation. A part of that stigma still sticks with him today. In addition, it is difficult not to like Messi. He is hardly ever in the news for the wrong reasons, unlike Ronaldo whose extravagant and partying lifestyle is well chronicled. Also, while some will say Ronaldo is a more rounded player, which is true, Messi is simply magical in the few things he does. Messi's pace defies logic, his stamina negets gravity, his impulse beats reason, and his consistent fitness mesmerises belief. Ronaldo is also a wonder in his own game, but when comparisons are made between the pair, Messi just edges it. The scary thing about Messi is that he still has years ahead of him, perhaps, more than Ronaldo will claim. Perhaps, many might disagree with my assessment and dismiss it as a case for Lionel. But when sentiments and unguarded hatred for Barca is kept aside, we see that Messi is probably the greatest player of all times. Forget winning the world cup, he might or never win it, but that does not deny the phenomenon he is. By way of conclusion, I suggest that we lay the argument of who is better to rest and enjoy the pair while they last. It is not to all generations that nature and the god of soccer is this generous in giving.

9 Habits Of Extraordinary People!

1. Help at least one person a day. The best part of life is not just surviving, but thriving with passion, compassion, humor, generosity, and kindness, and using these tools to make the world a better place. Smile, and help others smile too. If you don’t have the power or strength to write someone’shappiness, then try to help them remove their sadness instead. And don’t let the numbers overwhelm you. You can’t help everyone at once. Focus on assisting one person at a time,and always start with the person closest to you. If you can lie down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone’s day just a little brighter, you had a successful day. Read 365 Thank Yous . 2. When you feel like giving up, askyourself, “Can I give more?” The honest answer is almost always, “Yes.” And once your mind realizes it can, it usually does. One of the unique things about the human mind is that it can do only what it thinks it cando. The minute you say, “I don’t have the energy” or “I’m not capable of that,” you are actually training your brain to live up to your diminished expectations. Low expectations mean low results. So watch how you speak to yourself. And when you reach that point of struggle in your mind where most people would give in and give up, do the opposite and give it another shot . 3. Respect everyone. When you respect people it gives you a specialkind of access to them. No, you don’t automatically get the key to their hearts. What you do get is an increased understanding and rapport, and that can be priceless. If you’re a business owner, respecting your prospective customers will bring you more of their business. If you’re a teacher, respecting your students will add increased effectiveness to your teaching. If you’re an athlete, respecting the other team will help you build an effective strategy to win the game. In all walks of life, respect opens the doors of opportunity. 4. Accept exactly where you are, wherever you are. One of the great secrets to being happy and successful is accepting where you are in life and making the most of it. You won’t always know where you are going, but as long as you keep moving forward the journey will be rewarding. One step at a time, one foot in front of the other, time has a way of gradually showing you the way to what truly matters. Sometimesyou find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself. Read The Untethered Soul . 5. Seek lots of new life experiences. The people with the greatest wisdom are the ones who have been through the most. So start strong, stay strong, and finish strong by always remembering why you’re doing it in the first place. It’s all about learning and growing along the way. The most valuable lessons in life cannot be taught, they must be experienced. When you reflect on your life, you will likely see some pain, mistakes, and heartache. But when you look in the mirror, you will see the strength, growth, and wisdom that made it all worthwhile. 6. Maintain a diehard belief in yourself. A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. Your individual thoughts and beliefs are similar to chapters in a book. When you put them together, you have the belief system that becomes your life story. If you are going to be successful in creating the life you dream of, you have to believe that you are capable of doing so. You have to believe that you have the resources, talents, and skills necessary to create your desired results. 7. Walk your own path. A good life is not living the life everyone else intended for you. Be true to yourself. Stand firmly by your core values. Your life is your spiritual path. It’s what’s right in front of you. You can’t live anyone else’s life. The task is to live yours and stop trying to copy the ones youthink are more acceptable. Because if you water yourself down to please everyone else, to fit in, or to not step on anyone’s toes, you will lose the passion, freedom, and joy of beingwho you really are. 8. Find an opportunity in every outcome, positive or negative. Sometimes things happen exactly as you had expected, and then there are other times when nothing goes as planned. In either situation, there is a way to respond triumphantly. Your victories bring happiness and feelings of self-achievement. Your defeats bring wisdom, strength, and determination. Both outcomes bring new opportunities. In this way, life moves continually forward. In each moment, you can build upon whateverhas come before. Right now, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. Because right now, you are in the only time and place where you can actually make a difference. Read The Happiness Project . 9. Need less. Instead of focusing so intently on what you want to get, consider the things you can let goof. Eliminate some excess baggage, lighten your load, and feel a weight lifted. So many ofthe things you think you need, you do not need at all, you simply want them. And as your wants diminish, your freedom and abundance grow. Because long-term fulfillment in life is not about getting all that you need; fulfillment is knowing the freedom to be all that you are without the excess. It’s about wanting what you have at any given moment, and making the best of it. Bottom line: Ambition, intention, and disciplined effort will bring you great things in this world, but there is more to success than acquiring the commonly celebrated milestonesof success that society confers. In the long run, less is often more .

Super Eagles And The Keshi Revolution!

Like a bolt from the blue, the nineteen years wait for a national day of sporting glory was finally delivered. It was the stuff of fairy tales, the kind of fables only the gods can conjure, an experience that was tailored for legends, a story written in the stars and a moment in the sun that we will relish for epoch to come. Ours is a national team that has been bedevilled by a plethora of vices. Corruption and impatience are twin evils that has been a bane of the Super Eagles over the years. The syndrome of never believing in the coaching acumen of a local manager is one that is too obvious that a rehash will be a waste of space. The Football Federation has spent millions of dollars hiring and firing foreign coaches, who care less about the Eagles job. We simply never learn. That we axed Samson Siasia within a short period of his appointment was an indication that we are never patient. The impatient syndrome is one that is present in a myriad of Nigerians. The unguarded taste for instant success is simply preposterous and inimical at best. However, it is fitting that a local coach in Stephen Keshi has delivered the moment of glory we all craved. Many doubted his Midas Touch, few gave him a chance, while some waited for his downfall. But, life could be a pack of surprises at times. Whether it was the Lucky presence of President Goodluck Jonathan presidency, that provided the platform for the Super Eagles triumph in South Africa, we may never know. What we do know is that given the right conditions, anything is possible in our turf. Our sporting talents has never been in doubt, and that will remain like that for decades to come. It was also the stuff of dreams that a home boy, Sunday Mba, will deliver the moment of victory. The organisation of our local league might be perilous, but the potentials that ply their trade in it are not. Mba proved that something good can still come out of Nazareth. As we still savour the times, it is a simple conclusion that sport remains a great force for transformational change in our country. The win was a welcome distraction from the shenanigans of our politics, the dirge of our security, the scourge of our economy, the sorry tale of unemployment and the many troubles of our nascent democracy. Suffice it to say, what happens between now and next year's world cup in Brazil, will tell if we have truly learnt our lesson. The NFF and all other stakeholders must stop the absurdity and ineffectiveness at the glasshouse once and for all. It is apt to mention here that Keshi is no magician. As he did say after the triumph, the Super Eagles are still a work in progress. So, expectations should be kept in moderation, while dreams lingers. While still in the ecstasy of such season, one should spare a thought for the encumbered Osaze Odewinge. From all indications, we might never see him in the green and white colours of the Eagles ever again. His is a lesson to many. No one is ever indispensable, humility is a great virtue, and nothing last forever. Indeed, in the centenary period as a nation, it is sheer joy that we are the King of Africa, for the right reason!

I Am Thankful...

A score and some years have fizzled away, and I am eternally grateful for the grace of the Father, the gift of life, the fierceness of the battles, the beauty of the moments, the scars of the pains, the disappointments of events, the hurts of traitors, the power of tears, the counsel of mentors, the sublimity of the times, the miracle of helpers, the treasure of friends, the presence of family and the lessons that the University of Life has doled out to me. The past one year has been an indelible one for me. So much has happened, yet I have no regrets. I have come to learn that greater than intellect, and more priceless than ingenuity is the favour of God upon a man's life. It is no exaggeration to say that only grace can single out a man. Without being copious with the obvious, it is of prime importance that we never write off anyone. Life itself could be a tale surprises, and the man at the tail of the ladder could sit at Buckingham Palace the next day. In this past one year, I better understood the essence of living in the moment. Most times, we are encumbered about the tidings of tomorrow that we lose the power of now. Remember the words of Jesus 'Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof... Matt 6:34'. Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learnt over the course of the past one year of my life is to be thankful for the things I have. I have been fortunate to have as friends some of the best people on the planet. Friends who are loyal enough to stake their all for you. I really feel this is immeasurable. Indeed, it goes without saying that people come our paths for different reasons. Learn from everyone, keep hold of those you must, and let go of those you should. After all, everyone must not be your friend. I have also learnt not to take life too seriously. Life is simple, it is our excesses that complicates it. Be thankful for the things you have. They might not be as much as you might expect, but be thankful, for someone somewhere is fighting a harder battle. Also, learn to be nice to people, without expecting anything in return. People will hurt you, but be nice anyway. In addition, despite whose ox is gored, always follow your dream. It might not give you a fortune, but it will give you a life. Penultimately, never forget that only God has the final say. He is the chief arbiter, and it is only wise to partner with him in making you a success. Surely, I am thankful for the past one year of my life, and I am confident that my best is yet to come!