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Explore, Engage and Stick to Your Purpose
By Tolulope A. Adegoke
“At the centre of your being
you have the answer;
you know who you are
and you know what you want.”
– Lao Tzu
Harnessing the hero within is often galvanised and simplified by the practice of self-exploration, or productive introspection. This is the road that all winners in life must pass through. The biblical prodigal son, for instance, came back to his senses and recovered all he had lost, not primarily by determination, but by self- exploration.
How far a man conquers the world is a function of how well he conquers himself. Proverbs 16:32 says, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.” Hence, the greatest, most prestigious and most rewarding journey any man would ever embark on is the journey of self-exploration, leading to self-discovery.
A man will ever remain primitive and ignorant, no matter how well he has travelled round the world, if he neglects to travel through himself. Empowerment for change or development does not come from travelling round the world; it comes from travelling through oneself.
Here is a practical and glaring example. The governments of many African countries frequently talk about attracting Africans in diaspora to come back home to make their countries better. I consider this unnecessary. Africans who will develop their countries are not necessarily those who have travelled round the world; they are simply those who have “travelled around” their minds.
Consider the case of the prodigal son again. Despite his travelling to a far country and mingling with the citizens of a foreign land, he never acquired the necessary wisdom or insight to have a successful life; but as soon as he embarked on the journey of self-exploration, he got connected to a programme of restoration.
Self-exploration enables an individual, group or nation to outgrow childish dependence on others. Rather, it helps in acknowledging, celebrating, developing and maximising innate or indigenous potentials for the benefit of others. Self-explorers do not just sit down and wait for others to make things work for them; instead, they get up and work out things by accepting the responsibility for making meaningful contributions to the world around them.
Wired for Exploits
Self-explorers are wired to meet needs. They do not waste time to first think of who to call on to help meet their needs or the needs around them; rather, they look inwards because they believe in what the Creator, God Almighty, has embedded in them. This they consciously and continuously work upon to become better and more useful to the society at large and not only to themselves!
It is neither accidental nor coincidental that life’s significant activities are usually done or carried out in seclusion. For example, real banking transactions are carried out in the “strong room”. Moreover, an organisation’s behaviour is cultivated, strengthened and accounted for in a secluded company boardroom. Also, surgical operations are usually carried out in a secluded place, known as the theatre. This reveals to us the power of self-exploration.
Often, self-exploration that leads to self-realisation requires a secluded or serene atmosphere that guarantees solitude and, perhaps, silence. Sometimes, silence tells us the truth more than words! A man who does not engage in silence is bound to perform below his potentials! In the case of the prodigal son, it wasn’t until he became alone with pigs, such that he had nobody to come to his aid, that he came to himself. The prodigal son being alone means that he disconnected himself from his previous distracting activities – he disconnected from clubbing, as well as hanging out with sluts and macho guys. He indeed disconnected himself from distractions so as to pay attention to the call of destiny!
Albert Einstein, one of the greatest scientists that ever lived, attested to the power of solitude, when he revealed:
“I am truly a ‘lone-traveller’ and never belonged to my country, my home, my friends, or even my immediate family with my whole heart. In face of all these ties, I have never lost a sense of distance and a need for solitude, feeling that increase with the year.”
What the above simply means is that productive silence or solitude goes beyond locking yourself in a room and avoiding all manner of human and mechanical noise. It actually involves disengaging your mind from all manner of desires, lusts, pursuits, and associations that are not beneficial to the discovery, development and deployment of your God-given potentials. Isaiah 30:15 says, “…in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength”
The Michael Jordan Example
Michael Jordan is globally recognised as one of the greatest names in the history of basketball. Indeed, the game of basketball would perhaps not have garnered as much attention and excitement without the legendary exploits of Michael Jordan. What many may not know however is that there are reasons beyond the visible that made Michael Jordan such a timeless star. His winning edge was his mastery of the ageless art of solitude. He once wrote this powerful piece online:
“When I am out there, no one can bother me. Being out there is one of the most private parts of my life…during the game; for a few times in my life, I feel untouchable…I mean that about a game being like meditation period for me. Anytime I am playing serious basketball, it’s like meditation.
Sometimes even in the middle of the game, I am able to think about things as loud as it is; it’s almost a quiet time for me. I know that basketball game can be very exciting, but for me the game is one of the calmest parts of my life.”
Jordan’s success secret can thus be said to be his ability to be united – spirit, soul and body – with the game of basketball, without allowing external or distracting forces to affect him. By this, he was able to initiate, maximise and sustain coherence with the unusual basketball energy he is endowed with.
Curiously, the art of silence has been neglected by the vast majority of mankind; yet it is as important as prayer. This is why those who are given to prayer without being given to silence make little or no contribution to human existence. Conversely, those who combine prayer with quality moments of solitude enjoy the grace to soar and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of humanity!
Bishop Oyedepo, in the book, “Maximising Your Destiny” reveals:
“Quietness enhances the quality of thinking. Quietness enhances productive reasoning. I cherish quietness and I will do anything to have it…that is why although we have many rooms in our house, I sometimes have to put certain guests in the hotel, to avoid the noise they will make in my home. Quietness is precious to me. It has great spiritual value…”
One of my enviable role models, Samson Adah Paul, wrote this mind-blowing piece that brings the creation story much more alive: “When God Almighty saw the need to create woman for man, he did not inspire man to employ the ‘art of prayer’, he simply inspired man to connect to the art of silence…” This is confirmed in Genesis 2:21-22, “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.”
Believe it, friend – silence informs! Since it is the seedbed of ideas, it can rightly be described as the powerhouse of societal progress and development. Consequently, any quest for progress and development that is pursued without the art of silence will ever be in vain. According to Samson Adah Paul, “Africans that will experience the fulfilment of the ‘African Dream’ will have to be masters of the art of silence. Mind you, silence in this context is not about being mute and dumb; it’s rather about being immune to distracting external forces, in order for one to initiate and maximise communication with the inherent resources endowed in man by God.”
Edison’s Example
Some aspects of Thomas Edison’s life have been a great lesson to me after taking time to study about him. I discovered too that his greatest strength was his mastery of the art of silence. He recorded a number of achievements, discoveries and exploits – but they were mainly as a result of his paying attention to necessary matters, while avoiding those he considered unnecessary. He had a physical challenge from birth – total deafness in one ear and partial deafness in the other. However, rather than seeking to find a way to remedy this defect, he rather chose to bear the burden, because – according to him – it was an advantage. He wrote this interesting piece:
“Even though I am nearly deaf, I seem to be gifted with a kind of inner hearing which enables me to detect sounds and noises that the ordinary person does not hear.”
Edison did not consider hearing disability as pain but as gain. And this helped to strengthen his concentration level – leading to amazing inventions that blessed humanity, rather than becoming a good excuse for him to fail in life.
You Need a Break
Harnessing your potentials doesn’t mean that you have to burn yourself out. You are still human, after all, and must therefore devise means of conserving and replenishing your physical strength.
There is nothing to be ashamed of about this. We all get tired sometimes. This is why we must be able to manage our energy and not only our time. We must be able to know when our energy gauge is getting low, and then back off; otherwise, we might make some bad decisions.
Our Lord Jesus Christ provides a good example for us on this. He retreated occasionally, when the multitudes pressed upon Him. There were times He pulled away, and either went to the mountain (a serene and holy place) to pray or got some other place to rest. Moreover, the Scripture reveals that God, our Heavenly Father, rested on the seventh day after creation.
When you are tired, withdraw from people. Look for a serene environment and lodge there for a while to regenerate and rest. Go on short vacations with your loved ones and enjoy a change of atmosphere.
Dr. Robert Schuller wrote: “When I am tired, I often do not see people. I owe a great deal to my dear wife. She knows me very well, and she arranged my calendar very clearly and carefully. She knows when my energies are taxed, and she blocks off time for renewal. Each year she plans mini-vacations for me immediately after busy times of the year. That way I never get burned out.”
I often adopt the withdrawal method too. I go to a cool and serene environment to reload my energy by having good quality rest. This way, I am refreshed and inspired towards greater exploits.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke is an accredited ISO 20700 Effective Leadership Management Trainer. Email: adegoketolulope1022@gmail.com;
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
Every living is conversant with the word ‘success’. But, what does success really mean to you as an individual? Success indeed means different things to different people. While some will say becoming a millionaire, some others might say, having a family, becoming a chief operating officer, president, or even a celebrity.
All these points are valid, but the key question one is, does all these really translate to being successful? On a personal note, I believe true success is making an impact in society, and most importantly, making an impact on the lives of fellow human beings.
The reason I decided to write on the six pillars of success is borne out from the fact that many people have misplaced priorities. To be successful there are certain boxes that must be checked, though the boxes are not exhaustive, but the ones under review are the fundamentals of success. I will write about three now, and present the remaining three next week.
It may interest you to know that these six topics were culled from my third book (The Six Pillars of Success) which was published about forty eight hours ago, and it’s very detailed with practical information. So, if you would like to know more, you need to grab a copy NOW.
PILLAR ONE: PURPOSE AND PERSONAL GROWTH
Every lasting achievement begins with clarity of purpose and a commitment to ongoing development. This pillar emphasizes direction (knowing why you are here) and discipline, so you can become the person capable of reaching your full potential. It acts like an anchor, helping you make better choices, stay strong in tough times, and move forward in life with clear intention.
Discovering one’s unique purpose is the most important and fundamental aspect of success. As living beings, we are all unique and it’s our uniqueness that sets us apart, and this uniqueness is what will bring opportunities to us. We are built and wired differently. Isn’t it true that not even identical twins are similar?
Without purpose, one is just existing and not living. We are not meant to exist, rather we are meant to live and have an impact on society. Living on purpose is one of the most important if not the most important thing in life. One of the sweetest journeys of success is achieving success on one’s purpose. One may be wondering how one can know their purpose and how does one live on purpose?
To know your purpose, one will have to go to their creator. Everything in life has a manual. A computer, car, phone, television all have a manual by the creator which knows how the product functions, any attempt to use the product out of the manual might frustrate the process.
In the same way, every living being was created by God and it’s only God who can determine one’s purpose. Nobody can succeed outside their God given purpose, any attempt to succeed out of your God given purpose might result in defective success. Our prayer is that we may never succeed outside our God given purpose because that’s the place we get fulfillment.
The journey of purpose works with personal growth. When you have discovered your purpose, it will be easy to develop it with personal growth and that involves determination and discipline.
One can’t be truly successful without an element of perseverance and determination. Nobody will hand over success to you, even if you are given a good foundation, one will still have to do some work to build and develop what has already been handed over to them.
For instance, a student who wants to pass an examination must read and do the necessary things. Your parents might get you the materials and your teacher will do the teaching, but it’s your responsibility to do the needful. Moral: Just like power is not handled over to someone, one will have to fight and grab it, so Success is not served a la carte.
So, when you have discovered your unique God given purpose, your next task is to develop it, visualize the future you anticipate, and then you discipline and train your mind for success.
PILLAR TWO: CAREER AND VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Your work is one of the primary platforms where your gifts, skills, and contributions find expression. This pillar highlights the pursuit of excellence, competence, continuous learning, and meaningful impact in whatever field, vocation or ministry you embrace. It is about turning skill into mastery and opportunity into influence.
If you agree with me, you can’t build something on nothing. When anyone says, “I am successful, the world would like to know what made them successful. For instance, one will either have a product or service they are offering to the world. Alternatively, one may have a carer or vocation which can be a skill they have developed expertise on after a long period of time.
Career success can be considered the engine of vocational excellence because it helps one to live in their comfort zone and enables one to specialize in setting attainable goals and strategies that can strategically position one to the next level.
It’s sad to see people who love sitting in their comfort zones. They are afraid of taking strategic risk that’s capable of taking them to their level. It’s instructive to note that every next level of your life will demand a different you.
One must be intentional when taking career and professional risks because it is necessary for growth. The ability for one to overcome these barriers will ultimately lead one to the next level.
PILLAR THREE: FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM
Money, as we have established, is not the definition of success, but it is a vital tool for building a stable, impactful, and free life. This pillar focuses on financial wisdom, responsible management, value creation, and the ability to make choices without being held hostage by financial pressure. True independence emerges when money becomes a servant to your purpose, not a master.
When we talk about success this. This is the area most people look up to. They want to know if one has financial stability which entails financial independence and financial freedom. There’s no doubt excellence breeds success. When one is good at what they do, it’s normal for them to get favors and opportunities which will ultimately bring goodwill and money to them.
Financial independence is one of the rubrics one can use to determine how successful one is, however, the big question begging for answer is how much is one expected to have? That’s a relative question because having money, being rich and being wealthy means different things to different people. While some people are grateful with what they have provided, it can solve the basic needs of life, others will have greed to accumulate wealth to the detriment of mankind. Isn’t it true that a poor man is considered rich when he has contentment and a rich man is considered poor if he’s greedy.
In understanding financial freedom, it’s expected for one to understand how the psychology of money works; one should also pay detailed attention to how to earn and multiply money. Effort should be invested in understanding the value of time in accumulating wealth and the concept of value which is the oil and commodity that attracts money.
Money does not come to one, one must be engaged in something of value. When money comes, one must plan for it by investing, budgeting wisely, spending wisely and saving. Be advised, if you don’t save money, money won’t save you, so save money so money can save you.
In conclusion, as you are about to embark on these six pillars of success, you must ask yourself the fundamental question, who am I? This is the mother of all questions because success lies in knowing oneself. That’s the foundation of success because when this part has been figured out, it will be easy to build other platforms.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the founder of Gloemi. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate, creative writer and author of Design Your Destiny Design and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Trump, on Friday said that he is no longer “interested” in winning the Nobel Peace Prize, claiming he had “no idea” whether Operation Epic Fury would “get him over the finish line” with committee members in Oslo, Norway.
“I’m not interested in it,” Trump said in a phone call with the Washington Examiner, a conservative news publication.
Asked whether the subject had been broached in his recent conversations with foreign leaders, Trump said: “No, I don’t talk about the Nobel Prize.”
Trump frequently opined on his desire for the prize in the past. The winner of the 2025 prize, Venezuela opposition leader María Corina Machado, handed her prize to Trump in January in a meeting at the White House, a move the Nobel committee criticized.
Trump was clamoring for the Nobel as recently as January. In a social media post, he took credit for “single-handedly” ending eight wars — and yet “Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize.”
“But that doesn’t matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, on Thursday ruled that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State cannot contest the 2028 governorship election, holding that doing so would violate the constitutional limit of eight years in office.
Delivering judgement, Justice Adegoke held that Aiyedatiwa, who first assumed office on 27 December 2023 following the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and was later sworn in again on 24 February 2025 after winning the 16 November 2024 governorship election, cannot seek another term in 2028.
The court ruled that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) does not permit a president or governor to remain in office for more than eight years, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Marwa v. Nyako to support its position.
Justice Adegoke further held that the suit was neither speculative nor academic, stressing that the court has the inherent authority to interpret provisions of the Constitution and ensure strict compliance with them.
The case was filed by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Akin Egbuwalo, through his counsel, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), seeking interpretation of Section 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution as it relates to Aiyedatiwa’s tenure.
The section, along with Section 182(3), provides that a person sworn in to complete the term of another elected official can only contest and serve one additional term.
Egbuwalo argued that since Aiyedatiwa had taken two oaths of office—first as successor to the late Governor Akeredolu and later as an elected governor—the Constitution limits him to only one additional term.
Those listed as defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Governor Aiyedatiwa, the APC, and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami.
Justice Adegoke noted in her ruling that the third to fifth defendants failed to participate in the hearing of the case, and their processes were therefore deemed abandoned.
The court held that, “If the third defendant is allowed to contest and serve another four years, that will be against the position of the law in Marwa v. Nyako, where the Supreme Court held that a president or governor cannot serve beyond eight years.”
Consequently, the court considered only the submissions of the plaintiff and the first and second defendants.
She concluded that allowing Aiyedatiwa to contest again and potentially serve another four years would contradict the Supreme Court’s position that no president or governor can remain in office for more than eight years.
The court subsequently upheld the arguments of the plaintiff and granted all the reliefs sought in the suit.
