News
Food for Living: How to Make the Best of Your 2024
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
If you need a change in your Life, you need to plant the Seed of change in your Mind
Please permit me to begin this article by wishing you compliments of the season.
Depending on where you are, we are just about a few hours to the New Year. No doubt, 2023 has been an eventful year for everyone of us. Some of us made mistakes while some of us scaled our various hurdles.
However, the interesting thing is that those who succeeded in 2023 invested time and resources into their projects. Some relocated to different parts of the world either nationally or internationally in search of greener pastures or academic pursuit, some got married, had babies, some learnt new skills, some got new jobs, some attended conferences, seminars, symposia, workshop, etc. One thing is certain: those who did not succeed due to exploring different options acquired experience, while those who succeeded, sowed in one place or another. Either way, they sowed and got results.
As we are about to head into a new year, it’s important we take stock of our personal and professional lives to know how we fared in 2023. This will enable us to decipher how we will approach 2024. If you are desirous of making a great impact in your life in 2024, then there’s a tendency to not only be intentional and strategic, but must also sow into the project.
Just like the Law of Karma operates in strategic ways, the universe operates with principles. It’s whatever you sow, you will reap. If you don’t sow, I wonder what you would want to reap? Those who sowed in negative and positive ways reap their seeds.
Apart from seeking the face of your creator in the coming year, your greatest resolution in 2024 must be to sow. Even if you use 2024 to learn, that’s a huge success because you don’t plant a tree and expect to reap the dividend immediately.
This is how sowing works: The soil is our mind. It’s what we feed our minds that germinates and reproduces results. The seeds are our thoughts, water is our actions, and our feelings, which react to our thoughts and actions is our sun.
Question: Is your mind fertile enough for the right seeds and water to germinate? Remember, whatever you focus on, expands.
Sowing comes in different dimensions. One can sow spiritually into the church, one can sow in his/her business, one can sow in his personal and professional life, one can even sow into a mentor’s life. What a rational mind should be concerned about in 2024 and beyond is what kind of seeds they want to sow to sow in 2024?
One of the best ways to sow into 2024 is to develop mastery. The question now becomes, how does one develop mastery? Developing mastering entails learning whatever you have strong passion for, and interest in. It should be noted that those who benefited in previous years developed capacity, and in due time, they were able to reap the fruits of their labour.
In the same light, progressive minds desirous of succeeding in 2024 must cultivate the habit of reading, learning a skill, building and leveraging on strategic relationships, mentorship, training and acquiring a formal education.
In learning, it is imperative one desists from exhibiting pride. Be humble to learn from your detractors, younger friends, colleagues, and mentors. Don’t think how anyone will perceive you. Remember it’s your life, and not anyone’s life.
If you are determined to succeed in 2024, here are some insights on how one can sow in the coming year.
A great way to sow in 2024 is to practice accountability. Accountability plays a major role in our finances, human relationship, careers, spirituality, academics, and personal lives, etc. Without accountability, we tend to lose all we have.
According to Myles Munroe, “whatever you fail to manage, you lose it”. If you don’t manage your life, you will lose it, if you don’t manage your health, you’ll lose it, if you don’t manage your marriage, you’ll lose it, if you don’t manage your finances, you’ll lose it, and if you don’t manage 2024, you will lose it.
The difference between the rich and poor can be judged by their mindsets, and how accountable they are. The right mindset and accountability determine the values, responsibility, attitudes, and visions of the rich and “famous”, but poor and unformed minds don’t see opportunities where great people take strategic risk; where they either succeed or gain new experience which can attract opportunities in the nearest future for them.
Another way to make the best of 2024 is by sowing into people’s lives. Genuinely sow into people’s life without having a vested interest in mind. Give to people because it’s good to share, don’t have an opportunistic mindset, try to genuinely love people for who they are as opposed to what they are. When you sow into people’s life, it has a way of creating opportunities for you.
In 2024, please sow all the time. When you see a fertile soil and your instincts and conscience is at peace, please sow. When you are led by the spirit, please sow. If you see anyone in need, please support them, if you see an opportunity to learn, don’t think about the cost; make sacrifice for the future, if you see a mentor or resourceful person celebrating, please sow into their lives. If you see anyone succeeding, please sow into their life to support them. Please, if you sow into people’s life, don’t expect to get the reward immediately. You might either get it back or not get it depending on the type of ground the seeds fell.
You can sow into peoples life by praying for them, investing in them, teaching them, encouraging them, counseling them, cheering them up, listening to them, empathizing with them, and sharing your time with people.
Here’s 2024 as a blank paper…it’s up to you to write whatever you want on it
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s a Transformative Human Capacity and Mindset coach. He is also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer Design Your Destiny and Unleash Your Destiny. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
Impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described the corruption allegations against him as “fictitious and unsubstantiated”.
Speaking during a welcome rally at his residence in GRA, Ikeja on Saturday, Obasa maintained that he was not afraid of being impeached but emphasised that due process was not followed.
The former Speaker alleged that his removal was orchestrated while he was away, and accused the state commissioner of police of aiding the process.
He claimed security agents, led by the police commissioner, invaded the assembly complex and his homes in Agege and Ikeja, locking his family indoors with over 200 officers present.
Obasa dismissed allegations of misappropriation.
He mocked claims that a gate construction had cost N16 billion, saying, “Is it the wall of Jericho?”
He said: “I am not afraid of being removed, after all, it is not my father’s chieftaincy title. I am representing my people and they have returned me six times. If you want to do anything, do it well.
“They did the removal all because I was out of the country. Lagos is a special place, we cannot denigrate the state.
The former Speaker cited the case of the former speaker, Rt. Hon Jokotola Pelumi.
He said when Pelumi was removed, he was in the assembly and “we did not invite policemen.
“When my sister, former deputy speaker of the House, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho was removed, we did not invite the police.”
Obasa said an innocent person should not be discredited, and there must be proof of allegations showing exactly what he has done.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly is above common standard of excellence.
“I appreciate the members of the governance advisory council and Governor Babajide Olusola Aanwo-Olu of the state. He is my brother and he always calls me his younger brother.”
Obasa was impeached on January 13 by more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative house over alleged misconduct and sundry offences.
His Deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was immediately elected the new speaker, becoming the first female to take charge of the legislative body in the State.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has confirmed that 38 persons, including seven crew members, were injured when a United Airlines plane made an emergency landing in Lagos on Friday morning.
The Boeing 787-8 flight with 245 passengers was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), in the United States, from the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, when it developed problems midair and was forced to return to the airport.
There were also 11 crew members – eight attendants and three pilots – on the plane.
The FAAN Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah, who confirmed the incident through a statement, said all passengers and crew disembarked safely.
She, however, said four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries.
According to her, 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
The statement read: “The United Airlines Boeing 787-800 departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, at 11:59pm on Thursday, but made air return and landed safely at 3.22am on Friday.
“On board were 245 adults and 11 crew members.
“The team of Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Services, Aviation Medical, and Aviation Security were already at the gate when the aeroplane parked for deboarding at D31 without incident, and the door was opened at 3:37am.
“While all passengers and crew disembarked safely, four passengers and two crew members sustained serious injuries, and an additional 27 passengers and five crew members had minor injuries.
“The rescue team responded swiftly and effectively, having been on alert and standby.
“Aviation medical ambulances transported the injured passengers, some to the MMA Clinic and others to the headquarters clinic.”
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
There’s no doubt that human beings by nature are insatiable. When we get one opportunity, we always look for another. When we attain one height, we always look for another accomplishment. Isn’t it true that the end of one mountain is the beginning of another.
However, I don’t think it’s selfish for anyone to dare to succeed.
Being ambitious doesn’t make one an opportunist or disloyal. It all depends on one’s perception or outlook to life. It’s just natural for one to dream big. It’s only ugly when the process one chooses to achieve his desires becomes dirty and nasty.
According to a former Nigerian presidential candidate and seasoned Economist, Mr. Peter Obi, “if you must be referred to as “Your Excellency”, then the process through which you arrived in office must be excellent”.
If you desire to be reckoned with on the journey of existence, you must be legitimately hungry for success. One’s hunger for success will facilitate the drive to accomplish great tasks despite daunting obstacles posing as challenges.
When one has this mindset, one will not be bothered by the noise which serves as obstacles and challenges along the way. Negative and weak minds are always concerned on why something won’t work. They tend to focus their energy and reasons on the obstacles facing them. But great and productive minds always focus their energy on the reasons why it will work. This is the spirit of an insatiable mind who is a goal- getter.
It’s instructive to note that we can’t please everyone. According to Bill Cosby, a famous actor, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Isn’t it true that when you talk, people will still talk about you, when you don’t talk, people will talk about you, so whether you talk or not, people will still judge you, so, do what’s best for you. There’s nothing you can do to please human beings. Your best option is to live your best life.
To understand how the insatiable nature of man works, one must be oneself. You don’t have to “please” anyone. Be yourself, and don’t try to be like anyone just to curry favour. It’s important to note that when you are yourself, the people that matter will come through for you, and the people that don’t matter will gradually find the bearing in another space because those that truly care don’t bother and those that bother don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Life has truly taught me to focus on the important things of life as opposed to the mundane things. It’s truly sad to see people spending more time on the little things of life, and spending little time on the important things of life. That’s just a misplaced priority.
When you are yourself, the best people can do is to copy or imitate your style. They can never imitate your creativity nor can take your originality from you.
We live in a world or society where people don’t generally care or show empathy. Most people tend to live around themselves, their family, and close associates. They generally find it hard to lift a finger to assist others for reasons best known to them. Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka once said, “we live in a wicked generation”, re-echoing the voices of a lot of people of the world. Some people in authority just have criminal expertise in amassing wealth of opportunities meant for the citizens without thinking of the citizens they are meant to serve.
It’s worthy of note that not everyone will like you nor support your work, but when you find people who truly care about you; please hold them tight. This is because despite having family members you have shown love and compassion, they might not still appreciate you even if you lay your life for them, they will still find something to say. Again, this is the insatiable nature of man.
It’s okay for everyone not to like you, normalize living your life for God, yourself, family and those that care about you. If everyone likes you, you have a problem.
Did you know that you can get a new family from friends, strangers, and acquaintances? These sets of people might appreciate you more than your own family members. They might not demand or under appreciate you like your family members and close friends or associates. Any little support you give them will be highly appreciated. Their focus is to see you do better.
In conclusion, as you desire to succeed in life, never give in to failure until you have made your last attempt, and never make your last attempt until you succeed. This literally means whatever you desire, dream it, think it, say it, and believe you can achieve it. This principle is generally applicable to relationships, businesses, family, personal and professional development.
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 Your and Unleash Your Destiny . He can be reached via info@gloemi.com
