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Food for Living: Programme Your Mind
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Dear Friends,
“Whatsoever the mind can conceive, believe, it can achieve it” – Napoleon Hill
Our mind plays a very important role in our lives. The mind can be likened to our words, it can literally make or mar us. It is quite unfortunate to know that many people die before their actual death. This is because this set of individuals have already believed subconsciously they can’t make it, regardless of how they try. Just like it is believed in some quarters that the spiritual world controls the physical, our subconscious mind works in the same direction. If the internal force is strong, it will definitely produce a corresponding external force.
In the course of this article, we shall be discussing how we can tap into our subconscious mind to progress in life. Our mind works like a programme – garbage in, garbage out. There’s power in the mind. If you believe you can achieve a particular goal, you’ll be determined to achieve it, obstacles will serve as an inspiration for you. It’s just like a lady in love with a man, it will be hard to convince her to think of loving another man.
Your subconscious mind has immense power in controlling your life experiences — from the types of food you eat to the actions you take each day, the level of income you earn, and even how you react to stressful situations. You can literally achieve just about anything if you first take the time to reprogram your subconscious mind!
We all have dreams, vision, goals, desire and various interests in life. You may have tried to accomplish a particular task and failed several times. If you can position your mind to work in a certain way by having positive thoughts and attitudes towards those experiences and life generally, you’ll definitely see life from a different perspective.
You may feel you have no gift, not talented, insecure, strong, or something is not meant for you, it’s over for you, you can’t get it right again, the odds are against you, etc. Quit digging on negativity by hitting the delete button and focus your mind on uniqueness, your understanding, what’s working for you and the compliments you have received over time and see how the tides will turn to your favor. You have even had many rejections, disappointment, betrayal, and setbacks, if you program your mind the odds at against you, you’ll have an up heal task succeeding, but if you configure your mind to see those setbacks as experience inspiring you to work hard, work smarter, gain insight or even see it as an avenue to learn something new, you’ll be on the verge of exploring a great opportunity in due time.
Program your mind to see the best life you want to live, program your mind to visualize what you’ll like to be, program your mind to see the kind of man/woman you’ll like to marry, program your mind to see how your business will grow in five or ten years time, program your mind to see how much you’ll to worth in life, program your mind to see yourself as a future Governor, President, Chief Executive Officer, professor, or Captain of industry addressing world leaders, etc. When you program your mind to think in certain ways, the universe has a way of aligning with your thoughts. That been said thoughts and words are cheap if they are not put into action. You’ll have set the ball in motion by going out and doing your groundwork and believe your deems and visions will come to pass. Moral: You have to believe before you can see it.
Most of us have a vague idea of what we think we deserve. When life veers away from that path we have quietly set for it, we often become frustrated and upset, your mind is the key to success and you have the power to learn how to reprogram your subconscious. If you want to live the life you desire, then it’s time to decide, to commit and to resolve. It’s not what we can do in life that makes a difference – it’s what we will do. And there’s no better time to take back control of your mind and set your sights on something better right now.
Let’s discuss how we can program our mind for success
DECIDE
The first step in programming your mind is by deciding that you don’t want to remain in the same position again. The first step to success is determination. When you decide to take to succeed in life, all your energy will be focused on making it work. Isn’t it true that the whole world sets apart for the man/woman who knows where he/she is going? Failure and success start in the mind. A great way of having a head start in your life is by preparing for the best and expecting the worst.
The action plan you can adopt is to gain absolute clarity on what it is you want. In practicing this step, you’ll have to ask yourself, what is your desired outcome? The more specific you are, the greater chance you have in succeeding. This is because clarity is power.
When you decide to stay away from an unnecessary argument, negativity, drama, and situations that sap your positive energy, you give yourself more power to focus your energy on what matters. For instance, imagine yourself in a heated conversation with your colleague at work, family member, friend or even your partner. If you decide to focus on exchanging words with the person as supposed to leaving the scene or responding back in a human tone, you’ll only end up escalating the problem.
COMMIT AND RESOLVE
You must commit and resolve to do only things that align with your visions and positive thoughts towards life. This decision is not an easy one, it comes with its own challenges, however, your determination to succeed, must outweigh your fear for failure.
By reprogramming your mind to focus on your resolve, you develop the ability to change your approach to problems as required. Not all obstacles, hurdles or circumstances are the same; each poses its own difficulties, and you can meet those difficulties head-on. True power comes from within, and reprogramming the subconscious mind conditions you for success. Frustration becomes a gift because it means you are on the verge of a breakthrough. Failure becomes a lesson, counseling you on how to be better in the future. Any roadblock becomes an opportunity for you to pivot and find a new creative solution. That is the power of your mind’s dedication to resolve.
It’s interesting to note that what many people don’t realize is that just as your brain is built to regulate your physical self, it also tries to regulate your mental self. Your mind is constantly filtering and bringing to your attention information and stimuli that affirms your preexisting beliefs
GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL
Happiness plays a huge role in your life. In the real sense of life, true happiness is not bought by materialism, it is felt subconsciously. Materials things of life can only facilitate or instigate your happiness but when the season or scene is over, you’ll go back to your normal state of mind. But if your source of happiness is intrinsic, it will be hard to dim your happiness because the internal gene is responsible for stimulating and empowering the outer strength. So, therefore, give yourself permission to step into a whole, happy, healthy, grounded and meaningful existence.
DON’T DWELL ON DOUBT
This is one of the cardinal points of mind programming. As human beings, sometimes, we allow doubts to becloud and overshadow our minds. We do this by focusing our energy on why a particular product will not work instead of focusing on the solutions you’re bringing into the world. As a piece of advice, when in doubt, do not act. When you live on doubt, you’ll find it hard to believe in yourself and others, and when you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for other people to believe in you. Stop dwelling on doubts and naysayers and focus your thoughts on being around positive people who see reasons why it will work. Doubt is like darkness, while faith is like a light. According to Earl Nightangle “Whatsoever we plan in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality”.
Great minds don’t reason like little minds. Little minds who find it hard to accomplish a goal might either want to discourage you to see reasons/obstacles why the odds will be against you or they’ll give you genuine reasons why they failed. The real question you should be asking yourself is, how many people have succeeded in that project and then channel your strength to give in your best.
Furthermore, the way people respond to news of your success will tell you how they are really doing in their lives, for instance, If you announce your engagement, people who are in happy marriages will be elated for you. People who are in unhappy marriages will warn you that it is difficult and that you should enjoy your remaining time as “single” individuals. The point is that other people’s fears are projections of their own situations. They have nothing to do with what you are or aren’t capable of.
SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE
This is another great way of programming your mind. The book of life made us understand that life and death lie in our mouth. You can speak lie and death into your life. For instance, instead of saying: “I hope to do that one day,” say, “I am strategizing how to do that now.” Instead of thinking: “I will be happy when I am in a different place in my life,” think, “I am completely capable of being happy right here and right now, nothing is holding me back.” You have to act, smile, dress talk and walk as you have it. You can even practice the self-deception toga of “fake it until you make it”
HA VE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL
You cannot underscore the power of gratitude. Many people don’t know how to tap into this gift. When you practice gratitude, you’re programming your mind to attract more fortunes. If you need something, starting to imagine it by appreciating it and thanking the universe or even thanking your creator for bringing it your way. You can practice this skill by using visualization and affirmation.
You can start by putting yourself in a headspace of “having” rather than “wanting” is to begin a gratitude practice. By expressing thanks for all that you do have, you shift your mindset from being hungry for change to feeling satisfied with where you are at. Nothing magnetizes abundance to you like gratitude. There’s a saying that once you believe you have enough, you are open to receiving more and more and more. That is undoubtedly true.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GREAT NETWORK
In one of my articles titled: Your Network Determines Your Net worth, I stated that your network can serve as a very influential and resourceful asset that can catapult you to success. If you surround yourself with positive, smart, rich, kind, honest, faithful hardworking people, you’ll stand a chance of acting like them. There’s a saying if you stay around nine millionaires, you’re likely to be the tenth millionaire in the group/circle. Start spending time with people who are ambitious, supportive and creative.
Remember that you will truly become like the people you spend the most time with and choose who your network carefully.
In conclusion, you’ll have to free your mind before any addiction can leave you.
Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success. He can be reached via henrous@gmail.com
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
The mind is very powerful, so powerful that most people do not know what they possess. To this extent, some have given out their mind-power without knowing it. The power of the mind is akeen to a voice that speaks. This is because the human is more or less the strongest arsenal in everyone’s possession.
The voice brings freedom; it’s so inalienable that we can use it during elections, meetings, and where opinion matters. That’s why I strongly believe that as a human being, when you lose everything, you must not lose the power of your voice.
As a progressive being, there are many things that battle for our attention: family, friends, career, health, even our inner self demands attention. One of the greatest challenges we’ll have as human beings is how to apportion time to all of them because they all want to succeed. Failing to give them their due attention might lead to deficiency, which can ultimately lead to failure.
To succeed in all areas of life whether in business, academic, family, etc., one must have a winning mentality. The failure and success of anyone or project starts from the mind. When the mind has been conquered, it will be hard for anyone to succeed. That’s why one has to be intentional in what they consume whether it relates to the books they read, the association they keep and the thoughts they entertain.
We are shaped by our thoughts. According to Napoleon Hill in his book “Think and Grow Rich”, he stated, “whatsoever the mind can conceive, believe it can achieve it”. To succeed in life, we must have a winning mindset. One of the major problems we have as human beings is that sometimes we give up too early, especially when the odds are against us. But when we exhibit a winning mindset, failures, betrayals, setbacks, detractors, are seen as challenges and hurdles we must overcome to get to the promised land.
There are many examples of great minds who have exercised a winner mindset, a great name that comes to mind is Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln lost his job in 1832. He was defeated for state legislature in 1832. He failed in business in 1833 and was elected to the state legislature in 1834. His sweetheart died in 1835. He had a nervous breakdown in 1836 and was defeated for Speaker in 1838. In 1843, he was defeated for nomination for Congress. In 1846, he was elected to Congress and in 1848, he lost renomination in 1848. In 1849, he was rejected for land officer. In 1854, he was defeated for the U.S. Senate. Again, he was defeated for nomination for Vice President in 1856 and defeated for U.S. Senate in 1858. Finally, in 1860, he was elected the 16th President of the United States of America.
If we are honest with ourselves, it will be hard for one to forge ahead after experiencing numerous setbacks in business, family, health, career, and even personal challenges. I had to use Abraham Lincoln because he embodies the winner mindset.
The winner’s mindset is not only limited to one’s thoughts. It’s applicable to every area of one’s life. The winner’s mindset is more than just having good thoughts, thinking positively or even standing up when one fails. No, it entails more than that. The winner’s mindset is a lifestyle which preaches the gospel of doing what you must do and be appreciative of the feedback.
The winner’s mindset has the mentality of preparing for the best and expecting the worst. This entails one can’t be taken by surprise if their plans don’t work out well, and this means one will have to go back to the drawing board to fix it.
A good way to understand how a winner’s mindset plays out can be seen during football(soccer) competitions or track and field events where athletes have almost given up hope of winning the game or race.
A case of interest that comes to mind was during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics soccer semi-final competition where the Nigeria Dream team defeated the Brazil Seleção Brasileira de Futebol team in what can be considered one of the greatest comebacks in football history.
Let me give a brief overview, the Nigerian team were down with two goals. As a matter of fact, at a time during the match, the Brazilian team scored a fourth goal which was disqualified. The Nigerian team also had a penalty they lost. Going into the Semi final, the Brazilians were considered the favorites, and the Nigeria team were considered the underdogs. The odds were literally against the Nigeria team because the Brazilians had a formidable team.
Despite the Brazilian team leading Nigeria 3-1, the Nigerian team were able to bounce back during the last 15 minutes and won the game during the extra time. While is this story interesting and relevant? Well, in the game of soccer, nobody gives up until the final whistle is blown by the referee and the same applies in track and field events especially in track events. We have seen scenarios where athletes were almost at the finish line but lost out due to fatigue or one challenge or the other, the athlete fails to finish the race. It gets interesting during relay races.
Back to the soccer competition, one factor that helped the Nigerian team was the winner mindset. They didn’t give up despite the few minutes remaining in the game. They still gave their best and it paid off. It’s instructive to note that the average Nigerian always has the can-do mindset. The average Nigerian hardly gives up.
According to Dr. Yomi Garnett, a renowned ghostwriter, “To be a winner, you have to act like one. Winners don’t function the way most people do. They are always striving, always analyzing, and always questioning themselves. They tend to notice details that other people miss or overlook. Indeed, it is clear that great people have two things in common: a passion to succeed and an almost obsessive attention to detail.
In conclusion, the question we’ll have to ask ourselves is what kind of mentality do we have? Do you have a negative or positive mindset? When people see challenges, do you see solutions or opportunities to solve problems to create wealth? Do you have a growth mindset or poverty mindset?
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
The Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, has expressed deep satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing recruitment exercises for its orderly and transparent nature across the country.
He made the commendation, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), while receiving feedback from filed officers across the country and described the process as not just a routine exercise, but a critical step toward rebuilding public trust and enhancing the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
The Minister urged all participants to remain law-abiding, disciplined, and patient throughout the screening process. He emphasized that integrity and respect for due process are as important as physical and academic qualifications, noting that the future of policing in Nigeria depends largely on the character and commitment of those who wear the uniform.
“This is more than recruitment; it is a call to national service,” he stated. “Nigeria needs men and women of honor, individuals who understand that security is the foundation upon which development and prosperity are built.” Gaidam stressed.
The Minister also extended heartfelt appreciation to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for its bold and strategic approval of the recruitment of 50,000 police personnel.
He stressed that the unprecedented move demonstrates a clear resolve to address longstanding gaps in manpower while repositioning the Police Force to meet modern security challenges, just as he noted that beyond numbers, the current administration is focused on meaningful reform—transforming policing into a more professional, accountable, and citizen-centered institution.
Gaidam stated that from improved training frameworks to enhanced welfare and operational support, the reform agenda signals a new era for law enforcement in Nigeria.
The Minister noted that the ongoing recruitment exercise, therefore, stands as a symbol of renewed hope—a bridge between the present challenges and a future where communities feel safer, justice is more accessible, and the rule of law is upheld without compromise.
As the screening continues across the nation, the Minister called on all stakeholders—traditional leaders, community members, and institutions, to support the process and encourage eligible youths to participate with sincerity and patriotism.
“Nigeria’s path to a safer, more secure future is being steadily strengthened through deliberate reforms and renewed commitment to nation-building noting that at the heart of this progress is the ongoing nationwide police recruitment screening exercise, an initiative that reflects both hope and responsibility for thousands of young Nigerians,” the Minister concluded.
Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, has launched a scathing attack on Rauf Aregbesola following the latter’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The exchange comes hours after Aregbesola, while speaking at the convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday, described the Tinubu administration as a government of “scammers”, urging Nigerians to block it from retaining power after the 2027 general elections.
“If allowed, this regime will continue to chant renewed hope till eternity. We have a duty to stop these scammers from retaining power,” Aregbesola said.
In a swift response, Onanuga dismissed the remarks and accused the former Governor of Osun State of hypocrisy and poor performance during his time in office.
“My attention has been drawn to Rauf Aregbesola’s attack on the Tinubu administration at today’s illegal elective convention of the ADC — a party of desperados and power mongers who, to date, have not articulated any credible plan for Nigeria,” he said.
Onanuga further criticised Aregbesola for failing to reflect on his own record before attacking his “former boss and benefactor.”
“Unfortunately, Aregbesola did not undertake any honest self-reflection on his own record in public office — as governor or as Minister of Interior,” he stated.
He alleged that Aregbesola’s tenure as governor of Osun State was marked by hardship and poor economic management.
“His eight years as governor of Osun State were characterised by unmitigated hardship for the people. Under his half-baked socialist policies, civil servants went unpaid for months, and those who were paid received only a fraction of their salaries,” Onanuga said.
“It is to Aregbesola’s infamy that Osun became known as a State receiving negative federal allocation and paying just 20 to 30 per cent of normal salaries. It was worse for pensioners in Aregbesola’s Osun State. Many pensioners who relied on their meagre monthly payments died because they were not paid at all.”
Turning to Aregbesola’s tenure as Minister of Interior under former President Muhammadu Buhari, Onanuga said it recorded major security lapses.
“As Minister of Interior under President Muhammadu Buhari, his tenure witnessed the highest number of jailbreaks in Nigeria’s history — including the infamous Kuje Prison escape in Abuja,” he said.
“During his four years, obtaining a Nigerian passport became a nightmarish process, and there were 15 major attacks on correctional facilities in Jos, Abolongo, Imo, Kabba, and Okitipupa, resulting in over 4,000 inmates escaping to join criminal elements.”
Onanuga added, “For someone who failed so woefully to secure our correctional centres and uphold his duties between 2019 and 2023, it is ironic that Aregbesola now seeks to lecture others on insecurity.”
He further accused Aregbesola and other ADC leaders of lacking credible policy alternatives stating, “The real scammers are the politicians inside the SPV called ADC.”
Defending the current administration, Onanuga said the government had acknowledged challenges arising from reforms but was implementing measures to mitigate their impact.
“The Tinubu administration has never shied away from acknowledging that policy reforms have brought unintended consequences, impacting the most vulnerable,” he said, adding that efforts such as wage increases, social support programmes, and economic reforms were underway.
He insisted that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda was yielding results, including improved economic indicators and increased investor confidence.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not a scam,” Onanuga said, maintaining that the government would continue its policies to stabilise the economy and address security challenges.
