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Food for Living: Unleash Your Potential
By Henry Ukazu
Greetings Destiny Friends,
Each and every one of us have potentials lying inside of us. I call it, the seeds of greatness. Imagine having a seed in your hand, if properly cultivated, that seed is capable of producing millions of seeds in addition to making a forest. One of the major reasons why most people fail to reach the peak of their success either in their career or business is because they are yet to discover themselves. Discovering oneself is one of the most challenging aspects of life. According to a school of thought, the day you discover your skill that’s the day you become a millionaire.
In our contemporary society, it is really challenging to get a job, but if one can look inside of oneself and see what skills, talents, and gift lying idle and waiting to be tapped, you’ll discover that you literally have been empowered to succeed.
In this digital age of technology, getting a career job has become really challenging and at the same time easy. Individuals who have been able to look into their inner self and discover potentials will not find it hard getting a job and also empowering themselves.
Potentials are what make us unique, one of the major reasons why most people fail in life is because they compare themselves with their peers. It’s imperative to know that no skill or talent is of more relative importance than the other. What really makes the difference is the application and usage at any point in time. Unleashing one’s potentials attracts lots of blessings and opportunities, however, one will have to do the needful in order to reap the fruit of their labor. During the course of this article, we shall be looking at various ways we can unleash our potentials.
Every human being, regardless of race, sex, or any other characteristic, has the incredible capacity to realize their potential and be fulfilled. To unleash your potential, you need look to look internally and see what’s unique in you in order for you to steer it up. We all have potentials and seeds of greatness burning in us, but our problem is that we are too docile and allowing our minds, environment, and circumstances to limit us. Sometimes, we all need somebody to push us and inspire us to step up our game, sometimes, we don’t even know what we have, but our environment and good friends/mentors can make us to think out of the box.
We surely live in a competitive world now, where hatred and jealously seems to be the order of the day. This is because everyone wants to remain at the top. It’s instructive to note that if you have great potentials in you, nobody can quench your fire or dim your light. To unleash your potentials, you have to work with passion.
Let us see how we can unleash their potentials.
1. Know Your Feelings:
Young teenagers who are in love normally use feelings to know if they have any strong attachments to the opposite sex concerned. In same way, our potentials can be unleashed if only we can look at the big picture. Above all, always channel your energy and thoughts on what is needed. A resourceful way of knowing what’s unique is using a personality test. A good way to know what your instincts reacts to positively is to figure out what you do with relatively ease and the act gives you joy, peace of mind and fulfillment. It can be singing, public speaking, artwork, writing, reading, playing piano etc.
2. Determine Your Core Values.
These are the things that shape how you view yourself, others, and the world around you. Studies have shown that you will find your life more meaningful, and feel a deeper sense of well-being, if you live a life that is “value-congruent,” or in line with what’s most important to you. Value is relative, therefore identify areas that are not consistent with your values and work around it.
3. Visualize and Mirror Yourself
Success is an internal mindset you’ll have to realize when reality sets in. Your potentials can be unleashed when you imagine and act in a certain way that aligns with your values and desires with your thoughts, words, and action. According to Frederick Buechner said: “Your calling is where your passions meet the world’s needs.” By adopting these habits, you can start reaching your full potential. And in the end, it all comes down to believing that nothing can stop you from achieving what you want to do, the only thing holding you down is yourself
A word of advice, everything you want to do, anything you want to achieve, you can do it. You are limitless. The only limitation is in our mind. You can listen to different opinions and perspectives, but at the end of the day, you have to trust yourself and believe in your own unique capabilities. Once you start doing this– everything can start to change.” On a personal level, I have been let down on so many occasions, but I refuse to stay there. I was able to overcome the negative energy that was thrown at me by thinking positively and working on myself to get better.
The process can be slow, and there can be many failures and obstacles to overcome, but the right mindset can push you through. If you spend time every day retraining your thought process, developing a real awareness of your thought patterns, both negative and positive, and consciously restructuring them so that your focus shifts to the good elements in your life, you will unleash your true potential. You will be able to tackle any amount of adversity, feel genuine joy and peace every day, and take steps toward achieving success with unfaltering confidence in yourself and your choices.
4. Be passionate.
The courage to fulfill your vision, live your values, and set higher standards comes from passion. When passion is mixed with talents, uncommon energy kicks in. Passionate beings are always pay detailed attention to what is happening around their surroundings. Be attentive when someone is speaking. Give your full attention, and don’t become distracted with yourself or something else. By so doing, you may learn something from them.
5. Be authentic.
Authenticity is the alignment of head, heart, and mind– thinking, feeling, and doing the same thing–consistently. You’ll agree with me that originality is the beauty of life. You cannot unleash your potentials if you are not authentic. When you improve your knowledge and skills, you enhance your potential thereby opening doors or opportunities to better and higher success will come to you. Thus, focus on building and growing yourself.
In conclusion, I believe that nobody wants to live life with regrets, and no one wants to go through the journey with limited potential. It is time for you to take charge of your life and start living life with your full potential. “You can become and accomplish anything in life! Your successes, greatness, and potential are determined by you alone; and all of the characteristics necessary to achieve your goals and dreams already lie within you. Our success and potential is not determined by talent or ability, knowledge or money, race or gender, or even circumstance or setting – it is created, developed, and determined from within ourselves.”
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
A former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court at Zone 2 in Abuja on allegations bordering on false marriage, adultery, among others.
Turaki pleaded not guilty when the First Information Report (FIR) was read to him in the dock on Thursday before the presiding Magistrate of Court 9, Abubakar Jega.
He insisted that the alleged offences are not true.
According to the FIR, the former minister is accused of “deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage, adultery by a man and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 383, 387 and 389 of the Penal Code.”
The prosecution stated that the investigation of the case followed a petition dated August 9, 2024, received by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force FCID, Abuja.
It further stated that the investigation revealed that “you Barrister Kabiru Taminu Turaki (SAN), between December 2014 and August 2016, deceitfully cohabited Ms. Hadiza Musa Bafta at a hotel called Han’s Place.
“You also co-habited her at Ideal Home Holiday, Asokoro between August 2016 and November 2021.
“You hired a place for her at No. 12 Clement Akpagbo Close, Gauzape from November 2021 and made her believe you were married to her and continuously had sexual intercourse with her, which resulted to a baby girl.
“You abandoned Hadiza Musa Baffa with her only child and denied the paternity. You threatened to use your influence and position to terminate the lives of mother and child.
“You are thereby suspected to have committed the above offences.”
Shortly after Turaki:s arraignment, the prosecuting lawyer , Chijioke Okorie urged the court to set a date for the commencement of trial.
Turaki’s lawyer, A. I. Mohammed, who did not object to the prosecution’s request for a date for trial, applied for bail for the defendant on the grounds that he would be available whenever he is required to attend court.
Magistrate Jega granted bail to Turaki at N1million with two sureties in like sum.
He said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide evidence of the residences.
The magistrate then adjourned to March 11 for the commencement of trial.
By Henry Ukazu
Dear Destiny Friends,
“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is pleasing everyone”
Life has many twists and turns. The ability to successfully navigate them will usher any individual into a whole new dimension of existence. This is because sometimes, when we experience misfortunes, we think there’s a force working against us, yes, it might be true to some extent, but the truth is, it might be something totally unrelated to what one might be thinking. One’s mindset has a way of deceiving then, especially when they are not properly informed.
Whenever we experience misfortunes, or life doesn’t seem to align with our plans, expectations and desires, consider thinking out of the box to know what happened, instead of apportioning blame.
For instance, ask yourself if you made a mistake; if the answer is yes, find out if you could have done differently. Again, did someone contribute to it or masterminded the act; was it a natural cause; was it because of a government policy; was it a case of Karma working against you; or is a case of detractors trying to set you up for failure. One’s ability to decipher the right answers to these questions will go a long way to fixing the issue.
For the sake of this article, we shall focus on detractors to x-ray their role in orchestrating one’s destiny. It’s generally normal for us to hate our enemies or anyone who has a negative vibe or energy towards us, but the truth remains that everyone we meet in life has a role the universe or destiny has planted or positioned them to play. The ability to know this truth will go a long way towards appreciating life.
It should be known that detractors are not as bad as they appear, yes. Some may be bad, agreed, but some are there to help us do better. Isn’t it true that only our true friends will drive us to do better? Whenever a mentor, friend, parent, supervisor, benefactor, or even your enemy admonishes you, please don’t take it personal. Look at their intent as opposed to their words.
My beloved mother will always say, when someone is speaking, always look at their heart as opposed to their words. Words can literally mean nothing if our actions don’t correlate with our words.
But when the criticism is from a place of disrespect or disdain, consider removing yourself from that space until the person receives sense. According to Uche Okorie, a Maritime lawyer, “When you are criticized objectively, examine it. If it is untrue, ignore it. If it is unfair, resist the temptation to be irritated. If it is ignorant, just smile. If it is justified, then it is NOT criticism, LEARN FROM IT!
It’s only myopic and uninformed minds that will take corrections from a negative perspective. Progressive minds welcome constructive criticism because it serves as a second eye for them. It is sad to see people who should appreciate the role of detractors in their life acting funny because they allow their ego to rule them. Hear this from me, if you have someone who will correct you on the right way, and because you feel you don’t like the person, or the person is younger than you, or whatever reason you have, you are actually doing yourself a disservice because if you had taken the opportunity to learn, maybe an opportunity would have popped out in the nearest future.
On a personal note, I have experienced detractors in my life when I was serving as the Public Relations Officer for the Nigerian Lawyers Association. Let me make this disclosure; my detractors were right in their concerns because my writing skills were indeed horrible at the said time, however, what I didn’t really like was the approach they used in correcting me. It came across to me in a sarcastic, derogatory and disdainful manner to the extent I almost felt like leaving the association, but for the influence of mentors who I regard as life savers, I was able to manage the situation and today, when I reference back, I’m glad I didn’t resign. The whole experience has really shaped my approach and outlook to life, especially when I mentor the younger generation and relate with people who ordinarily think life has no space for them.
Here’s my advice, please stop hating your enemies, they will make you stronger, especially when they want to see you fail. Your detractors have a role to play in your life. Without them, your life would be depressingly boring. You might not be inspired to do better. For instance, one of my driving forces was being told I was a horrible writer, and life might not be easy for me to live in America. I was even told to consider going back to Nigeria. All these I guess, came from a place of love if you look at my situation at the said time, but guess what, man is not God because nobody knows tomorrow.
If I was told I will have two books to my name and a co-author to another book, I won’t believe it. Maybe God has used the books to send a subtle message to my detractors. Furthermore, a horrible writer is now a prolific writer, who is read globally every week.
Let me ask you, what would Tom be without Jerry? How interesting will a James Bond movie be without a villain? If not for satan, many of us will not be serving God. If not for the lion that runs fast, the antelope would not run faster.
Let’s take it a little further, there was a race I watched where Usain Bolt was running, he was looking at his colleagues while sprinting because they were inspiring him to run faster, when he looks back, and sees his rival closing in, he runs faster. Without his opponents, Usain Bolt wouldn’t have broken records. The moral here is that our enemies are as essential to us as oxygen is to life. Without them, one may never fulfil their potential or life’s purpose.
In conclusion, as you journey through, and experience life, always see your detractors as the necessary evil you can’t avoid on your way to success.
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
The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of nine suspects “actively involved” in the murder of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka.
The arrest of the suspects was confirmed by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Nnaghe Itam, during a press briefing on Friday.
Azuka, a member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the State legislature, was abducted on December 24, 2024 in Onitsha.
His decomposing body was discovered on the 2nd Niger Bridge on Thursday by a combined security team including the police and vigilante.
The Police Commissioner disclosed that two pump action guns were recovered from the suspects following their arrest, adding that one of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury in his leg during a gun duel with the police operatives.
The arrested suspects according to the CP include: Ugochukwu Onuorah aged 30 years, Ikemefuna Ossai aged 20 years, Ikenna Orugu aged 27 years, Chibuike Obiefuna aged 19 years, Chinonso Olisa aged 19 years, Chinedu Okoli aged 21 years, David Ojini aged 25 years and the most notorious of them, one Peter Sunday aged 20 years with a big tattoo inscription of No peace 4 d Government on his chest.
CP Itam further disclosed that police operatives have also successfully arrested one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect in Uruagu, Nnewi and neutralised some of his gang members who were involved in the attack of Police personnel attached to the Rapid Response Squad after a successful arrest on 3rd October 2024.
“We have also neutralised more than one hundred (100) notorious criminals and successfully destroyed many criminal camps in Ufuma, Eziowelle, Achalla, Ogbaru and several other places in the State.
He expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his guidance and overall support, and also appreciated the governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, sister Agencies, the Media, residents of the State, Anambra State Vigilante operatives, Civil Society Groups, Organizations and many others for their unflinching support within the months that he has spent in the State as the Commissioner of Police.
He assured that the confidence reposed on the police and other security agencies for the protection of the lives and properties of residents is not to be taken for granted.
