Take More Control of Your Own Growth

By Lolly Daskal

We all tend to believe who we are today is the same person we were 10 years ago and the same person we’re likely to be 10 years from now. But if you think about it, there’s a good chance that you’re a very different person than you were 10 years ago—and that means there’s an equally good chance that you’ll be a very different person in the future.

We consider who we are in the present moment to be the true version of who we really are, but as human beings we are all works in progress, constantly changing and growing.

Growth may be inescapable, but it doesn’t have to be something that just happens to you—it’s something you can direct and control. And if you want to become the best version of yourself, you need to let go of the shackles of today and take charge of your own growth for tomorrow. Here are some good starting points:

Stop labeling yourself. Many of us look back at who we’ve been and decide that’s who we are. Too often that label is tied to some negative trait or experience—but even when it isn’t, it doesn’t leave you much room to change or grow. When you take on a label, you start looking at reality in a way that confirms that label, and you gradually dismiss any alternatives. Who you were may be a part of who you are and who you’re becoming, but it’s not the whole story or your destiny.

Reimagine your future self. Change the story you tell yourself about your future. Instead of thinking about who you think you’ll become, ask yourself who you want to become. Make conscious, intentional choices about the direction of your growth and establish clear goals to shape the process. We are all in a constant state of becoming, so shape your behavior not around your past but around your desired future self.

Measure your development. To take even more control of your growth, make regular measurements of the gaps between who you are and who you’re working to become. Once you’re feeling more at home with the distinction between your present and future selves, you can start to make more detailed comparisons and identify the areas you want to focus on.

Create desired outcomes. We’re driven by all kinds of motivators—from faith and hope to obligation and ambition to the desire for something new. Lean into the motivators that will help you reach the future self you desire. When your future is clear, your behavior will reflect that clarity.

As we all know, change is inevitable and growth is unavoidable—but that doesn’t mean it’s out of our control.

Lead from within: The best way to take control is to be deliberate about who you want to become and start behaving today for your future identity.

Philippians 2:1-2

Arlin Sorensen's Thoughts on Scripture

In Philippians 2:1-2 Paul reminds us of the basis for his exhortation of the Philippian church. He beings with ‘so if there is any’ which introduces the basis for Paul’s exhortation to unity, humility and love among believers. The idea is that if the Philippian Christians have received the things he mentions, then they have a responsibility to do what he is about to describe. “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. “

Paul asks rhetorical questions – ‘ is there any’ – knowing of course that the answer was yes to all. He lists four things:

1. encouragement in Christ
2. comfort from love
3. participation in the Spirit
4. affection and sympathy

Paul knows that…

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Nigerian President ‘Buhari Govt Pampers Terrorists But Tough On Harmless Protesters’ – Aisha Yesufu

By checkpointcharley 11. November 2020

An arrowhead of the #EndSARS protests, Aisha Yesufu, says the government of president Muhammadu Buhari is pampering terrorists but tough on peaceful and harmless protesters.

Yesufu said this while responding to the freezing of the #EndSARS protesters’ by the Central Bank of Nigeria, noting that it is illegal.

She said the government “is behaving like a terrorist,” questioning the freezing of the accounts ahead of the court injunction ordering the banks to block the accounts.

She said, “The question is, why did they freeze the accounts before obtaining a court injunction? Why the illegality? Our judiciary should know that it is an independent arm of government and there is separation of power.

“The government should be ashamed of itself. The United Arab Emirates just convicted some Nigerians, who were accused of terrorism, and we are hearing that the government would appeal on their behalf. That is where the problem is.

“#EndSARS campaigners are protesters and they protested the way the Constitution allows, so all these are shenanigans. They had better focus on the terrorists.

CHECKPOINTCHARLEY gathered that the Federal Government was able to freeze the accounts of 20 #EndSARS campaigners after telling the Federal High Court in Abuja that the funds in their accounts might have been linked to terrorist activities.

This was contained in the written address in support of a motion ex parte filed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The CBN had last month frozen 20 accounts and thereafter approached the court to seek an ex parte order to freeze the accounts.

The 20 accounts frozen by the CBN are domiciled in Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank.

The accounts were reportedly marked after they received money with the narration #EndSARS.

One of the frozen accounts, marked 0056412470 and domiciled in Access Bank, belongs to Bolatito Olorunrinu Oduala, an #EndSARS campaigner, who was appointed into the Lagos State judicial panel set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

3 Simple Steps to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other People

By Henrik Edberg Updated November 11, 2020

“Comparison is the death of joy.”
Mark Twain

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
Lao Tzu

One of the most common and destructive daily habit is to constantly compare your life and yourself to other people and their lives.

You compare cars, houses, jobs, shoes, money, relationships, social popularity and so on.

And at the end of the day you pummel your self-esteem to the ground and you create a lot of negative feelings within. And perhaps also outside of yourself.

So what can you do? How can you get a handle on this habit?

Well, today I’d like to share 3 steps that have helped me to move away from this – it does take some time though so be patient with yourself – and towards a healthier outlook and view of myself and life.

Step 1: Just realize that you can’t win if you compare yourself to others.

Just consciously realizing this is helpful.

No matter what you do you can pretty much always find someone else in the world that has more than you or is better than you at something.

Yes, you may feel good for a while when you get a nicer car than your neighbor.

But a week or two later you’ll see someone from the next block with an even finer car than yours.

Step 2: Compare yourself to yourself.

Instead of comparing yourself to other people create the habit of comparing yourself to yourself.

See how much you have grown, what you have achieved and what progress you have made towards your goals.

This habit has the benefit of creating gratitude, appreciation and kindness towards yourself as you observe how far you have come, the obstacles you have overcome and the good stuff you have done.

You feel good about yourself without having to think less of other people.

You can make this habit stick by for instance taking a few minutes each day or just each Sunday (or any day that fits you) to use a journal to write down how you have grown, how much closer you are to your dreams and goals now and what you have overcome and learned.

By doing so your thinking will over time shift and your thought patterns will automatically become more focused on comparing you to you rather than to other people.

Step 3: Be kinder towards other people.

In my experience, the way you behave and think towards others seems to have a big effect on how you behave towards yourself and think about yourself.

Judge and criticize people more and you tend to judge and criticize yourself more (often almost automatically).

Be kinder to other people and help them and you tend to be kinder and more helpful to yourself.

So focus your mind on helping people and being kind.

Focus on the positive things in yourself and in the people around you.

And appreciate what is positive in yourself and in others.

This way you become more OK with yourself and the people in your world instead of ranking them and yourself in your mind.

You are OK and so are they

‘Repentant’ Boko Haram member responsible for Army Colonel’s death – Senator

Nigerian Soldiers on duty. [PHOTO CREDIT: The Guardian]

The repentant member allegedly gave out information to the terrorists regarding the movement of the general.

by QueenEsther Iroanusi November 11, 2020 / premiumtimesng.co

A ‘repentant’ Boko Haram member was responsible for the murder of an Army Colonel, D.C Bako, Borno State senator, Ali Ndume, has claimed.

The member, he said, gave out information to the terrorists regarding the movement of the colonel.

Mr Bako was killed on September 21 in an ambush by the terrorist group, near Damboa, a town about 85 kilometres from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Confirming his death, the Nigerian Army described D.C Bako as “one of our gallant and finest war heroes.”

Mr Ndume, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, made the revelation to journalists on Wednesday shortly after the budget defence session of the Nigerian Army. https://e40fcca384ff70374d8d2390c688a8bc.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

The lawmaker was responding to questions bothering on the funding of the army, as well as the committee’s position on the reintegration of repentant Boko Haram members back into the communities – an idea which he said is wrong.

“I am in disagreement with the government on the issue of de-radicalising and reintegrating (Boko Haram repentants). I still maintain that. You can’t be resettling people, pampering them while the war is on. The committee is on the same page and I believe many Nigerians are on the same page with this.

“In my village, mallams, not ordinary Muslims but mallams, elders above 60, 75 of them were taken to an abattoir and slaughtered by Boko Haram. Can you imagine that the Nigerian army or the Nigerian government is saying that because these people have gone to repent, or they say they have their hands up, you bring them back and pamper them.

“In addition to that, the recent attack in Damboa was carried out by a repentant (Boko Haram) giving information as to the movement of the army, the general that was killed was a victim,” said the lawmaker, who appeared emotional as he spoke, apparently mixing up the title of the deceased officer. The only ambush and killing of a senior army officer reported recently was that of Mr Bako in Damboa, Borno State, in September.

“If you give IDPs here, N150,000 as perk as they give them (Boko Haram repentants) I have 10,000 of them here…. they are displaced, suffering. They know these people that killed their people, it is wrong,” he said.

Mr Ndume is one of the many lawmakers that opposed the government’s decision to rehabilitate and reintegrate ‘repentant’ Boko Haram members.

Bandits better armed than army

While he decried the poor funding for the Nigerian army, the lawmaker said bandits in the North East are better equipped than the military personnel.

“The only difference between the Nigerian army and the bandits is that the Nigerian army is trained and they have uniforms. Even that, some of the bandits take away the uniform from the Nigerian army or they buy it from the market,” he explained.

“Some of the bandits have better AK-47. I think they have what they call AK-49, the latest AK used by bandits and insurgents in the North East and North West. I want to use this opportunity to tell you the committee’s position that as a matter of urgency… the budget of the Nigerian army should be increased.

“Not only that, we are advocating they should be front rolled, that means if they sign the budget, you give them so that they can start their procurement process because unlike other procurement that you can buy here, buy there, the Nigerian army’s have to be processed. Before you even finish the process, it takes a long time.”

On the army’s 2020 budget, the lawmaker said only 83 per cent of their personnel cost was released to them.

“…Imagine people who are on the war front, trying to protect the country. Worst of all, their capital, I mean money that is supposed to be given to them to buy the necessary equipment, arms and ammunition, secure kitting for the armed forces, only 64 per cent of that money was released. Fifty per cent was released in the first week of July and the second batch of it was released this week and Nigeria is at war.”

He also urged the Nigerian government to prosecute “those that are directly or indirectly involved in Boko Haram activities” and use them as an example.

When asked why the parliament has not increased the army’s budget since it has the power to do so, Mr Ndume said the three arms of government are supposed to work hand in hand.

“We have engaged the Nigerian army and we are going to engage the executive to make them understand that based on what we oversight, they need to increase the budget of the Nigerian army.

“So far, we are on the same page with the executive. We are going to work together and make them understand that there is a need. Some of them do these things and present it to Mr. President without him knowing the implications,” he said.

My metaphor of Joy

A most awaited way to Express love

Harshita Pandey November 4, 2020

You were the SHINING STAR of my life, whose little beam of light gives me immense energy and a charismatic charm.

Your presence was SUNLIGHT for me which diminishes the horrible zombie which was hidden inside my mind and heart.

You were the three favorite colors of mine which was SUNRISE, SUNSET and RAINBOW.

Your AURA was so divine that I don’t need to go anywhere in search of happiness, motivation and love in my life.

You were the WARRIOR KING of mine, who teaches me the perception of someone’s else does not define motive of my life and my worth.

You were the FEARLESS SOUL and your teachings helped me to fight with myself and the circumstances in the most toughest times of my life.

You were the VIVACIOUS SOUL for me, I wanted to copy everything from you but I couldn’t make that happen because the Golden heart you possess is not within me.

You were the INSPIRATION to me as I have never seen you cursing people which did bad to you. And the positive attitude of never giving up was lit.

You were the TOURCH BEARER for me who guide me that there is the most amazing gift which you can gave to anybody, anywhere and anytime that is helping others.

You were the DREAM CATCHER of mine who diverse and rectify the bad thoughts which was going around in my head.

You were the LIGHT OF MY LIFE , which creates distinction between darkness and brightness. If you started believing in yourself then all of your energies are collected at specific place and that emits the light called BRIGHTNESS.

You were the PERMUTATIONS & COMBINATION to me, as anyone can understand you whose intentions are good and has a good deed however those who are greedy, arrogant and selfish considered you as a complex creature and they can’t interpret you in n number of ways.

You were the UNIVERSE to me, I could easily discover new stars, planets, galaxies, asteroids, meteors, and a new hope as well.

You were the FUNDAMENTAL SCIENCE of my life whose techniques were implicit so well in my life.

You were the METAPHOR OF JOY to me which was the reflection of euphoria.

Instead of showing anger to God I’m very thankful to him as they had gifted me the GLORIOUS PHASE of my life which can never be replaced with anything. The knowledge which I seek from a single person like you is the wholesome definition of what life is to me. I must have done good KARMA’S in my previous life that God has gifted me a GEM like you. I can sense that there is a place like glorified heaven whenever I was with you.

Written by – Varshita Pandey

Again, Nigerian traders in Ghana raise alarm, want evacuation to Nigeria

Kotoka International Airport, Accra Credit: citibusinessnews.com

An official says said the Nigerian government will gladly welcome the traders back home from Ghana.

by Agency Report November 12, 2020

Nigerian traders in Ghana on Wednesday called on the Nigerian government to evacuate them from Ghana.

The traders, in a Save-Our-Soul letter delivered to the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said they were seeking a secure and peaceful return to Nigeria.

In a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, NiDCOM’s Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, said the traders belonged to two associations in Ghana, the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) and the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS).

According to Mr Odu, the evacuation letter, endorsed by 753 traders in the two associations, was delivered by a delegation led by the President of NANTS, Ken Ukoaha.

In the letter, the traders explained that their evacuation had become necessary because of the constant and consistent harassments, intimidation, torture, threat to their lives and the total lockdown of their means of livelihood in Ghana. https://fd18e7b0689955f1ecba80aa7865d665.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

They said that their shops had been locked up for almost one year by Ghanaian authorities.

“Diplomatic niceties at the highest level between Nigeria and Ghana have not yielded positive results.

“Landlords are coming to ask us for rent. How do we pay with our shops locked up for so long? We are dying here,” the traders lamented in the letter.

Receiving the delegation, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa called for peace, stressing the need for all relevant stakeholders to continually engage in peace talks.She said it was indeed sad that the traders` shops have not been reopened for almost a year, citing Ghana’s draconian regulations which breached ECOWAS Protocols on Free Trade and the Movement of Goods and Services.

The NiDCOM boss pleaded with the traders not to allow tempers to rise as she would convey their message to the appropriate Nigerian authorities.

She said that the Nigerian government would gladly welcome the traders back home.

What it takes to prioritize your priorities?

THE READERS DESK

November 12, 2020

[Image: The Readers Desk]

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule but to schedule your priorities.

-STEPHEN COVEY

Ever wondered why listing priorities is tough and even tougher to proceed with it? Prioritizing priorities is comprised of difficult decisions, hard times, complicating circumstances, lots of compromises, and many more. But the question is, Is it all worth it? Yes, it is. Maybe we won’t realize it today but the compromises you’re making are gonna pay you the legitimate price of it if you are consistent with your priorities. It takes a few minutes of courage and conscience to prioritize your priorities and to decide what you want from yourself, how hard you want it, how passionately you want it, and most importantly what you can do to achieve it, how far you can go to deal with it?

You first need to establish your goals so that you can have a view of what you need to work on every day. There is this time comes in all our lives which teaches us a lot of things following which, you are going to rule your life in the future. The point to focus on here is, in such cases, only you can teach yourself only you can convince yourself, and no one else can ever how much they try how hard they try nothing is gonna work on you until and unless you accept it. And that’s the actuality we tend to disbelieve.

The time has come to go completely selfish for your sake. The person you’re becoming is gonna cost you a lot of things so list your priorities wisely because if you’re not in the cycle of becoming the person you want to be then you’re automatically going to be the person you don’t want to be. Don’t give up on that person you want to become. If you lose this time you will lose that person, can you afford it? Ask this to yourself can you afford it? Seemingly, you can’t but you might compromise with it. Have you ever thought what if I would not have compromised? Think about it. Now going with the heading above, it does takes a lot of things to prioritize priorities. They are; first being you, what you were, short-term happiness of yours, patience, compromises, friends, family relationships, time, society, perceptions about you, adjustment, adaptation, settlements, and many more.

UK Column: Exposes COVID vaccine safety LIE!

EbolaInfo

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MIND POWER

Absolutely. Indeed, the mind the pivot of life.

We Coach everyone we connect/ Life coaching/Transformation coaching/Beat depression with communication/Believe creates magic/Remove toxic people from your circle

The most incredible power you have with you is the power of your mind, with this power you can create anything for you.

Yes, anything, you read correctly but if you believe that XYZ thing is just not possible in your life right know depending upon the current situations which clearly defines that you are not using your mind power effectively.The mind dominates and influence whole of the life, you are what you think about yourself.

We heard so many stories of the people, who achieved success in their life and try to follow their footsteps, then the stories of people who created wealth followed them too, many more diversified stories. But one thing is common among all stories that they believe among themselves and the uniqueness of their brainpower that they can achieve anything in their life.

The word “Impossible” was not in their dictionary. They are…

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