Midnight Motivations and Musings #49

April 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha30 Comments

Most times we are told to look at our areas of strength and to capitalise on them and in so doing leave our weak areas to lag behind.

Have we considered that our weak areas could be our diamonds in the dirt, waiting on us to dig them out?

Have we considered that our weak links could be focused on, strengthened and become sources of a positive turnaround as well as a source of inspiration for other people?

A lot of times, we spend time trying to hide our flaws and weaknesses so that others won’t judge us, that we fail to see the good sides of them.

I am learning to look at every cracked piece of me. To take it apart piece by piece and see them as truly are.

Who knows, I might just discover several raw gems and beautiful flaws in the buff.

Have a good go at it!

Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Motivations and Musings // 48…

April 2, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

Opportunity is taking the situation that you are in and turning it around on its head to make some sense out of it. Opportunity is not going to traipse lazily and knock on your door begging you to pick it up.

Opportunity is not going to traipse lazily and knock on your door begging you to pick it up and it’s not everyone that will have a Cinderella story to tell. Some will have to work their way out of the grate of cinders with all the smoke and never a pair of dainty slippers to lose or Prince galloping to the rescue.

Some will have to work their way out of the grate of cinders with all the smoke and never a pair of dainty slippers to lose or Prince galloping to the rescue.

Adapting to the situation that life presents us is the first key to getting ahead.

Finding the positives that such a situation has to offer and tailoring it to serve some worthwhile purpose in your life is turning an ordinary occasion into a great and well-optimized opportunity.

Your story is an opportunity. Your life is an opportunity. Your art is an opportunity. Your photos are opportunities. Your speaking strength could be an opportunity. Your baking is an opportunity. Your cooking is an opportunity. Your parenting is an opportunity.

Opportunity abounds. Use them as well as you can.

Midnight Motivations and Musings 47…

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha28 Comments

What can I say? I have met some people who have fallen out and ended years of good relationship due to a difference in opinions that are sometimes insignificant.

I have witnessed heated and virulent arguments, even online where people degenerate far down to abusive vitriol when someone dares to disagree with their point of view and the question that always cross my mind is to wonder what kind of background the name-calling, combative person has?

If a person can’t get his/her point across in a clear, concise manner without the entire discussion degenerating into a World-war, then they should not bother getting into discussions at all.

Getting all heated up over issues that can either be by-passed or discussed like responsible humans is a no brainer. No one should waste their time on such non-productive ventures.

Opinions are what they are. Even if you are right, the other person reserves the right to disagree with you and your ability to handle the disagreement is where the maturity lies.

I have witnessed where people are brought around to a different line of thinking by the presentation of clear, unambiguous and empirical evidence.

Points of view are two-ways or even in some instances a multi-faceted traffic and as much as you like your voice heard, it’s possible the other person does so as well.

Lifestyle · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings # 46

March 31, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Ever since I made up my mind to let go of dwelling on non-essentials that didn’t further my existence and probably only contributed to making a miserable day, I found more peace.

Ever since I chose to make conscious, deliberate efforts to apply positive affirmations and frame of mind to my days, it only got better.

Yes, it is possible to live a purpose-driven life.

Yes, happiness is a deliberate choice.

Yes, each day can be as best as we can make it all things being equal.

Of course there are things that are out of our control, like nature and other people’s actions, but we run our own workshop of our minds and home.

Indeed, there are days that are a bit off, but, I’ve observed that once you get into the habit of positive thoughts and living, such moods and days barely last because your mind fights to switch to the frame that works best for it.

Your days are as good as you make them. Be happy not by trying to convince others, but by being yourself and the best that you can be.

Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Musings and Motivations # 45…

March 30, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha8 Comments

A lot of times, we have challenges that we face but lack the zeal to take them on.

Once our spirit to take them on is down, we find that the voice of pessimism and all the possible excuses will offer themselves on shiny platters for us to choose from.

However, the downturn to helping ourselves to the platter of excuses is that it’s often accompanied by a cane for self-flagellation and guilt, which will eventually show itself when the consequences of our actions or inactions dawn on us.

Sometimes, we need not have huge amounts of faith or courage.

Indeed, a peanut-sized one will suffice, but if we can dig in our heels and get started with it, you find that the zeal and courage required to continue surfaces.

Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 43…

March 29, 2016April 3, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

A whole lot of times, for fear of being hurt, or losing out, we choose to sit on the fence rather than dabbling and trying our best.

Easy does it quite alright and it’s essential to exercise caution before jumping into any venture or as the case may be a relationship.

However, we cannot because of previous bad experience rule out every other opportunity to try again.

Like my people would say, we cannot because of fear of shooting, avoid going to war when the need arises. For example, the fact that Tim broke your heart, doesn’t mean John will do so. For all you know, John might be that partner you’ve been seeking for.

Secondly, because one business endeavour failed, you cannot write off all other possibilities with the wave of the hand.

Rather, it makes more sense to apply the learnings from the previous experience, that way, you stand a better chance at succeeding.

Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings # 42…

March 28, 2016March 28, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

It should go without saying that the voice of the giant in us should be the one that makes the most noise.

Alas, it’s hardly ever so. For the fact that the voice is not often heeded to, it lies dormant in us, while the screeching empty voice of the coward that knows all the negative, pessimistic words takes pride of place.

It does take a whole lot of paradigm shift and practice to drown the voice of ‘I can’t’ and ‘impossible’ to ‘I will and I’m possible.’

It’s equally a very liberating experience when we let go of some of our unfounded inhibitions and just spread our wings.

Even if we do take a splat in the attempt, chances are we must have gained some worthwhile experience.

When we don’t seek or venture, we shall neither find nor gain.

Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings #41…

March 26, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha19 Comments

Harmony can hardly be arrived at when we have constant internal turmoils stemming from grudges borne over something.

A whole lot of times grudges stem from expectations placed on someone and when it’s not met, we become resentful and store that in a corner of our minds and hearts. Even when we say that we’ve forgiven the person, we keep a long list of records of all the shortfalls.

If we minimized our expectations from others to almost nothing, that way we leave room for pleasant surprises and also save ourselves that feeling of being let down.

An instance is our personal relationships. A lot of relationships fail because we go into it with a long list of dos, don’ts and infernal expectations.

They are not GOD, but fallible humans!

This virtually applies to everything that we do. For instance you might have a nasty boss. Zero your mind down to the fact that he/she has issues that they are dealing with and they possibly don’t know how to be different.

Once your mind has accepted their contrary prickly nature, you go about your business as effectively as you can without letting the acid of annoyance and grudge build up inside you. Getting into differences with such people will only hurt you more, because the likelihood is that they may not understand, don’t care or are insensitive to your feelings.

Remember that you cannot change other people, but you can change yourself. Who knows, your balanced sense of self and disposition might actually serve as a source of inspiration for such people.

Hope · Memes · Midnight motivation and musings

Midnight Motivations and Musings # 40

March 25, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

The above quote can be likened to an ailing patient who buys all the drugs and keeps them locked in a cupboard for safe-keeping

Of course, the patient will remain sick.

Change can only come about when it’s applied and not from wishful thinking.

Change is a deliberate decision, backed up with actions that over time and practice becomes a character trait.

Some are afraid of trying for change because of the fear of failure, which is a worse scenario.

It’s better to try and repeat over and over, than to sit in the same situation through a lifetime. What a waste that would be!

Memes · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 39…

March 24, 2016 jacquelineobyikocha18 Comments

It’s definitely important to review our steps from time to time, to see where we are and where we are coming from.

However, you shouldn’t feel dissuaded if you do a review and find that things are dragging a bit and not working out as fast as you would want, especially if you look and perceive that others might be running faster.

These days, life is on the micro-wave lane and we almost expect everything around us to fall into such category, but there are things that we cannot necessarily change as fast as we wish.

What we have to do, is to establish a rhythm that we can sustain.

Success is built over time, with patience and diligence. It’s not a sprint, but a long-drawn marathon, filled with hills, valleys, cobblestones to trip you up and sometimes muddy swampy pathways with noisome mosquitoes along the track 🙂

Just keep going. Each day, add another jigsaw to the puzzle.