Category: Self Help

Inspiration - Motivation · mental health · Self Help

Stop the needless waiting now!

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Time is ticking past.

How can you go through life postponing being happy and waiting for all the right situations to happen before you can feel happy? Here’s the sad news. The government will always consist of unconscientious and shitty people. Life will never truly balance. Things may never align perfectly at every point in time which therefore means that your wait is wasted effort.

However, the good news is that every new day we open our eyes presents fresh choices and chances and reasons to be happy. Life can be likened to a busy airport terminal, where happiness arrives and departs around the clock. The likelihood is that the opportunity to be happy has already arrived and probably departed whilst you were so busy fussing over your excess luggage. Most times, joyful, happy moments are right in front of you, but your mindset is unable to shift for you to notice and appreciate it because you are stuck on all the negative things going on around you.

Irrespective of all that may be going on around you, you can truly feel happier, be more productive, attract success, manifest your dreams and enjoy yourself whilst at it. Yes, it is not easy. It requires a lot of intentionality, and purposefulness, but when you shift your focus and the way you think, your perspective changes. When shift happens, your life changes. So, let’s keep getting our shift together.

Philosophy of Life · Self Help

It’s a new year after all…

jacquelineobyikocha5 Comments
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels.com

As always, the hand of time turns effortlessly and before you finish clinking your champagne glass, a day goes by, the 2, 3, and they all roll along to weeks, months and then its year end again, when we rush to meet deadlines, get to sing Christmas carols, feel warm and fuzzy and hey presto! Happy new year greetings are being exchanged once more and we are caught in the New Year resolution fever. 

Armed with good intentions, gratitude for the blessings of the past year and surviving the vagaries that comes with living, we eagerly usher in the New Year completely determined to do our best and to get the best out of the year.

A lot of us say things like: ‘this is my year,’ ‘this year will be magical,’ ‘I will have so many breakthroughs this year,’ etc. and the list goes on.

All well and good. Seeking to be better than we were and doing better than we did is always commendable, but the question remains, how dogged, dedicated and passionate are we to truly arrive at these demanding goals that we set for ourselves at the beginning of each year? Or are we just going forward making a wishful list without the backbone to see them through thereby leading ourselves down the path of breaking of resolutions before they have even taken off and multiple disappointments over time? There is nothing wrong with setting goals, but goals without the right systems put in place will place will most certainly fall apart.

As always, I say, live your best life in the moment, try to stay accountable so that you can be the best version of you each day every day in all ramifications and as the moments roll by, it is far easier accomplishing those aspirations. Of course, life happens and sometimes things outside our control happens. Nonetheless, it is not always about what happened to us that’s the issue, it’s about how we react to what happened. It’s about how we rise from the dust of a situation, dust ourselves off and keep pushing and most times, it is easier to pick up from where you left off when your actions are almost second nature.  

Think on these thoughts succinctly whilst attempting to revamp your entire life.
What are the deep lessons that you learnt the last 365 days of 2023 and how do you intend to leverage on them?

Happy New Year to you and your beloved ones’. May 2024 be kind to all of us.

Blogging · life skills · Self Help · Writing

Awakening My Creative Consciousness…

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments
love-pen-bed-drinking-writing-reading

Finally. I believe that I have succeeded in crawling out of the doldrums. There are days that run into weeks and then months when creativity flows freely through your fingers and mind and feels like the easiest thing ever, then there are those days… that seep into weeks… and then months… when you are lost and in a total stump.

When this happens, we deeply feel that something is amiss. Things generally seem harder and somehow the rudder of our direction stagnates or at worse will be over the place. How do we re-center ourselves? How do we reignite our passion to continue doing those things that we most enjoy? How do we declutter, distill the disturbance, and climb out of the miry bog?

Most certainly, there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to such a dilemma. However, we can prime the pump and flow of inspiration in our lives by taking some simple steps and these steps are what I am trying to retrace. Not so much to find out where I fell off the track but to attempt to get back on track and fall in love again with those things that bring me joy.

I can’t even explain to you how the past few days of getting back to blogging, making my short videos on Tiktok, YouTube and Instagram makes me feel. I feel better. I feel less pained and guilty. I feel a deep sense of satisfaction and I intend to keep it that way; so help me God.

Here are a few practical steps to apply should you ever find yourself in such a rut.

  • Be grateful for where you are at the moment and thankful for the potentials that the future holds.
  • Seek and find joy in the little things happening around you. Find laughter. It matters a lot.
  • Declutter your mind. Ask yourself what you are really feeling and try to understand why.
  • Define and refine what creativity and inspiration means to you.
  • Remind yourself of those things that you really love.
  • Revamp your thought process and approach where possible.
  • Don’t make big plans, take baby steps one day at a time.
  • Take time to reflect and let your imagination flow. It may be jumbled and rusty but just go with the flow.
  • Be humble and keep learning.
  • Make your creative moments fun.

What self-help tips and suggestions do you use and recommend to others to try?

Inspiration - Motivation · Poetry/Poems · Self Help

The Patched Ones…

jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

 

Here are the beautiful ones.

Hidden in the shadows of the glittery ones,

many times they’ve been broken,

and unevenly patched by the potter’s hands,

yet their value is priceless.

 

Image result for images of kintsugi

 

This is about us. Many are broken. Many are hurting. Many have forgotten their true worth. Many are clinging to past mistakes and allowing them to dictate their present circumstance. Many hold on to their pain and weave unforgiveness into their soul. They forget to put down their burden at the Masters’ feet not knowing that in the potters’ hands, their broken pieces are gathered, refined and made far better than the original piece. Just like the Japanese practice of golden joinery ‘Kintsugi,’ – when something has suffered damage and has a history, it becomes more beautiful. No one is ever too broken to be fixed.

Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden and I will grant you rest. Matthew: 11: 28 – 29

 

Guide To Better Living · Self Help · Thursday Tidbits · Tips for the day

Just Be…

jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

Quit making yourself small in order to fit into the image that someone else wants you to become.

#BeExtra #BeYou #BeAuthentic

pixabay.com

Just Be, Be You, Be Authentic

Health · Self Help · Wellness

Dealing With Chronic Pain? You’re Not Alone

jacquelineobyikocha3 Comments
Chronic Pain, Ailment, Lego Pain, Support Groups
Flickr Picture

According to a recent report, 11 percent of people suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain can impact a number of areas across the body, but it is typically common in the back and limbs. If you have RSI, you might have chronic pain in your wrists and arms. Whereas, individuals who have suffered an injury after lifting a heavy object may experience chronic pain in the lower back.

It is important to be aware that chronic pain can grow worse as time goes on. You might think that the issue remains constant, but this is not the case. It can also lead to further complications such as arthritis and difficulty with mobility.

Can Chronic Pain Be Cured?

It depends on the type of chronic pain that you are suffering from. Some chronic pain can be fixed with surgery. However, this can be both expensive and intensive. It can also be a coin toss as to whether or not the surgery actually has a positive effect. If you are thinking about getting surgery to deal with your chronic pain, you should consult your doctor. Make sure that you are aware of the possible side effects and issues that can be apparent even after the surgery is complete.

If your chronic pain can’t be cured, there’s still a good chance that it can be alleviated or indeed reduced. There are numerous studies exploring this possibility and researchers have seen good results with aqua therapy. Particularly, for patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Doctors may also recommend medication but this can be a slippery slope, and it’s easy to become dependant on the meds that they recommend.

How Does It Impact Your Life?

People with chronic pain may struggle to maintain their career because of an inability to concentrate on a job or task. For instance, people suffering from RSI will have difficulty completing typography work. This is an issue as typically the condition is caused by jobs that involve typing. As such, you could suddenly be unable to complete a job that you are trained for. It’s for this reason that people often find that chronic pain can impact their income dramatically.

That’s why you should think about the cause of your chronic pain. It’s possible that the pain was due to an accident that wasn’t your fault such as a work-related injury. If it was due to another’s negligence, you could be entitled to a large settlement that will help you in the future. Don’t forget, people with chronic pain often have large medical bills to pay.

Coping With Your Condition

If you are suffering from chronic pain and you are struggling to cope, a support group could be the answer. There are various support groups online for people who are struggling with the same issues as you. By talking to them, you can get coping mechanisms from people who have first-hand experience of your condition.

We hope this helps you deal with your own chronic pain and some of the life challenges that may come with it.   

 This is a collaborative post.
Poetry Cards · Self Help · Wellness

When Lost Don’t Panic…7 Simple Tips To Find Yourself When Lost.

jacquelineobyikocha34 Comments

Marking, Path, Direction

When lost don’t panic,

just leave little marks of hope on your path

and

they will lead you home.

©

Jacqueline

There are times that we feel overwhelmingly lost, but this doesn’t mean that your life is doomed. It spells a transition and transformation. The key is not to get stuck in your current rut, but to tap into your hopeful and creative power to redirect your steps back to the life and you that you love.

Apply these 7 simple tips as often as you need to help yourself out of that state.

1. Listen. 

With the frenetic lifestyle that we live and the persistent mind chatter, it’s easy to drown out those signs that speak to us, which is why it’s important to create silence and listen. Life offers us divine messages through various means – songs, billboards, books, nature, the people we meet etc. When we keep our eye’s and minds open we receive guidance and take notice of more.

2. Always remember that the choices are yours. You have the power to be and to do that which you desire.

You get to choose how you feel, what you think, what you do etc. You are empowered to create the life you wish for and it’s important to focus on the positive things around you. The power of attraction makes it such that the Universe will send you more of the same things that you seek.

3. Go and do those things that you love to do. Have an adventure.

Toss out the excuses of no time, no money, no this and that and create the space to do those fun things that make your heart sing. Go out and explore your world – a retreat, solitary walks, a day trip etc. Taking yourself away from your regular patch and its noise offers you opportunities to experience life through fresh eyes.

4. Extend yourself beyond your comfort zone.

Growth will not happen when you stay confined in that comfortable, familiar bubble of yours. Challenge yourself to do new things that invigorate you.

5. Reconnect with your dreams and aspirations. Expand your coast and dream bigger.

What dreams did you have for your life before you deemed them impossible to achieve or they fell through the cracks of a frantic lifestyle?  Revisit those dreams. Write them out and enjoy floating in your dreamland. Reconnecting with your dreams has a way of opening up your mind and floodgate of inspiration.

6. Live a healthy lifestyle, have an adventure

When you are healthier, you feel better in general. Eating right with regular exercises rewards you with a clearer mind.

7. Ask for help

You don’t have to stay stuck in the jam trying to figure it out all on your own. Reach out and ask for help, because sometimes a mere chat with someone you trust can ease the burden and provide great insight that will help you move forward.

 

Self Help · VLogs

Deal with your fears and live your life.

jacquelineobyikocha3 Comments

Fear is all in the mind. Don’t let the impulsive thoughts get in the way of your success. When you understand the root of your fear, the reason behind it, you overcome it. Face it today. Deal with it and thrive.

Hope · Life · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 79

jacquelineobyikocha11 Comments

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Life is full of possibilities but you’ve got the leave the corridors of I can’t to the elevators of I’ll do my best to keep seeing change and empowering results.

Most times, change is painful and slow, but once it’s set in motion, there’s an incremental result.

We have to leave negativity behind to see clearer. Always keep an open mind, hearing ears (note that there’s a difference between listening and actually hearing), seeing eye’s – beyond the peripheries and an empathetic questioning mind.

We are called to live life in the fullness of joy and though this might be impossible to achieve 100% of the time, it’s possible to get it 95% of the time.

Love and Light,

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

I can see clearly now the ghosts are laid to rest

Broken visions melded and better than the first

Atop the ladder of scattered dreams and buried bones,

I glimpse the brighter vision reflected and renewed.

**an excerpt of my poem**

Life · Midnight motivation and musings · Self Help

Midnight Motivations and Musings 79

jacquelineobyikocha7 Comments

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Challenges will come and sometimes they will shake your faith and hope. These tribulations present themselves to taunt and test you. That’s called life.

Unexpected incidentals of life happen when we are busy making plans about other things that we want to do, so in order to brace ourselves for these little bumps, we must equip our system with buffers like hope.

Hope is not an abstract word. It’s a very active word that lives and grows when we build on it.

It’s like a safety net or emergency funds that we draw on when the need arises.

How do we build up hope? I’ll be sharing a post specifically targeted at building hope on Sunday.

Love and Light

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Out of the silent breath

Never leave me lonely

With words left unsaid

You walk away into the dark

Like a mist, that melts away.