S Health || Step By Step

"Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live." - Jim Rohn

It has been more than 3 years since I last stepped into a gym, and 2 years since I have gone jogging. I used to incorporate some form of exercise into my routine but I stopped at some point for various excuses reasons. I kept telling myself that I would start exercising again. Even went as far as making a health plan(yes, I'm extra like that) but I always found it hard to stick to it.

But this year, I decided to take my health more seriously and stop quitting or making excuses. In January, I started researching and reading up on ways I could stay healthy and incorporate some form of exercise into my daily life and, thanks to Samsung, I found something that I have been using for a couple of weeks now. It's a simple application that counts your step(walking, jogging, or running) and the calories burnt through your daily activities.

The 'S Health' is an application that came preset in my Samsung phone. It has been in my hands all along, it's easy to use, and I have been sleeping on it! Can you imagine? And I had been struggling to keep up with my health plans as I could not be dedicated enough to keep track. This is one reason why you should get familiar with your gadgets, you don't know what gems are hiding in plain sight in it.

Since I'm lazy to do or commit to any exercise or fitness plan, walking is the only exercise I can do and my S Health application has been helping me keep track of the number of steps I take everyday. Today, I broke a personal record by taking 13,237 steps through the whole of today by just walking around to do all my chores!

I see a lot of people doing the most daily to keep up with their commitment to stay healthy but living a healthy lifestyle can be as easy as a few healthy meal choices and as much exercise as you can get in(depending on your fitness goals). Incorporating an application will help in no little way, especially if the application works without your help.

So far, I'm loving the S Health application, but if you have any other application that can automatically help me keep track of my health activities while I do other things, do suggest in the comments section. I can't wait to start seeing the results of the little efforts I'm putting in.


- The Lady

P/s: The S Health application is free and available at the Google Play Store. The version that is available at the iStore is not accessible to the public yet. Do suggest any that is available at the iStore. Thank you.

Application: Samsung S Health

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

Nigeria Info || Radio, Another First

"A good life is not a place at which you arrive. It is a lens through which you see and create your world." - Jonathan Fields

Everyone who knows me knows that I don't make promises except I'm entirely sure that I would keep them. And to be on the safe side, I usually avoid making any type of promise totally. But when I promised myself in January that I was going to do EVERYTHING I wanted and needed to do to realise my dreams this year, I did not consider the gravity of the promise I was making to myself. All I knew was that I had a dream, I had created a plan around that dream, and I was(still am) determined to make my dream come true.

So when, by the workings of my bestfriend Oise, I got the opportunity to be on a radio show this week, I jumped on the opportunity without any thought at first of what I was up for. I was only sure that this was a great publicity opportunity for my business. By nightfall though, reality hit me. I became scared! I caught myself thinking and asking myself a couple of times, "Raé, what have you got yourself into?!" Every kind of fearful thought went through my head. And as the day drew closer, I became more nervous.

I considered cancelling, sending someone to represent me, anything! It got so bad, my Uncle had to sit me down and remind me that I had survived being on television and radio was going to be easier. But that helped nothing. On the morning of the show, I was a nervous wreck! I was sweating in an air-conditioned room whilst sitting directly under the vent. For a radio show.🙈

That place called 'Comfort Zone' is a very scary place to allow yourself to be found in. It shatters every effort even before you make a move. It works with 'Mr. Fear' and little old 'Mrs. Self-Doubt' to rob you off any progress and happiness you desire. But you don't have to listen to Mrs. Self-Doubt or let Mr. Fear paralyze you into staying stuck in your comfort zone. Get yourself out of that box because outside is where all the magic happens.

At the end of the day, I enjoyed being on radio and having people call in to ask a question or talk with me. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with Adenike. But the feeling after beating that fear down and coming out of my comfort zone to do something new. Ahhh...it was so worth it! I can't wait to see what other interesting things this year holds for us.

Have yourself an awesome weekend!

Love...💋

- The Lady


Location: Nigeria Info Studios

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 

De-clutter And Rewards || Weekend Ritual

"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it." - John Ruskin

It is 'technically' Valentine's weekend(if that's even a thing) and I'm just here, enjoying this cup of ice cream, thinking about life in general, planning my coming week, and slowly patting myself on the back as I am too tired to do a victory dance of any sort.

I have had one of those weeks where you get back home from work and it seems like the only thing you have the strength to do is get a quick shower and jump into bed. But today being the weekend, I had time to do some other things for myself, chief of which was organizing my wardrobe(and life).

One of the best lessons 2016 taught me was that it is easier to live life when every area of your life is organized. Although I learnt it the hard way(lost some money in the process), I'm grateful for it. It has helped me free up a lot of time that I can channel into doing more productive things like grabbing a cup of ice cream as a reward for making it through the stressful week. Hahaha...

I never used to like being too organized as I loved being spontaneous. I still do, but as I get older, the demands on my time keep increasing and I appreciate every spare second I get from living an organized and de-cluttered life. I have more time to spend with family, spend by myself or with friends, work on my business, work on the blog, etc. These little things matter and I'm thankful that I'm able to do them.

I have begun doing this organizing/de-cluttering exercise weekly and I am beginning to fall more and more in love with it. Although I still don't like the process much as I can only organise things after I have completely scattered them(it makes more sense to me that way), but the peace and calm I feel after I'm done with this exercise is magical. I am even beginning to look forward to this weekly 'ritual. I don't know if it's more for the feeling I get when I'm done or for the ice cream rewards after.

Whichever one, I'm looking forward to next weekend's session. I would love to hear what your favourite weekend rituals are. It might just be what I need to complete my weekend.
Have a lovely weekend.


- The Lady

Location: Coldstone Creamery

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Romans 15:13

Hans And René || Dare To Try Something New

"I am not the same. As I was. As I will be." - Unknown

Everyone who knows me knows that I am a Coldstone girl. No ice cream does it for me the way Coldstone does it. So, when I had an ice cream date with a friend, sometime this week, I automatically started dreaming of Coldstone, which of my favorite signature ice creams I would get and the extra toppings I would add to it. But no, Ezinne had a different plan.

Rather than go to Coldstone(which was closer), we went all the way to The Palms, walked past the Coldstone stand and made our way to the Hans and René store. At first, I didn't want to get anything from there as I had never tried them before that day, but after the nice guy who attended to me had cajoled me to have a taste, I decided that a scoop(or 3) wouldn't hurt.

As an Igbo girl, I did the most in ordering as much as I could take. I had to make my first trial of Gelato as memorable as I could. And I did. I tasted about 8 different flavors before I settled for 3 different flavors that stood out for me. I can't remember their names as I was more interested in the taste than the names.

Back at home, I reflected on my day(I do this everyday) and decided that I didn't do so bad. Although it wasn't something so major, but, as someone who sticks to whatever works for as long as it works, I surprised myself by trying something new. If I had been told that I would taste, or even like, something 'ice cream like' that isn't Coldstone, I would have laughed.

But that is a beautiful thing about life. We get so used to something, we end up confining or limiting  ourselves to that thing without trying out other things. If we could only take a chance with new things, we could learn more about life, about ourselves, and maybe, enjoy ourselves in the process.

I definitely enjoyed myself and look forward to trying out more Gelato flavors. I may even tryout the Hans and René Sorbet flavors available. Have you tried any Hans and René Gelatos or Sorbets? If you have or you know of any other Gelateria or ice cream stores in Lagos, do leave a suggestion in the comments section. I would love to try some new flavors and places.
Have an awesome weekend!💋


- The Lady

Location: Hans and René

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

Psalms 32:8

Life || Balance

"You owe it to yourself to do more than just get by." - Unknown 

After a year of living an almost lazy and stress-free life in Akwa Ibom State, especially in the early months of 2016(thanks to NYSC), I yearned to get back home and start living my 'dream life'. You know, the one in the movies where the lady has a job she loves, is financially secure, has a group of bestfriends and just goes everywhere and handles all her responsibilities effortlessly. Yup! That one! Well, let's just say it is still a dream. Hahaha..

Taking on life's responsibilities is not as glamorous as some paint it (if I do say so myself). I have been juggling a couple of things for a while and I can't help but commend all those who have been doing this for years. You all are the MVPs!👏🏾👏🏾 I mean, it is no joke at all. Being an adult, especially with an entrepreneurial spirit, is crazy at best. You seem to always have something important to do with little or no time left for yourself.

But don't let me scare you away from it because deciding to 'grow up and be everything I can be' has been one of the best decisions I have made. And the most rewarding experience I have had. No jokes. But a key thing I have learnt is to find a balance. Don't let the stress, sleepless nights, and every other hurdles that will definitely come up deter you. Learn how to manage your time and finances.

Don't be so set on doing it all by yourself that you end up not enjoying the little pleasures of life. Automate as much as you can, out-source as much as is necessary, create a budget and schedule for the important(recurrent) things, take care of your health & general welfare, and don't forget to try living each day like it's your dream. Oh! And always wear a smile.

Have a lovely weekend.

- The Lady

Watch - Tissot, Shoes - Zara, Shirt & Skirt - My Tailor(Lol!)

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Colossians 3:23-24

Your Thoughts: Blogging In 2017

"Greatness is not about being perfect. It's about being yourself." - Lewis Howes

It's the first Saturday of 2017, and although lots of people have already begun soft-pedaling on the momentum they used in beginning the year, we at The Lady Loves Life are just getting started. We plan on making your reads this year as insightful, helpful, and entertaining as possible.

One of the goals for the blog this year is to move the blog in a more interactive direction(Yes, more talk on here than in my inbox darlings). Although we have lots of ideas and tips to share with you, we would like to hear directly from you. What would you like us to discuss more of this year? What would you like to read about? What areas can we improve on to make your experience better?

Looking back on the direction of the blog in the past, we have moved from sharing poems about personal issues, and sharing fictional stories that aimed to teach us about health and other life issues, to more productive personal growth and development topics and tips to help us live meaningful and productive lives. And as we grow, we ought to review our journey, take out things that are not helping us, and improve on areas that will help us grow.

So, if there's any particular thing(or number of things) on your mind that you will like to read more of, do let us know so that we can improve your experience here. And if there is anything you think we can improve on: blog design, graphics, etc, do let us know so that we can put your recommendations to mind and improve your general experience on the blog this year.

Thank you so much!
Do have a lovely weekend.


- The Lady

Photo Credit: Brandy G

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

John 15:5

Ditch The New Year Resolutions.

Photo Credit: Stella Uzo

"Whatever you dream you can do - begin it. Boldness has genius and power in it." - Unknown

Happy New year Darlings!
So excited to have made it into the New Year. Had about enough of the gloomy news and energy of 2016. Ringing in the New Year with my family, those who traveled back at least, the excitement and energy around me right now is so electrifying it's almost magical and I'm so in love with it all.

Something about the New year and the celebrations makes me feel like I can do anything and I'm more than ready to face everything. But, first, those resolutions. I am tired of seeing people, my former self included, make impossible New Year resolutions and, sometime in the middle of January, give up on those resolutions.

Why not give up on the whole resolution thing and set some serious goals that are backed by plans that you can actually see through? So for 2017, I have decided against my normal method of making New Year resolutions and then building my goals around those resolutions. This year, I have decided to set my goals from the start and tackle them through the year. That way, I'm sure that I'm starting the year on a solid note and not wasting any time.

Instead of setting general goals, I decided to divide them into different categories to enable me have a better picture of what I want to achieve and be more focused on each goals. To do this, I divided my life into the various parts that I wanted to work on(personal, professional, spiritual, financial, etc), then I wrote my desired goals for each of those parts, and then I sorted those goals into the order I wanted to accomplish them along with dates where possible.

I further broke the year into twelve(for each month of the year), for monthly reviews to keep me on top of my goals and my performance, and a further four quarters for quarterly reviews of my progress. All of these is to make them easily achievable for me and make me hold myself accountable.

I hope this inspires you to set some goals in a way that they will be easier for you to achieve. I encourage you to take some time to make plans and set goals that will add joy to your life. 2017 is ours. Let's go get this!!
Have a great week!💋


- The Lady

“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19

2016 Edit: The Gratitude Roundup

Photo Credit: Lindi

"Seeds of faith are always within us; sometimes it takes a crisis to nourish and encourage their growth." - Susan Taylor

I caught myself with tears in my eyes a few times while preparing the draft for this post.
2016 has been one crazy year and as much as I wanted it to end, I can't believe that the last day of the year is finally here! A lot happened that I never knew I would get through, but a lot also happened that I never wanted to end. I had a mix of both and I'm thankful for every one of them.

For the most part, 2016 threw a lot of 'punches'. What with the increased killings in Northern Nigeria, bombing of pipelines in Southern Nigeria, increased cases of insurgents and insurgence, loss of businesses owing to Government-ordered demolition of buildings, the downward spiral of the Naira that led the country into a recession, and all other sad news I can't begin to list.

But 2016 threw punches like a baby because we had awesome news too. We saw the victory of the Super Falcons, the 'victory' of the Nigerian Army at Sambisa forest, the release of some of the Chibok girls, the success of a Nigerian movie directed by a Nigerian woman(Kemi Adetiba) at the box office, the surprise visit from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, recorded increase in investments in the Nigerian economy, to mention a few.

Even on a personal basis, this is the year I 'grew into myself', I became more aware of myself and everything going on around me, I faced tough challenges that caused me to stand up for myself and helped make me a stronger person. 2016 taught me about friendship and relationship, about family and commitments, about character and reputation, about being my own boss and making decisions, and generally, about myself.

Did I mention that 2016 saw me post up on this blog for one whole year?! Yes, we clocked one in November but there was no time for a celebration.🙈 We will celebrate it in 2017 though. Will work towards that.

In the end though, I am thankful for every one of you. Those who were always here to read every post, those who subscribed, those who dropped comments, those who sent me mails for advice and support, and those who sent in feedback on areas I needed to improve on. I am beyond thankful for all of you. You made my blogging journey this year worth it!

And as we get ready to face the new year with all its challenges and rewards, I hope we will continue to grow together and get better at all the things that set our hearts on fire.
Happy New Year in advance!💋


- The Lady

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4:16

Growing Up - A Different Path

Photo Credit: Mansur Gavriel

"It's not enough to be good if you have the ability to be better. It's not enough to be better if you have the ability to be great." - Unknown

It feels surreal writing this about myself. But it feels more so living it. It all feels like a dream, an awesome dream actually, but I'm yet to feel like this is a reality. So I've decided to acknowledge it as a dream and keep living and painting it like I would do a dream.

So, what is this thing keeping me in a dreamy state? I'm growing up! I'm gradually becoming the woman I have always dreamt of being. That's the best way I can explain this right now because, even through the times things went as planned or went wrong, I still felt like "Girl, wake up!"

So, it began some 2/3 years ago(can't remember exactly) when I had that strong urge to drop everything I was doing and start a company. Before this time, some 5 years ago, back in my third year into my Law program at the University, I had had this same feeling. But I tried pushing it aside. I even picked up other hobbies and interests to compensate whatever gave rise to that urge.

Did it work? I guess it did because I finished my program at the University. And, I enjoyed those new interests. So it was fine...until I graduated from the University. Then, like every of my colleague in University, I applied to go to Law School, but that 'urge' to do something else crept up again. This time, I used my stressful lecture schedules and reading plans to drown all of that.

By now, it was 2015, I had applied for the compulsory one-year service scheme(NYSC). I will forever be thankful for my service year. Though I was working with the Akwa Ibom State Government, I had a lot of spare time and I was able to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, research into what it would take for me to do that, and start saving for it.

And today, 2 months after my service(NYSC) year ended, I have done almost everything necessary to set up the company, opened my company, and we are having our first sales fair today. It sure does feel like a dream. A very beautiful one. Even through the stressful times, especially through those times, it never stopped being beautiful.

I know I'm gushing about it, but I'm so excited and nervous about it. And I want you to feel this too. So, if there's anything you want to do or be, just go ahead and do it. There will be times when you will want to just quit, DON'T!!! Just keep going! It will all be worth it. Now, I'm off to my fair. Say a prayer for me.
And have yourself a great day!💋


- The Lady

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

1 John 5:14-15

Afterall, We Are Us: As Human As We Are

Photo Credit: Bobo Matjila

"Regardless of what your job is or what people expect from you, you are allowed to be human." - Gigi Hadid

Having been the voice that has always told you to strive to do and be as superhuman as you dream of being, it may seem odd that I now want you to be yourself. But that's the beauty of this life we live, the ability to create a balance. The ability to switch, to become whoever we want, and to be ourselves, as human as we are.

We see it everywhere; in cartoons(yes, I still watch them) where the prince or princess disguises as an 'ordinary human' to experience 'real life', to our everyday lives where a levelheaded person decides to live one day of his/her life vicariously. It's all about balance and there is nothing wrong with that, if done right.

I admit that it has been a long stressful year which is the more reason why you should take a break from all the 'seriousness' for a bit, kick back, and enjoy life a little. Yes, the holiday season is coming and you will have a lot of time to rest. But the season is for you and your loved ones. This is for you alone.

So, take some 'me-time', go see a movie or whatever it is that relaxes you. Be as spontaneous as you want to. You have done so much work this year in trying to grow and be the best version of yourself. Now is the time to create a balance by rewarding yourself for all that work by being as human as you are.

The best part is, you are not quitting your personal growth journey. You are being yourself and making happy memories to see you through the time when it becomes too hard to continue growing through the journey. So have fun with it. And prepare yourself for the holiday ahead.
Have a great weekend!
Kisses...


- The Lady

“Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Bad Mood Or Day? No Problem

Photo Credit: Chic Ama

"You are not alone, and I am not alone. We are in a sisterhood, together, and together we can make it." - Sarah Mae

This was one of those weeks where I used the 'F' word more times than was ladylike(and morally permissible. Don't judge me). I just had a lot of 'downs' to deal with than I was ready to, but "that's what happens when you grow up in life" as my mum said. *insert rolled eyes*

But I got through it though. And I'm going to share how I did that because we all have bad days sometimes, but what you are going through is not as important as how you get through it. Whenever I'm in a bad mood or just having a bad day, I try not to dwell on whatever is the source of the bad mood by doing any of these things.

• Go for a walk. As easy as that sounds, it's very easy to forget about. But going for a walk calms me, lifts my spirits, and takes my mind away from my bad mood. And bonus points, I get to laugh at some funny things I might stumble upon.

• Watch a comedy show. Easy right? Just try it on a bad day and the bad mood will disappear. Those short Instagram videos helps me here!

• Write about it. This is for those who, like me, put a lot of their feelings in writing. It's like a private outpouring of emotions. Can't write about it? The next one is for you.

• Talk to a mature mind. Not everyone is gifted to objectively help others who are going through a bad day/mood sort through their emotions. But if you have someone like that, you're lucky and should talk with that person.

• Listen to uplifting music. Especially the kind that you can dance to. Dancing takes your mind away from how you feel. And music? I'm sure we all know about the power of music.

• Just pray. Those who are religious, no matter how slightly, will understand this. When having a bad day or just a bad mood, praying about it helps to make me feel better. I actually pray about it before I do any of the other things listed above.

So, there you have it! I don't want to hear you say that you 'are having' a bad day. Get up and burst that bad mood honey! And, if you have any other tip that works for you, please drop it in the comments section below, there can never be too many tips for fighting off a bad mood.
Have a great day Sweetie!


- The Lady

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

James 1:2-3

Live Through The Fear

Photo Credit: Denise

"Theres no one giant step that does it. It's a lot of little steps." - Peter Cohen

As 2016 draws to an end,(I know! It's December already!) I took sometime to review my progress or otherwise this year. One of the things I reviewed was my writing. And I found out that, although I was writing to inspire and motivate others, I was actually writing things that I wanted to hear. Things I wished someone had sat me down and told me.

At first, I did not consciously make the decision to write to inspire and motivate people to embark on their individual personal growth journeys. On the contrary, I only wanted to write poems and stories that showed the evils in society to help us all live better lives. But some how, it all changed. I saw myself talking about personal growth so much that I started writing about it.

Was I excited with the transition from writing poems and stories to writing inspirational, personal growth topics? No. I was scared. I doubted myself most times. But I knew deep down inside that I wanted and had to do that. There are not that much people interested enough in the growth of others to write about it.

So yes, I started writing about personal growth and development because I was going through my own journey, there were not enough materials written by Nigerians to help me, and I knew that personal growth journey is too beautiful for me to go through it alone. I had to share everything I was learning and living.

Am I still scared to write about it? Yes. But, it's not the fear I had in the beginning. It's the fear of the strong woman I'm growing into. I hope that you let the fear you feel whenever you want to do something new push you to do that thing. Don't let the fear or doubt rob you off the chance to do all you want to do.

If there is something you want and there's no one to help you get it, go for it on your own. You'll meet people along the way who will help you. It will be scary. But live your life through the fear. Do what you want even if you have to do it afraid.


- The Lady

“Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:7

How To: Self-Motivation And Decision-Making

Photo Credit: Prince Meyson

"Adorn yourself, not with silver nor gold, but with strength and dignity." - Unknown

Am I the only one who talks to herself? No? Great!
I have found myself to be a strong source of motivation to myself. When I'm going through stuff that I can not properly explain to someone, I assess things myself and talk some sense into myself. Sometime, I'll be like "You can do this Rae, stop whining." Then I'll turn around and catch my mum looking at me like "Are you okay?" Hahahaha...the struggle.

Self-motivation is simply the way we(individually) motivate ourselves without any help from some other person. Although the upside of motivating yourself is that you have some level of privacy as you alone know what you are going through, and you can get that 'refill' of motivation whenever you are running low on it, the downside is that you have to be strong, determined, and sure that you can do it by, and for, yourself.

You have to be strong because it gets lonely handling everything on your own: going through life, living through all those emotions, and having to be objective when it comes to making some tough decisions. You have to be strong enough to be truthful to yourself on every level and concerning every matter or else, you will only end up getting yourself more worried than you were in the beginning.

You have to be determined to the extent of being ready to do it despite the negative thoughts that might creep into your head sometimes. You are the one going through everything so you will have all these emotions flowing inside. Make up your mind that you will do what will be best for you in the long run. If you don't, you will end up making decisions that work in the short run, but will make things difficult for you in the long run.

Having decided on all that, you have to find what works for you. Mine ranges from sorting through my emotions over a cup(or 2) of ice cream to preparing myself to make big decisions by doing chores around the house(doing chores calms me.) You have to find what calms you because you need a clear head to help you motivate yourself and make the best decisions.

Here are things you can try to prepare yourself to motivate yourself and make decisions:
• Take a walk, long or short, to clear your head.
• Go for an exercise.
• Write motivational quotes and hang them around your house.
• Try something new, you will be inspired to make that tough decision after.
• Sleep.(One of my favorites.) You will have a clear head once you wake up.

I hope this post is as helpful as I wanted it to be. If you have any more tips to add or you have problems motivating yourself, do use the comments section below or the 'Quick Message' section on the right👉🏾(if you are viewing this on the web version.)
Have a great weekend!
With love...


- The Lady

P/s: Thanks to those who have been sending in questions and suggestions. You have all been very helpful.

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”

2 Corinthians 9:15

That Thing Called Low Self-Esteem

Photo Credit: Author's

"You have a future and a hope." - Paul Oon

So, I met someone this week and we had one of those conversations that get you thinking about life. You see, we met while at an event and got talking about makeup at first, but somehow, the conversation moved to the subject of personal growth.(I can't help it, I always find myself trying to talk people into consciously working on making themselves better.)🙈

Anyway, while talking with her, she kept saying "I'm not that type of person..", "I'm not good at...", "I'm okay with the way I am", and all that. But some minutes earlier, she had said "I wish I can make enough money to dress like her" while admiring a lady who had just come into the event venue.

One of the biggest setbacks that people face is their lack of belief in themselves and low self-esteem. You can't expect to move forward if you don't believe that you can. You can't expect to be the best if you don't believe that you are or that you can be the best. If you have even the tiniest of low self-esteem, there are some habits you can adopt to get yourself on the right path.

• Adopt the habit of thinking positively about yourself. One of the best ways of doing this is reading books on building self-esteem and living a positive life. You can study the habits of people who don't have self-esteem issues and adopt some of them that fit your life.

• Surround yourself with the kind of people you want to be like and be honest with them about what you are going through. Yes, this might take a lot of courage and a beating on your already low self-esteem if they don't give you the response you want. But what have you got to lose?

• Accept your 'flaws' and try to find ways to keep improving yourself and your self-esteem. Enjoy the process no matter how hard it is, be gentle with yourself if you don't see immediate results, but never stop trying to get better.

No personal growth journey began and ended in a day. The beauty of it is in the struggle...they make for the best stories.

Did you at any point suffer low self-esteem? How did you or anyone around you conquer low self-esteem? Please drop your comments in the section below, someone needs the knowledge you have.
With love...


- The Lady

“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Protect Your Happiness

Photo Credit: Hair God

"In a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic." - Iman

The situation of things in the world, especially the economic and political climate, has put a cloud over people's lives to the point of frustrating a lot of people. I can't begin to count the number of times I have heard "Hmmm, this life don taya me"(I am tired of this life.)

That type of resignation is enough to push people to the extremes. And I am tired of seeing people that way. That leads me to the purpose of this post which is to try to remind people of, and inspire people to, give happiness a chance to rule their lives and get them excited about living. These could help:

• It lies in your hands to create your happiness. I keep telling people this, you run your life, not the government nor any other person. Even if some of the government's policies are not favourable to the ordinary man, nothing stops you from creating the life you want for yourself. And in turn, creating your own happiness. It is all in your hands.

• Stop being around negative people and surround yourself with positive-minded people. The longer you hang around negative people, the more their energies, thoughts and opinions will cloud your own and pull you deeper down that awful road. But being around positive people will inspire you to make the best of the life you live.

• Daily remind yourself of things that make you happy and inspire you to live. Doing this will help give you a reason to keep going. You really should not give up on yourself, your happiness, and your life when you have reasons to be happy and to live for.

• Live in, and enjoy the present as much as you can. The past and all its bleakness is gone. Live in the moments and enjoy the present. This will give you the necessary excitement to prepare for the future and all its possibilities.

• Still unhappy? Start laughing! Yes, people might think you have gone crazy, but darling, the opinion of the world doesn't matter until you are happy and satisfied with your opinion and outlook on life. So go on, be happy and excited about life. It's yours after all!

I hope this post helps you get through today and every other day. Got any tips to share? Do drop them in the comments section below.
Have an awesome weekend!


- The Lady

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalms 95:1-2

Health Is Life(And Wealth)

Photo Credit: Author's

"It is not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and to make your happiness a priority. It's necessary." - Mandy Hale

Some days ago, on Thursday to be exact, I fell ill. I refused to accept that I was ill.*rolls eyes* I just went on with my plans for the day like one superhero. By Friday morning though, I had to pause as I could not hide the symptoms anymore. You can only ignore an illness for some time, it won't magically disappear(as science shows).

Left to me, I would have gone on with my plans for Friday as I had a job to go to, but my mum did not listen. We fought about it, with me wanting to go to work and begin taking medications during the weekend, and her wanting me to stay home, rest, and take care of myself. Long story short, we both compromised. I ended up going to work, after I had begun taking medications and resting a little.

At the time I was trying to convince my mum about how I did not want to fail my client by calling in sick 'just because of a simple illness', that sensible part of me was giving me a serious side eye and giving me reasons why I had to keep quiet and do what my mum said. But, for where?! Stubborn me?

I gave in though, long enough for the Nurse to check on me and prescribe medications for me. As soon as I had taken the medications and rested for a while, I ran off to work. Yes, I showed up at work. Yes, I executed my duties. But, was I at my best? No. I did not give it my all as I was trying to do my job to the best of my ability while hiding my illness from everyone.

Now, I know that there are some people like me(and worse than I am) out there who would choose to finish up with work before they begin taking care of themselves rather than stay in and call in sick. But, is that really necessary? Is your life not important or is the work worth more than your life?

Nature has a way of humbling us. No matter how much we want to be superhuman, we can only do so much when we are ill. All the work we do would mean nothing if we exert ourselves to the point of death. At that point, we would have ended up failing ourselves, our families, and every one who cares about us.

Though it did not get really bad, I have learnt not to ignore the needs of my body for the sake of some job. I got that job because of my client's confidence in my ability to perform. But while ill, that ability is diminished to some extent. Thankfully, the job went well. But, for my sake, the sake of my family and loved ones, I will do better at taking care of myself.


- The Lady

“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”

Psalms 95:1-2

7 Ways To Optimize The Last Months Of 2016

Photo Credit: Author's

"Don't settle. Don't finish crappy books. If you don't like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you're not on the right path, get off it." - Chris Brogan

November is here!!!
Yes, the year is almost over. For some, it's almost time for another holiday. But really, it's time to reflect on the ending year. Taking stock, some of us might feel like we have 'wasted' one year(again!). But don't fret. It's not over yet. With a little determination and hard work, we can make good use of the last 2 months. Here's how:

• Set your goals for the time left of the year. Be realistic about your expectations for the next 2 months. Set achievable goals. This not the time for making 'wishful goals'. Write down all those goal, including strategies for achieving each goal. 

• Write a to-do list for each day based on your strategy for each goal. Before bed each day, go back to your goals and plans your to-do list for the next day. This way, you can be focused and make good use of each day.

• Put a plan in place to get back on course in case you slip or get distracted. We are human, so there's a possibility of us getting distracted. It's best to plan ahead taking into consideration any event of distraction. That said, put plans in place to help you check, once or twice daily, if you are still on track with your goals.

• As part of your to-do list, put a 10-15minutes challenge that will motivate you to continue with your plan. This I 'borrowed' from one of the members of Forbes list of billionaires class of 2016. It is almost impossible to stay motivated through the day. So when you are preparing your to-do list for the day, set out time to reflect on what motivates you or your daily affirmation. This helps inject some fresh motivation into your day to keep you going. This also means that when you feel low on motivation, even before the time you have set, take a break and motivate yourself.

• Get an 'execution buddy'. This is someone you trust to realise those goals with you, or get you back on course when you start getting distracted. The purpose of this is to keep you accountable to someone other than yourself. This is one of the best things you can do to optimise the remaining 2 months.

• Network! Okay. This may not be necessary for everyone based on our goals. But don't let the year end without you meeting someone new. A strong network is as valuable, if not more valuable, than cash. So get to meet people. Join business networks such as WIMBIZ(they have a conference coming up!) or any other network community that fits with your goals. Don't dull on this one o!

• Go out to relax with friends and try to speak to at least one stranger. Take some time off to relax, and while at it, strike a conversation with a stranger. You may not see again, but you would have enjoyed an interesting conversation. From personal experience, I have learnt that spontaneous conversations with strangers has helped give me a different perspective on things. So why not learn from someone you don't know and won't see again?

Got anymore tips on how we can make great use of the remaining months of 2016? Do drop it in the comments section below. We would love to get more.
Love...


- The Lady

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”

Psalms 18:2

Inspiration Stream: Focusing On The Journey

Photo Credit: Author's

"Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus." - Alexander Graham Bell

Whether or not we admit it to ourselves, life is a journey. And not everybody is designed to be able to go on journeys without planning for it. That is the easiest way for things to go wrong, and life is too short and beautiful to be making such mistakes.

In life, it is easy to get sidetracked and distracted from the path we ought to be on(our personal growth journey) by flimsy things that may not matter in a couple of hours. Unless you have a solid vision that is backed by your conscious action and positive attitude, it is very easy to give up on the things that matter.

This post flows from the last post about creating your goals around your life. Figuring out what you want for your life and writing it down is easy, but what happens next? It is easy to say "Oh! I have my goals written down, let me reward myself with a much needed break!" Honey, you have only just begun your personal growth journey, that's the easiest way to lose focus and get derailed from it.

Yes, you have written your goals down.(High fives for that by the way!) But it is not yet time to be rewarding yourself with breaks. Far from it. It is time to LIVE those goals. To see your personal growth journey through. If you want to take a break to catch your breath, by all means do. Look around, meet people, whatever works for you, but get right back and do the work you need to be doing.

One of the 'projects' I worked on this week reminded me of how important it is to stay motivated, do the work you need to do, and be accountable, first to yourself before others. Find the things that get you excited about your growth and your future. But don't stop there. Remind yourself of those things daily so that you don't lose focus of what is important. And if you need someone to help you with this, ask the person.

Tap into that 'inspiration stream' daily. Always remind yourself of the reasons why you need to work towards your goal(s) and stay focused on your personal growth and development. And at some point, it will be second nature to you. You will be a bundle of inspiration and success stories for others to tap from. Haa...don't we all just love happy endings?😍

P/s: What do you do to stay passionate and motivated about your goals? How do you hold yourself  accountable for the success of those goals? Please drop your comments below, I would love to hear from you.
Love...


- The Lady

“Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.”

Psalms 116:2

Big Picture To Smaller Pictures: Create Your Goals Around Your Life

Photo Credit: Moshoodat 

"Creativity is like breathing. When you make stuff, you're exhaling. But you can't exhale forever. Eventually, you'll have to breathe in. Or, you'll be dead." - Matthew Inman(The Oatmeal)

We are finally done with the 3-part series on personal growth! If you missed any of them, please click on any, or all 3, of the last posts. (Phew! *wipes brow* Lol!) Now we can get on with the fun stuff which really is what we are here for right? But first, what have to put all we have learnt about renewing our minds and personal growth into perspective and start living them.

So, now you know who you really are, the way you think, the things you love and hate, and the people that ought to remain in your life because of their positive influence in your life. Now, it's time to be definite about the way you want to live and the direction you want your life to go. This is not hard I promise. You may have even done this before.

It all boils down to setting achievable goals that you will be excited to wake up to execute. Voila! I told you it won't be hard. In my past post on goals, I talked about how it became easier for me to work on my personal goals last year and execute them all. Now, I'm back to help you with yours so we can all have fun with setting and executing those goals without it feeling like a chore. You ready?!

• First, don't think about it as a chore. Simple as it sounds, it's easy for us to get too serious about it and start handling it like a task. It's your life, take it easy, baby steps will be just fine for now until you get the hang of it. Then you can switch to autopilot or overdrive. Whichever rocks your boat.

• Get a day planner. A note book set aside for this purpose will be fine if you don't have a day planner. Also, ready your smartphones and tech devices. Not sure why you need technology in this? Patience darling, we are getting there.

• Now, think of what you want to be in 5 years(you can do 10 years if you want a bigger picture). No matter how crazy whatever you want to be sounds, as long as it's what you want for yourself, don't let anyone tell you it's not achievable. This will be your big picture. Write it down exactly how you want it to be - story style or bulletpoint style.

• Break that big picture into smaller pictures. To ace this, ask yourself, based on your big picture, what would you want to achieve in 6 months, or 1 year. That way, everything you do during the time leading to your set time at point 3 above will be easier to achieve. Mind you, this time breaks, 6 months or 1year, will be your review period. Time to see how far you have come with your plans.

• After all these have been done on your day planner or note book, duplicate them in the 'notes' application of your phones or devices. For this, it's best to use the device(s) that you always have with you so that you can easily remind yourself and add anything. But don't remove anything on the list except you don't want to go in that direction anymore. This is to help you review your progress.

See, that was fun I hope? Now, you have your 'big picture' in your head, your heart, your day planner/note book, and on all your devices. All the 'heavy lifting' has been done. It's now time to live your life freely, in the direction of your big picture. If you have any ideas that I did not add here, feel free to drop it in the comments section below, or in the 'Quick Message' section(if you're viewing this on the web version) on the right👉🏾.
Love...


- The Lady

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Ephesians 6:10

Personal Growth Through Perseverance

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Photo Credit: Max The Body

"Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." - Joshua Marine

In the words of Steve Harvey, "In all adversity, there is always a lesson and a blessing. You can not get to the blessing without first learning the lesson(s)." There is so much truth in those words! No matter what you go through in life, there is always a lesson to learn that leads to your eventual success.

But you have got to be ready to persevere. Have the will to keep going not minding how you feel nor whatever the circumstances around are. Things may not be going as planned, or it's becoming increasingly difficult to continue being positive and working on your personal growth journey/plan, but persist anyway. Push yourself because no one else is going to do it for you. Knowing that the end of it all will be all kinds of awesome. 

Are you used to the concept of positive personal affirmations yet? I hope you are because those affirmations will help you get through this phase of your journey.

Here is one of mine to help you make yours:

"I am great. I have great powers within me. I can be all I want to be with work and determination. I am strong, beautiful, successful, and smart. But best of all, I am more than enough for myself."

Hope you got some pointers to help you write yours? Now, go on and write yours. And whenever you feel low on motivation,  remind yourself of your goal and your personal affirmation(s), and you will start to see things take shape for good in your life.

Have a great day and weekend.

Love...


-The Lady

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

Galatians 6:9