Losing Your Job Isn't The End Of The World; Know This And Know Peace..
Whether we call it restructuring, downsizing, rightsizing, retrenchment, being laid off or just plain being fired, losing one’s job ranks as one of life’s most challenging events; these include the loss of a loved one, divorce or serious illness.
In January, thousands of Nigerians woke up with the news that they had lost their jobs. Have you recently been laid off? Here are some survival tips that should help:
**Try to remain positive**
Typically, the natural feelings that follow job loss include denial, shock, anger, frustration, loss of self-esteem and depression. Try to dust off your disappointment as quickly as you can. If you stay focused on the numerous negative responses and allow yourself to wallow in self-pity, you may miss out on the next opportunity. Remember that employers are looking forward to meeting with ambitious, energetic prospects. As difficult as it is, try to focus on the practical issues and your next steps.
**Take stock**
How much money do you have? What are your entitlements? For how long will your money last? Review your income, savings and investments against your short-term financial obligations. Are there assets that you can sell if you have to? Draw up a new budget to clarify priorities that must be met including groceries, utility bills, rent and school fees. Don't let your insurance premiums lapse.
**Don't ignore your mental health**
Particularly if you are stressed or anxious, your physical and mental health can be affected so don't neglect this very important aspect of your life. We all know that a healthy diet and exercise are good for the mind and body. You have the time now to put an exercise routine in place; it will put you in a better frame of mind as well. If you are unable to shake off the feelings of despair that can lead to depression, seek professional help early.
**Cultivate your network**
This is not the time to withdraw from your circle. Your network, including your immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues, former clients, and business contacts, matter now more than ever.
Networking activities, provide good opportunities for job leads, and for you to sell yourself. Stay in touch with former managers; it pays to leave with a good impression.
**Avoid employment gaps in your CV**
Try to avoid having to explain significant gaps in your CV. A future employer will be impressed that you did not just sit at home twiddling your thumbs, but rather that you kept yourself occupied gaining experience and new skills even if unpaid.
**Develop yourself**
Do you need to spruce up your skills to make yourself more marketable? IT, language and other skills or certifications will broaden your job options and keep you current and engaged. Another Masters degree, if you can afford it might seem tempting, but will it really alter the stakes? Whilst no learning is wasted, becoming an “eternal student” picking up every available qualification does not necessarily give you an edge. Be strategic about your choices and seek relevant knowledge and experience for the future that can directly support any chosen career path.
**Don't be fixated on your dream job.**
You may have to accept a role that does not necessarily meet your expectations when you consider your qualifications, expertise, experience or status. Be flexible and take what is available particularly if you have significant bills to pay and no savings. If you are offered something that you can do well at, even part-time, take it whilst you continue the search.
**CONCLUSION**
More people than ever before are experiencing job loss, and for significant periods of time. Whilst being unemployed is one of life’s most challenging events, it can also come with opportunities if you remain calm, proactive and carefully consider the positive implications of your situation. You have time to make some changes, learn new skills, and generally improve yourself. This turn of events could well be the impetus that you need to follow that passion, to birth that dream.
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Not EVERYONE Is Meant To Be An Entrepreneur..
*Entrepreneurship is so widely promoted and there is much focus on the independent business, that the very concept of working in an office for a monthly salary for your entire career can make one feel inadequate.*
*Entrepreneurship is not for everyone; we must be mindful of the fact that for many people, a steady monthly income is a comfortable, relatively “safe” place to be. This is their chosen path through which they can thrive, excel and make a significant impact.*
*Do not leave your full time job if you are not ready. Most people simply cannot afford to do this with the financial obligations that they face. The right step or time is determined by your own unique circumstances. Keep being your best, and keep learning every single day. If you enjoy what you do, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t continue doing it.*
*You can build a great career by staying in one organization, or by moving to various companies over time. Follow your* *own path* *and don't feel intimidated or insecure by colleagues who resign to run their own businesses. It is important to stay focused on your own goals and not someone elses.*
*Most people live in the cycle of active income, which ties their time to their income. Active income can be earned only by investing time and effort directly in return for money. The salary you get from work is as a direct result of your efforts.With active income, if you don't work, you don't earn.*
**The Road to financial freedom**
*Are you living from pay-check to pay-check..? Are you always agonizing about not being able to pay your bills? Financial freedom is attained when you can work because you want to and not because you have to. If you are serious about financial freedom and security, then do embrace the passive income machine.*
*Passive income generally includes income that is not directly related to your daily activity and which you can generate without having to actively work for it; in fact, your money is actually working for you with no extra effort on your part, apart from the act of active investing.*
*Creating a passive income stream does not come easily. It takes time, effort, discipline, and consistency at the beginning of the cycle before it becomes passive. It will involve disappointment, failures and frustration, but if you invest your time and effort upfront, it can be the most fruitful and worthwhile investment of your time, as it continues to pay you long after the work has been completed.*
*To be continued...*
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***P.S****: All images are the writer's unless stated otherwise*
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Survive And Thrive: Essential Pointers In Coping With Unemployment.
Unemployment is one of life’s most challenging situations to be in; it’s impact can be felt physically, psychologically, emotionally, professionally and of course, financially. Here are a few tips to help you cope with unemployment.
**••Cut back on expenses**
A budget is a good tool at anytime but particularly when your regular source of income is compromised. It is important to closely examine how you spend your money so that you can cut back on your expenses beyond necessities.
**••Don't ignore your debt**
Contact your creditors and tell them your situation. They may be able to modify the payment terms to a more manageable option.
**••Stay connected**
Don't be embarrassed and keep to yourself. This is not the time to withdraw from your circles. Your network, including your immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues, former clients, and business contacts, matter now more than ever.
You need to be out and about and engaged in activities to keep you energized. It is usually on one of such outings that your next lead comes.
**••Be organized**
Dedicate a few of hours each day to your job search. Structure the time for looking for adverts, sending out your CV, contacting people etc. Of course there will be many dead ends or leads that lead nowhere. Remember like in any sales role, you need persistence; in this case you are selling yourself.
**••Learn new skills**
This “downtime” could well be a perfect opportunity for new learning that could make you more marketable. Are there some important skills that you need in order to improve your prospects? Do you have the skills to get to where you want to be? It’s tempting to start rushing off to do yet another degree or course. Equip yourself with practical skills that are needed in today’s workforce. Meeting new people on your course also expands your network.
**••Be prepared for the interview**
If you are one of the tiny percentage of those that get to the interview stage, be prepared. Find out about the company you are interviewing with. Do your homework. What value can you add? Are there problems you think you can solve? Prepare questions that you wish to ask. There are literally thousands of people looking for work; what makes you unique? Why should they hire you? Arrive early so you aren’t flustered.
**••Stay positive**
Don’t despair. No matter how many rejections you’ve had, try to remain positive. Employers receive literally thousands of CVs for a small number of places. It’s nothing personal; there are just so many to go through so they will not respond to all of them.
It’s easier said than done but you just have to move on from the latest disappointment and towards the next opportunity. If you are down, dejected, or depressed, it will show, and sadly this reduces your prospects even further. An employer wants to hire a positive, energized, enthusiastic candidate.
**••Be flexible**
Your dream job may not come just yet, so don't be fixated on this. Be prepared to accept a role that may not necessarily meet your expectations when you consider your qualifications, expertise, experience or status. If you are offered something that you can do well, accept it so that at least you are earning whilst you continue your search.
**••Uncover your skills, talents, and passions**
What do you love to do..? What do you enjoy doing..? This is the time to look inwards; reflect on your skills, talents, those things that you do effortlessly but have never leveraged on or thought of monetizing.
**••Build in some fun**
Schedule activities that are inexpensive, engaging and fun. Abandoned hobbies, books you never had the time to read, on line learning are all ways to add value to yourself whilst reducing the pressure of the situation you find yourself in. Try to enjoy this time; remember how much we all crave down time when we are working.
**Conclusion**
Whilst being unemployed is one of life’s most challenging events, it can also come with huge opportunities if you remain positive, proactive and are able to seize the moment. Your time of unemployment can be a time of growth and purpose. With focus, determination, support and a positive mindset, you can survive and even thrive.
P.S: Lead Image; gotten from Unsplash..
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Unlocking Financial Freedom As A Youth...
Financial literacy is a core skill for participating in modern society and our increasingly complex world. Financial illiteracy in youth leads to ill-equipped adults, societal failures, gloomy future, and the list goes on and on...
The life-long skills in financial knowledge imbibed early, gives them the best chance for long-term financial independence. Here are a few financial tips to set you on the path to financial freedom:
Set SMART goals
Many young adults face the dilemma of making far-reaching choices regarding their future. Some feel compelled to make decisions that they may later regret.
Some drift without much of a plan or purpose; this is where parents, guardians, teachers can play a role as mentors to guide and point in the right direction by exploring innate potential, natural strengths, talents and abilities. By establishing clear goals, you can make realistic plans for your life.
**Start with a budget**
Budgeting is a very effective way of keeping track of your expenses. Create a budget so that you can see exactly where your money is going. Start by adding up the essentials, transportation, food, rent, school fees, etc.
This is the time to commit to save and invest for the future. The key is to live below your means and spend less than you earn even as things begin to ease up.
**Use debt judiciously**
It is better to borrow for things that have lasting value such as your personal development and education, or in assets such as property, rather than for clothes, gadgets and luxuries.
Your employer, family, friends and banker might consider lending you money. Be meticulous with repayment and don't abuse this trust. It is about credibility; building a solid credit history from now is important.
**Start to BUILD Your savings**
Don’t wait until you have that windfall to start to save. No matter how little you earn, save something; even the smallest amounts add up over time. Automating your savings by setting up a direct debit makes saving much easier.
Set a realistic savings goal and start to save at least 10 percent of your income in an interest-bearing account or a money market mutual fund. Ideally, you should try to accumulate up to 6 months’ worth of your living expenses, or up to 12 months if you can.
Invest for the Long-term
One concrete way to invest for the future is to get on the property ladder. You are never too young to get started. Start small and build; it may be a plot of land to start with. Mortgages are available once you start to earn steady income at a particular level, but interest rates can be prohibitive so plan to pay off any loan as early as possible.
**Choose your life partner wisely**
Your choice of a life partner is one of the most significant decisions that you will ever make. Do your partner’s moral and ethical values match yours? Whilst you don't have to agree on every single financial issue, compatible goals and values, as well as openness and trust, are key, as you merge not just your lives, but your finances.
**Invest in Yourself**
You are your greatest asset. Be deliberate about building the skills that you need. There is an increasing demand for digital skills as a prerequisite to enter most roles. Education will always matter; equip yourself and keep learning and improving by reading widely. Embrace your strengths, talents and gifts.
**Invest in financial knowledge.**
Seek professional advice so that your own unique situation can be carefully considered and you can be guided appropriately. You also owe it to yourself to build your own knowledge. Knowledge is power and there is a plethora of information in books and the online and print media.
**Health is wealth**
Don't be one of those that expend all their energy and health creating wealth only to spend years in ill health spending all that wealth to regain your health. It is those intentional daily steps that you take now that will help to sustain you in the future. Eating healthy foods, exercising, not smoking, limiting alcohol, are important immediate steps to take.
**Earn your Independence**
It is the desire of most parents to ease the path for their children. Whilst it’s nice to receive assistance from your parents, don't let it short-circuit your own ambition, motivation and drive.
Your parents provided you with a sound education; now you are no longer a child; earn your independence and start to take charge of your life. The choices that you make in your youth, will largely determine how your life will be in the future.
YOU CAN DO THIS, YES YOU CAN!!!
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Tethered By The Golden Handcuffs...
The term “golden handcuffs” typically means some “lucrative financial incentive to keep an executive or manager from leaving a company.” Sometimes financial compensation can become a “handcuff” that ties you to a particular job or company and makes it almost impossible for you to leave. We must stop blaming the companies; often humans are the ones that handcuff themselves to these lucrative posts.
Many people are fed up with their long term jobs and just working for that pay check because they feel that they cannot survive without it; it is understandable as often the perks are just too great to give up.
A fat housing allowance that keeps you living in a choice part of the city, school fees in the best private schools, a fully fuelled generator, regular first or business class travel, a brand new car (or two) every 4 years, access to the best medical care for you and your family, stock options…the list goes on and on. How do you give up that lifestyle, the huge monthly credits to your account and many other benefits that that just keep coming?
The real issue here is that many people are living far above their means; for those who have lived large, when the carpet is pulled from their feet through illness, retrenchment or retirement the shock can be significant. If you have been going into debt to buy clothes, food stuffs and holidays because of that guaranteed income, it can be so easy to get used to having everything you want and need; it is so easy to get used to living way above your means even though you have nothing of substance.
A lot of people in successful careers have become lulled into a false sense of security and little or nothing in the way of savings and investments in real estate or stock. Yet there may be a beautifully appointed apartment in an expensive neighborhood, expensive cars in the driveway, a wardrobe full of designer clothes and much more.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with staying in a long-term corporate job. Indeed beware of the narrative that everyone should become an entrepreneur; entrepreneurship is just not for everyone. It requires a certain disposition and tenacity that is not natural to all.
Your path might be the corporate one within which very many incredible people tend to achieve enormous success and fulfillment. A successful career in a corporate organization is a laudable path and one in which you can leave your mark and legacy without doing a day of business.
What is important however is to have the freedom to have choices. This means that you should be conscious of the way you live and very deliberate about building assets over the years when you are earning significantly. This will ensure that your standard of living doesn't take a tumble if and when you decide to leave the lucrative position.
Breaking free from the golden handcuffs is never easy. It does not mean you will find a better job; what it does mean, is that you may find a job that you love.
It might mean that you take a pay cut or even a less prestigious role, but if you have been conscious about building financial security over the years in spite of your job, it will be so much easier to walk away from a role that gives you little or no fulfillment.
How did you spend your last bonus or your last raise.? Did you go on a shopping spree for new clothes, and shoes. Did you pay a visit to your jeweler or did you spend it on an expensive holiday worth more than your savings and enough for the first down payment on a property..?
It is so easy and is so much fun to spend when you know that the money will be replaced in your salary account in a few months. If your bonus or your “upfront” are the key motivation for staying in a role that you are very unhappy in, then you should start to think of what really matters to you.!!
Consider using that high income and bonuses to build a solid foundation of passive income so that you can work because you love what you do and want to do, and not because if you step out, your life will change in an instant.
Investments don't just happen; you must be deliberate about creating them. You want to be in a place where you can go to sleep and receive the alluring alerts of dividend income from your stock and business investments or rental income from property you have invested in.
**CONCLUSION**
Timing is always important, particularly when you have significant responsibilities and obligations. Many Nigerians are the primary or even the sole breadwinner in their families; of course it would be foolhardy, almost irresponsible to walk away from a high paying prestigious role when you have enormous bills to pay.
Don't just walk away if you cannot afford to. Indeed in these times of staggering unemployment, one should feel very fortunate to have a job that pays your bills and keeps you in comfort.
But always keep your sites on your goals and what you want out of life. Never lose sight of what you really want to do or should be doing. Money doesn't buy happiness; determine what really matters to you and what you wish to achieve, then begin to work towards it, step by step. Don't be complacent.
**Remember: Golden handcuffs are very real. They look great on the outside, they can even feel great on the inside, but be careful; they can lock you down until they are unlocked...**
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Many thanks to @Gianna-B for her sponsorship, I literally just remembered that now, have been quite busy of late and I haven't been chanced to visit everyone's article, I'll return as soon as possible folks. Thanks for your understanding. Love ya always 🖤🖤.
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Beauty, Self Worth And Net Worth...
"**Beauty** is in the eye of the beholder”
-**Margaret Wolfe Hungerford****.** https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/beauty-may-not-lie-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-it-may-lie-in-genetics-317717
What feelings do you have about yourself..? Home come you no longer have that belief in yourself all of a sudden..?. Have you I'm any way failed yourself..?. Did you fall short of your expectations..? Has your self-esteem been affected..? How is your bank balance faring..?LOL..
A lot of instances comes to mind when you think of beauty. Beauty is the that facial personality you portray to others, andany times than not, we as humans are always forced to examine put beauty time and again. It can be extremely damaging at times, particularly to ones belief, and in the long run, it influences ones self worth.. It does cause insecurities most especially in women.
It is one thing to be good looking, probably at times, it comes with some added benefits and freedoms, but it is another thing not to allow ones self worth depend on ones looks. Facial appearance can be fleeting; it is the content on the inside that is timeless.
**Self-worth Versus Net-worth**
**Net-worth** is an external measure of how much we are worth in financial terms, while **Self-worth** is an internal measure of how much one values oneself..
In our modern day society, there is a tendency to attach self worth and other people’s approval to material things. The truth is that those that measure their self-worth by their net-worth never really feel valuable.
It is never enough. Many people live beyond their means in an attempt to feel good about themselves. Getting into debt just to keep up appearances seldom ends well. All the goods and possessions that you possess just don't reflect who you truly are.
**The Dangers Of Materialism**
As materialism becomes endemic and a society equates self-worth with net-worth, with far too much emphasis placed on money, power, position and possessions, and acknowledges and celebrates wealth without questioning its source, there is a tendency for people to go to extremes in order to increase their net-worth at all costs and by any means possible leading to dishonesty and corruption.
When people are “encouraged” to amass and cling to possessions, when our pursuit is on making profit, pursuing pleasure, and obtaining position, it leaves little energy, time, and ability to focus on our real purpose and the things that really matter.
Materialistic societies rate individuals not on personal character and achievement, but rather on the fantastic display that they are able to put on, and other extreme shows of ostentation. In Nigeria today, a societal value system has evolved where material fortune is more widely celebrated than diligence, honesty, honour and integrity; these virtues are seldom accorded the respect they do deserve.
As people compete to build the trappings of wealth and put these on display, the seeds of corruption are sown. Greed and the insatiable love for materialism are at the root of bribery and corruption, which have eaten deep into the marrow of our society. The endless desire of all strata of society, both rich and poor, for possessions, inevitably leads to moral decadence.
Your Achievements
It is natural to feel good about your achievements and accomplishments, but don't base your self-worth and self-esteem on this or you will be constantly chasing “success” and never stop to live. Many successes give you a temporary lift and then you are racing on to the next thing. What really matters to you at your core? It is your sense of values and ethos that will give you that life of meaning and purpose.
**Why is Self-Worth Important.?**
Have you ever thought of how you measure yourself..? Reflect on whether you have measured yourself through your looks, your job, your money, your position, or your possessions. Life is not about looking beautiful or accumulating wealth and possessions, because in the end, you cannot take them away with you. We often feel a false sense of security by having a large net worth or more wealth than our neighbor.
**Conclusion**
Net-worth and fortunes can change dramatically; wealth can be transient. Our lives and livelihoods can change in an instant. Wealth is nice to have, and can and does bring pleasure, but it is important to keep it in perspective. In order to develop a sense of well-being beyond material success and its outward trappings, an internal appraisal is necessary; a strong sense of self-worth is the key to true contentment and lasting fulfillment.
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P.S: **Lead Image** https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/beauty-may-not-lie-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-it-may-lie-in-genetics-317717
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Everyone Can And Should Be A Philanthropist
"It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.”
‒ **Albert Einstein.** https://kidadl.com/quotes/philanthropy-quotes-about-giving-generously
The word ‘**Philanthropy**’ might normally stir up thoughts of ‘affluence’, but philanthropy takes on many forms. It is our individual response to human needs; it is about caring and serving; an opportunity to be involved.
A **Philanthropist** can be defined as “someone who gives of his or her time, talent, treasure to causes that can have a positive impact on the society”.
What this definition means is that anyone and everyone can and should be a **Philanthropist**..
**Philanthropy** affords you the opportunity and privilege of making a difference in the society, in shaping or even saving lives. Determine what causes you identify with and have the capacity to support; you can be intentional and deliberate about issues or causes that we believe in - be it education, entrepreneurship, health care, the arts, sports, etc.
**••Review Your Finances**
It is a necesity to review your finances to decide how much you can afford to give. Will it be a one-off donation, or is it something you can continue to commit to on a daily, weekly or annual basis..
**••Narrow Down Your Choices**
Narrow down your choices, focus on a few causes you identify with, and do some research on them to ensure that their ethos and mission are in consonance with your core values. Follow up to see if your support is making a difference; when you see the impact it has; you will find it easier to continue to give. Collaboration will propel your giving to a wider reach and impact.
**••Be Magnanimous And Help Others**
So many people have lost their jobs. Many that are perhaps fortunate enough to have a full-time work, have had salaries slashed. There is so much need, so if you have some to spare, why don't you just do it , gift money to others to help alleviate some of the sufferings to put a meal on the table, a roof over a family’s head, or to help some families who have children in Schools .
Ideally, you should give in a **sustainable** way that will enable the recipients get back on their feet.
**••It’s Not Always About Money**
Giving does not mean that you must give only financially; there are several other ways to give in a meaningful way. Many of us have so many “things” that we do not need or want, cluttering our homes for years.
Everyday is an ideal time to clear out unwanted clothes, books, toys, appliances from crammed wardrobes; they will all be appreciated by so many that have little or nothing. Think of the homeless, orphanages, millions of people displaced by terror or social strife, and victims of migration and trafficking.
The possibilities of giving of your time, experience, talent, and intellect are vast. You can give of your time to volunteer, visit the elderly, support a foundation, participate in charity walks or runs to raise money for a particular initiative.
Are you a resource person in a particular field..? . There are some talent that you can share with others that will impact positively on their lives. Yes!!. That's called **Philanthropy..**
**••Imbibe The Culture In Others Too**
As we practice giving and **philanthropy** everyday of our lives, let’s try to also imbibe the culture in others. Try to emphasize the non-material aspects of the world, such as family and fellowship.
It is not enough to just tell others to be charitable and kind. Our own actions in supporting others will speak louder than anything we can say. Guide them through a program of action that teaches them a powerful lesson that they can have a positive effect on the wellbeing of others.
Challenging times can compel us to recognize the true value that we hold as human beings and what makes us more successful, effective, balanced, and fulfilled people.
Sometimes perspectives become warped and the most important aspects of life, such as your relationship with your family, friends, and associates, your health, job satisfaction, and fulfilling interests take a back seat.
Indeed, it is during trying times, even when your finances might seem stretched that you are forced to look inwards at what is truly important in life. **Philanthropy** is one of the few.
****CONCLUSION****
Having money comes with a huge responsibility because it makes it possible for you to improve the lot of others. If you look around, you will find that there is always someone far worse off than you are. By deciding to make a difference in someone else’s life, you can bring so much more meaning, and value to your own.
**Remember: Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.** [Curtain Falls!!]
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Developing Your Potentials For Professional Excellence...
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude".
**-Colin Powell.** https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/excellence-quotes
Development can be accelerated when people are able to make significant contributions to economic, social, and political life in a way that lifts countries out of poverty, ensures greater stability, and promotes healthier societies
As a human, discovering your potential is very essential in evolving into the better version of yourself. For you to maximize the gift of life, you must live up to your potential. To discover your potential, you must:
••Define your passions, purpose, mission, goals and vision.
••Appreciate your personality.
••Assess your personality based on your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT).
••Pursue personal growth.
Did you know that today’s world is becoming ever more Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous (VUCA)..?.
VUCA is based on the leadership theories of two American professors, **Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus**. VUCA was first used in 1987 but it is still relevant in today's world hence the need for youths to develop competencies to stand out in a VUCA world. https://www.vuca-world.org/#:~:text=VUCA%20is%20an%20acronym%20(artificial,USSR%20in%20the%20early%201990s.
**Developing Competencies for Excellence**
Between your present “you” and the best “you” is the will to tow the path of maximizing your potential. Excellence in leadership is not dependent on your type of temperament but on your WHY! You need to know how to maximize your strengths to relate with people and develop competencies. You must consistently develop your skills and qualifications to fit into the current realities in your academics or profession.
**Competencies To Develop:**
••Emotional intelligence
••Critical thinking
••Creativity
••Design thinking
••Innovation
••Responsibility
••Continuous learning
••Leadership
••Time management
••Trustworthiness
••Communication
••Decision-making
••Growth mindset
••Positive thinking
****Creating Personal Presence****
One of our greatest ambitions is to gain power and be in authority in our domain. Your inward capability determines your outward influence. Until you discover yourself, you cannot live up to your true worth.
To build a great career, you need to put your resources into making life meaningful for yourself and others. You need to build your credibility and promote your brand.
To become relevant and marketable during a disruption, you need to be value-driven. Nobody will give you a chance if you don’t create the chance to be heard.
Once you can create personal and professional presence, you will command respect in any situation. You will rise above the crowd and become a thought leader.
****Positive Thinking and Right Attitude****
You need to be willing to face the facts and challenges of the present but see the possibilities beyond your current challenges. Every difficult situation comes with a hidden opportunity.
Train yourself to see positivity always. To succeed in life, you must possess the right attitude. Circumstances and forces bow before you and respect your thoughts, decisions and actions if you are resolute enough.
Engage in positive thinking for positive results. To be progressive and successful in life, you must never allow negative thoughts into your mind. They kill your sense of reasoning and diminish your self-worth.
Be a positive-minded person. Progressive and forward-thinking are products of positive thoughts. To think positively, surround yourself with positive people. To surround yourself with positive people, you must enhance your interpersonal and communication skills.
****Enhancing Your Interpersonal and Communication Skills****
In your interpersonal relationships, you should never forget that all your associates are human beings and hunger for appreciation.
Success in dealing with people depends on being able to understand the other persons' viewpoint. Interpersonal skills are the attitudes and strategies that a person uses to communicate effectively with others.
Developing your interpersonal skills will not only help you to get promotions faster but it will guide you through any kind of connection.
Building people’s confidence in you, impressing your colleagues, conflict resolution, building trustworthiness, persuading someone, being able to maintain healthy relations are some of the advantages of enhancing your interpersonal & communication skills.
**Closing Remarks**
It is becoming increasingly important to master the art of developing ones potential if one is to excel.
**Remember: Excellence in anything increases your potential in Everything**
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Cyber Security
"Let’s face it, the future is now. We are already living in a cyber society, so we need to stop ignoring it or pretending that is not affecting us".
**-******Marco Ciapelli.**** https://pinngle.me/blog/99-inspiring-cybersecurity-quotes/
Everything is connected in the digital age. There are no longer perimeters to a bank, country, or continent. With the surge in the growth of technology, more than half the world’s population, an estimated 5.3 billion people are currently connected on the internet.
The growth of Technology and innovation is fast accelerating and being disrupted everyday. One must thus be proactive about taking steps to try to secure your business or at least reduce vulnerability from attacks. This one of the greatest risks we face today.
Are you aware of the threats and cyber risks that you face as an individual in your personal finances? Cyber security is crucial now for everyone who is using a computer and there is the necessity to make sure we are being careful with our personal and financial information.
Have you ever thought about your digital footprint? The integration of smartphones in both personal and professional lives has made us more vulnerable than ever; we are walking around with our most sensitive information literally at the click of a button. It is time to seriously consider the implications of leaving your personal data exposed. It is worrying if you aren’t a techy to even begin to try to wrap your head around what is at stake. The good news is that there are some steps you can take to protect your self. Here are a few:
****Password or Passphrase****
Re-using the same password for everything puts you at extremely high risk of being hacked. Change your passwords and PIN numbers periodically, and use different codes for different accounts. We are so used to passwords including letters, numbers, symbols etc and for our own comfort we tend to use easy to remember words, family birthdays, pets names etc; they are so easy to decipher. Be creative about your choice of passwords and PIN numbers
Pass-phrases are much more difficult for hackers to breach. Consider using easy to remember passphrases that are unique to you.
****Software Updates****
Those software update notifications can be so irritating. Do you tend to ignore them for days, weeks, months? They often include some important security upgrades and enhancements that you could be missing out on. When the update notification appears, don't just click on “remind me tomorrow.” Regular updates help you minimise the risk of getting hacked. Update your computer and your phone promptly to make sure you have the latest security running on all of your devices. You can even automate updates in your device settings.
**Social Media**
Social media is a constant in our lives. How much of your personal information is out there? What are you posting? In our world of social media with twitter, facebook, instagram, it seems so natural to put seemingly innocent information about yourself and your family out there. Geo-tagged photos inform people exactly where you are; this could expose you and your family to crime.
When you use the Internet or your mobile devices for texting, emailing and social media, you leave behind a detailed history of interactions that can often be permanent; your digital footprint.Of course you want to keep your friends and community updated with what you are doing, but be conscious and careful not to reveal sensitive information inadvertently.
****Back Up, Back Up, Back Up****
When last did you back up your data..? 412 days ago..?! .I knew it..!!. Back up your personal data including your seed phrases to the cloud or an external hard drive so that if the worst happens and your device is lost, stolen or compromised, you can recover at least most of it. A periodic back up, say weekly or monthly is important so that you can access the most up-to-date data.
****Personal Information.****
Your bank and other legitimate companies will never request for sensitive information such as passwords and PINs by email; these are usually fraudsters attempting to defraud you. Contact your bank directly and report such incidents.
****Download With Caution****
That strange email that you aren’t quite sure of, don't click on it. That is one of the most commonly deployed mechanisms for hackers to get into your system.
****Public Wi-Fi [Wireless Fidelity]****
Actually, have stopped doing this a long time ago, it did come with a price though. It is generally safer to use your own computer for your financial transactions. If a private Wi-Fi network isn’t an option, try using a personal hotspot through your phone; it is a far more secure way to be online.If you are travelling and must get on line in a public space such as an airport or cyber café, be particularly careful about sensitive transactions as your information could be compromised.
If you must use a public computer, be sure to clear your “history” before you log out otherwise other users can intercept your information. Free wireless internet “hotspots” are often not at all secure. Use secure websites for your transactions; the address will usually start with “https” and there is a key or closed padlock in the status bar.
**Conclusion**
Most times, we exist in a state of oblivion to the dangers that surround us and that such things happen to “other” people. Hackers are everywhere and may well be attempting to get into your system as you read this. You don’t want to have to endure the painful experience of being a victim of fraud or identity theft in which personal documents are stolen and the data is used fraudulently.
Your financial information is very personal and must be carefully protected. In today’s “virtual” world, we are much more vulnerable than ever, and must be more vigilant in securing our hard earned money.
There is no guarantee that your financial information will be completely secure even if you put all these measures in place. However with knowledge, you certainly stand a better chance of limiting access to sensitive information and protecting your personal finances from fraudsters. [Curtain Falls!!]
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False Evidence Appearing Real [FEAR]
Fear is simply a horrific, gut wrenching, crippling, sickening, and teeth shattering emotion that shows up when you’re attempting to do something new.
-**Nicky Verd.** https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/feel-fear-do-anyway-nicky-verd
Imagine where you’d be if you had NO FEAR. No fear of people's opinions, no fear of being embarrassed, no fear of the unknown, no fear of failure, no fear of rejection, no fear of letting go, no fear of being alone, no fear of making mistakes, no fear of being misunderstood and no fear of being able to make it on your own.
Well, LIFE WOULD BE INCREDIBLE!
Why then do we let fear stop us from living our best life..?
**YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT FEAR IS.?**
F.E.A.R is an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real. It’s an illusion. That’s why it’s FALSE. Something we fabricate in our own minds and pretend is real. You know, those things we tell ourselves that keeps us from doing what we really want. It’s mostly false assumptions.
As a child, I was terrified of the dark, (I think most kids are, Some adults too LOL🤣🤣). I was scared of the monsters lurking in the dark. I thought they were going to skin me alive. As soon as the power was out, I was always the first person out the door. When I turned seven, I got fed up. I thought to myself:
"These monsters can eat me if they want to, but, I am going to get them first”. Well, there were no monsters!
**What happened..?**
I confronted my fears and realized it wasn’t much of a big deal after all.
When you try to ignore your fear, it grows. When you face it, it shrinks.
**IS FEAR LIMITING YOU..?**
Have you ever felt like fear was preventing you from reaching your full potential in life?
If yes, are you aware that you can change the narrative?
The thing about “fear” is that it wants you to stay in your comfort zone.
After all, if you don’t go for that job interview; then you might not have to deal with the disappointment that comes with not getting the job right?
Note, I used “might”. It can go both ways. Go for that job interview and get that dream job or go and still not get the job. Whatever the outcome, what matters most is that you showed up.
You won’t know if you don’t TRY!
**HOW TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS**
The good thing about "fear" is that it can be conquered. It's possible to train your mind to react differently whenever you feel fear creeping in.
There is no sure way to fail than to never try. Don't let fear kill your hustle before you even get moving.
Here are the top ways to overcome fear;
••**Face your fears**
Even though, this may sound somehow, it is the best way to overcome ones fears. Face your fears, and let it know, it is an illusion, and it shouldn't stay in your life anymore. Chase it out!!
•• **Have a positive attitude**
Never forget. Your attitude determines your altitude. When you have a positive attitude, then you are one step closer to conquering fear.
•• **Take the first step; TRY**
•• **Visualize success**
Some athletes do imagine the successful completion of a physical task thousands of times before achieving it. This mental mapping ensures that when the body moves, it’s more likely to follow its pre-ordained path. The same practice will prepare you to succeed at whatever you’re trying to achieve. Try it out..
••**Educate yourself**
We are afraid of nothing so much as the unknown. Exactly!!, the most common fear is the fear of the unknown. Educate yourself on this..
•• **Get a mentor**
Get a mentor, or someone who can always motivate you to step out of your comfort zone. Fear is an hindrance, but getting a mentor who can always motivate you is key. It is quite difficult hearing this from people.
Athletes have coaches. Students have teachers. Sometimes friends, even if they have no expertise in the area you’re struggling with, can provide the needed support to face your fear. No one will tell you, you need to tell yourself
**CONCLUSION**
Normally, fear exists to keep us safe. It is not inherently bad or good but a tool we can use to make better decisions.
**Thanks for Your Time 💙💙. If you enjoyed this article, don't forget to Like and Subscribe!!**
P.S: **Lead Image** https://www.thetoolsbook.com/blog/2017/7/9/5-steps-to-overcome-fear
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Putting Up The Right Attitude As A Potential Employee...
"Your attitude can take you forward or your attitude can take you down. The choice is always yours"
-Catherine Pulsifer. https://www.wow4u.com/attitudep2/
Employers are always looking to hire candidates with the right attitude that would add value and contribute to achieving their goals and create the kind of culture that would make them a great company. Candidates can be trained to acquire skills, however, attitudes are difficult to change as they are acquired over time.
If a candidate has the right skills but lack the right attitude, this is a recipe for problems and headaches in future for the organization. As a result, organizations are not considering just skills alone, when hiring, but also care about the attitude the candidate is bringing to their organization.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “attitude” is defined as “the way you think and feel about someone or something; a feeling or way of thinking that affects a person’s behaviour; a way of thinking and behaving that people regard as unfriendly, rude, etc.”
What kind of attitudes are employers looking for in candidates? To answer this question, we will review the attitudes that employers do not like or would not like employees who work for them to have:
1. **Complaints**
Employers would not like to hire candidates whose major pre-occupation is complaining. If you are an expert in complaining and never finding anything good, then you are the wrong candidate for employers.
**2.** Taking Responsibilities
No employer would hire candidates who never take responsibility for their actions and always find an excuse why things did not work or would not work.
**3**. Excitement
If you are never excited about new tasks or projects, then you are the wrong candidate for employers. Employers are looking for candidates who are excited about their products and eager to share it with customers and clients.
**4**. **Going Beyond The Job Prescription..**
It’s so frustrating when a client or customer calls into a company to make an enquiry, and the first person who takes the call responds by saying “it’s not my job”. Employers are looking for candidates who are willing to go above and beyond. Even if it is not in your job description, take the initiative to help the client or customer.
**5**. Builders And Not Destroyers
Employers are looking for employees who would spread information that would build teams, and not create cliques and destroy morale through gossiping about issues or people.
6. Honesty
I once heard a business owner say he was impressed with a particular candidate who gave a beautiful response as to why he wanted to join his company.
He said he and his colleague had already decided to hire the candidate, only for them to ask one more probing question and it turned out that the candidate made up stories which were untrue to impress them because he was desperate for the job.
He was immediately disqualified. No employer would hire a candidate who lies, as lies are very dangerous for team building.
7. Undeserving/Pompous Feelings..
If you feel you are too good for the organization you want to work for or know it all, then you are the wrong candidate and no employer would want to hire such a candidate. This kind of candidate is trouble as they would find fault with everything.
8. Working As A Team
Employers are looking for candidates who believe in working as a team, and not all by themselves. The success of every organization is built around several people who wou ld contribute their quota to achieve success. No one person can take an organization to greater heights, you need others to make it to the top.
9. Punctuality
Employers are looking for candidates who are alive to their responsibilities by keeping to promises made such as meeting deadlines, being early to appointments, etc.
**10**. Smart
If you are a candidate who wants to be told everything before you lift a finger, then you are the wrong candidate. Employers are looking for candidates with initiatives to solve a problem. You need to be smart and have suggestions on how a challenge can be solved and not wait to be told what to do every time you face an obstacle.
**11**. Inquisitiveness
Employers are looking for candidates who are inquisitive, eager to ask questions when they do not understand and most importantly, eager to learn new things all the time.
12. Focus
Employers are looking for candidates who have focus and stay focused. I once i nterviewed a candidate who wanted to work in banking operations, but instead of developing himself in this area, he went to study computer science up to a graduate level and is applying for entry level banking operations job. This is a classical example of lack of focus in career choice.
**Conclusion**
Candidates need to understand that the right attitude will sharpen their skills and differentiate them from the lot!
Build yourself a good attitude today, and i assure you, you are one step closer to getting rid of unemployment for good.
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Tackling Unemployment With The Art Of Personal Branding....
If you’ve ever conducted a job search, you’re probably familiar with a search strategy that's called “the lottery mentality.” it’s the idea that a lot of job seekers have that mentality similar to someone who buys three dozens of lotto tickets hoping to win the jackpot; as it is often believed that sending out dozens of job applications will increase the odds of landing a job.
While this approach seems logical at first glance (more applications = more chances), the bad news is that it’s a better strategy for wasting time than it is for job search success. that’s because instead of playing a job search like it’s a game of skill, the lottery mentality turns it into a game of chance. here’s why.. by applying for every job, you start sacrificing quality for quantity. the quality of your application - the time you take to highlight what sets you apart from everyone else and what makes you special - is what will ultimately land you a job.
So by giving away the quality, you’re giving away any advantage you may have had against your competition and relying purely on chance to get you noticed among what could be hundreds of other applicants.
If you’ve ever walked away from a casino $100 poorer than you walked in, you know that games of chance don’t always (or even usually) work out the way we want them to. if you’ve ever won a soccer game or a wrestling match, that means you’ve experienced the control you have over the outcome of a game of skill.
The easiest way to forever break the time-wasting cycle of throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks, is to establish your personal brand, and to govern your job search by it.
**What then is personal branding for professionals and job seekers..?**
If you’re still new to the idea of personal branding, the overarching idea is this: in the highly competitive labor market, you need to hone what makes you special, what you’re good at and what you want to do, and then you need to let other people know about it. the narrower your focus and the better you can promote your expertise, the more success you will have.
**How to start building your brand**
••“To go about [discovering your brand], you first have to figure out who you are, how you want to position yourself in the market, and the types of jobs, career and companies you’re interested in. you’ve got to get all of that information down and be clear about them.
••**Narrow Down Your Area Of Expertise**
When it comes to defining your area of expertise, which will be at the core of your brand, the narrower the better. “if you brand yourself as just another marketing expert or operations specialist, you’re competing against millions of people worldwide because it’s a global economy, but if you narrow it down to, say, what specific audience you can best serve, then instead of becoming one out of a million [people with that expertise], you’re one in 10,000.
••**Start Out With A Broader Focus**
Not sure which niche you want to hold in your industry? that’s ok, too. Start out with a broader focus and tailor it as your career progresses. in choosing your focus, beyond being narrow, it should also be something that you’re good at, and something that will be desirable to potential employers.
••**Repackage yourself to get the job you want.**
Before, employers may have gotten 20-30 applications for each position, but these days they’re getting hundreds, so it’s essential to make yourself notable and noticeable, so that out of all of those applicants, you’re the one that stands out
••**Create a Tagline**
Once you’ve honed in on what sets you apart, create a quick tagline or mission statement around it, and let that tagline dictate the rest of your brand-promoting efforts.
**CONCLUSION**
Paying utmost attention to little details as a job seeker, can go a long way in giving you the edge over your fellow colleagues contending for the same spot.
This isn't a business advice, but rather tips you need to know, and which I feel when followed to the letter, might end u giving you the job you so desire, considering the fact that the rate of unemployment keeps increasing.
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*****Images:*****
***Cover Photo:*** ***Medium.com*** https://medium.com/@simplepooja9122/youth-unemployment-a-global-problem-a94afee4bda6
***2nd image:*** ***Difference between.net*** http://www.differencebetween.net/business/economics-business/difference-between-furlough-and-unemployment/
***3rd image:*** ***Small business.com*** https://www.smallbusinessbonfire.com/personal-branding-tips-for-entrepreneurs/
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Personal Mantra As The Imperative Key To Harnessing Your Purpose..
"A Personal Mantra is an affirmation to motivate and inspire you to be your best self"
-Destiny Odyssey. https://destinysodyssey.com/personal-development/personal-development/personal-mantra/
The words we say hold a vibrational frequency that sometimes remind ourselves each day to support our emotional well-being and harnessing ones purpose.
Decision making process is very pivotal in the life of humans, our decisions go a long way in deciding what we become in life. The role of our thoughts also, cannot be over emphasized. Our thoughts, can make or mar our world.
The affirmation to motivate and inspire you to be your best self can be described as a personal mantra. A mantra is usually a positive phrase or statement that you use to signify the way you want to live your purpose. Its aim is to serve as a means of validation and encouragement to you when you need to focus your mind to achieve a goal.
Your personal mantra can be used to guide you in the way you want to live your life. It can act as your personal philosophy.
A personal mantra can be a famous quote, proverb, ideological saying, or an impactful personal statement you create yourself. It is very pertinent though, to allow your mind and soul to get acquainted with the power of your mantra by practicing it in your thoughts, words, attitudes and conduct.
Personal mantras serve also as a source of constant inspiration needed to achieve your greatest potential. A potential will remain a potential, unless you have the necessary key to fufilling it, and without mincing words, that key is your personal mantra. It although requires ones total commitment, determination and hard work.
Developing a personal mantra requires a clean introspection and deep meditation. It is imperative to let it tune with your values, goals and purpose in life. Take some time to sit in a quiet place and think about what you want your personal mantra to be about. After you have decided what you want your guiding philosophy to be, find an inspiring phrase that captures your true essence or create your own quote that represents that grand mindset of yours. Usually a short powerful statement is best suited for the purpose of a mantra. For instance, “I am a champion, I rise above challenges” is a very good example.
After you have decided on your personal mantra, write it down and read it frequently. Setting some time aside each day to truly absorb your mantra is the best way for it to become part of who you are and how you live your life. Use it as a reminder to stay true to what you truly feel inside. Use it whenever you start to doubt yourself, or when you want to strengthen your resolve towards achieving goals, or you just want to keep your life heading in a positive direction.
Your mantra is your mark of personal branding. It represents your core message, it builds your self-image and confidence, it shows your true identity and helps you gain credibility over time.
Setting a personal mantra for yourself, will remind you day after day about your purpose in life and why you need to fulfill your essence.
Shalom!
P.S: Lead Image https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/01/07/260470831/mindfulness-meditation-can-help-relieve-anxiety-and-depression
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Ten Tips To Naming Your Business As An Entrepreneur..
One of the most important and challenging steps of starting a business is choosing a business name.
For some it’s easy while for some it’s a struggle but the below tips will help:
•1. **Strictly avoid using a hard-to-spell and too-hard-to-pronounce name.**
You don’t want potential customers getting confused about how to find your business online. While you are trying to pick a name that stands out of the crowd remember to keep it simple, short and concise!
•2. **Don’t pick a name that could be limiting as your business grows.**
Avoid names like wedding dress of Lagos, Ikeja Shoes or anything related. You don’t want to limit your business to just a product or a specific geographical region.
•3. **Conduct a thorough Internet search and check availability.**
Once you have determined a name you like, do a web search on the name. Oftentimes, you will find that someone else is already using that business name. While that won’t be a total showstopper, it should give you a pause.
•4. **Pick a name related to your business**
Another important thing is picking a name that conveys something meaningful and positive related to your business. Can people instantly get what your business is about..? Hearing the name **COGA musicals** already suggests something related to the field of music to any potential customer.
•5. **Conduct a trademark search**.
•6. **Assess if the name is catchy.**
Obviously, you don’t want a boring name for your business, but you also don’t want to choose something that’s too “out there.” You want your employees to be able to say where they work without hesitation, and you want your name to resonate with your target audience, that's why you need something perfect.
•7. **Get feedbacks on the name.**
Come up with 5 or 10 names and then run them by friends, family members, and trusted colleagues. Get feedback from your target audience as well. And also make sure that the name doesn’t have any negative connotations in other languages.
•8. **Make sure you are personally happy with the name.**
You as the business owner will have to live with the name for a long time, so make sure you are happy with it and believe it will resonate with your customers. Take the time to get it right from the start.
•9. **Make sure the name sounds good when said aloud**
Sometimes names seem fine on paper, but sound awful when said aloud. And if it’s said aloud, make sure people aren’t confused as to how it’s spelled.
•10. **Register your business name**
Once you have concluded on your business name you shouldn’t waste time on registering it before it is taken by someone else again. Remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
I hope you find this helpful..
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Setting Healthy Boundaries In Relationships...
"Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives".
-Henry Cloud. https://www.happybetterwiser.com/quotes/boundaries-quotes/
In reality, all healthy relationships have boundaries! A relationship can’t be healthy until people communicate their boundaries clearly either verbally or non-verbally, and the other person respects them.
Healthy boundaries in a relationship don’t come naturally, nor do they come easily. Establishing healthy boundaries in a relationship allows you to feel comfortable and develop positive self-esteem. A relationship without boundaries equals one with a low self esteem.
In order to establish boundaries, you need to clearly communicate who you are, what you want, your beliefs and values, and your limits.
So if a person is always borrowing money from you but never paying you back, then you may need to tell them that you are not letting them borrow anything else until you get paid back what you’ve already given.
If it’s a friend who is always texting or calling you late at night when you’re trying to sleep, then maybe you want to tell them that you can’t talk now cause you need to sleep — or you can stop answering all together.
If someone keeps making critical comments towards you, then you can tell them that you don’t appreciate being spoken to that way and that you will not accept it.
If it’s a friend who seems to always have problems for you to listen to and it’s draining your energy, then it’s probably time to be sure you say something like, “Hey, I know you’re in pain, but I have some of my own stuff to do right now.”
****Setting Boundaries****
So now looking at your feelings, stop and recognize how your boundary has been crossed. Is this person always asking to borrow money from you but they never pay you back..? Do you find yourself always answering your friend’s text or phone calls late at night and it’s causing you to lose sleep..?
Is this person always making critical comments towards you..? Does this person always seem to have problems that you always have to help them with..? Do you have a colleague who always shows up late for your appointments..?
Also, remember that your emotions are valid. For that reason, you are not wrong for setting your boundary. In fact, you are taking care of yourself, which is something that we should all do above all else.
**Step 1: Make Your Boundaries Known.**
Voice it! Make your boundary known — communicate it to the other person. Keep in mind that if there is any backlash from the other person or if they want to argue, then it may be best to simply just walk away and focus on taking care of yourself.
The reality is that if there is a backlash then the other person isn’t respecting your boundary. If we acknowledge their disrespect by arguing with them, then we are giving them what they want, and that is a weakness of our boundary.
By acknowledging and focusing on their backlash we are then subconsciously telling them that we are not grounded within ourselves and confident in what we want.
**Step 2: Communicate with Respect**
Healthy relationships include respect from both sides. The best way to communicate your boundaries with people is with compassion, understanding and respect for each other’s expectations. Having respect each time you communicate will ultimately make your relationship healthier and stronger.
**Step 3: Get grounded**
Take care of yourself. If setting the boundary brought up any backlash or feelings of guilt, then be sure to take care of yourself. Go for a walk, exercise, be out in nature, etc. Do something to help yourself get re-centered and don’t spend too much (or any) energy focusing on what happened.
So even if someone else wants to talk about the “drama” of what happened, then just don’t even go there. Tell them you don’t want to talk about it, because when we do that we keep the stress and fear-based thinking alive.
**Step 4: Be Justified With Your Thoughts**
Also, remember that your emotions are valid. For that reason, you are not wrong for setting your boundary. In fact, you are taking care of yourself, which is something that we should all do above all else.
P.S: Lead Image https://www.happybetterwiser.com/quotes/boundaries-quotes/
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Effects Of Social Media On Mental Health And The Way Forward..
Social media is rife with comparison, and psychological research has shown that such comparisons can lead to anxiety and acute stress for the users.
The pressure of building a small business using social media is obviously leading to social media fatigue amongst business owners. Just the idea of posting contents fills some users with dread.
Oftentimes this leads to lack of focus, irritability, and anxiety. The loss of followers on social media as well as the lack of engagement due to constantly changing Facebook and Instagram algorithms is also often seen by the small business owners as lack of engagement with their brand.
About 52% of small business owners confirmed that they were 'feeling low about their business' and 45% felt that 'perhaps no one wants what I am offering'.
They also agreed that rather than channeling their time and energy into the creation of new products, they were caught up in social media marketing; investing their time, energy and resources.
If any of the above describes your present state, that means social media networking is affecting your mental health and well-being.
In view of this, the following ways discussed below if practiced, will help you to overcome the dread and anxiety around social media marketing:
•• Be intentional about your presence on social media. Decide whether you are there to socialize, build a brand or just sell your market. Your motive will determine what and what not to do. Once your motive is sorted then just face your front and focus on what you have come to social media to do.
••Self-love/self-esteem- Believe you are enough and love yourself because it is easy for someone who doesn't love himself or herself to be oppressed and pressurized on social media.
•• Gratitude- Be grateful for what you have. You may have to read that again for the message to sink well. Stop being jealous of others, rather look inward and discover what talent you have been given
•• Be intentional about the people you follow. The fact that some people appear on your social media space doesn't mean you must follow them. If their contents and presence threatens your sanity just do yourself good by either removing or unfollowing them. You may not be able to influence or determine what such people post but you can choose not to follow them.
••Less is more- post fewer times. When you post too many frequently it could make people get bored of your content which may lead to lack of engagement. It is not important to post 3-4 times a day to beat the algorithm. Post only when you have something valuable to say. Posting many times, a day could lead to undue pressure and also a loss in the quality of content. I don't know about you, but I struggle to find that much to say every day.
•• Take a break- there's no rule that states that you must make social media platforms your place of abode. If you feel drained or overwhelmed do take a break. The world won't end neither will the business go away because you are offline for a few days. Step back, re-evaluate, and come back to it, maybe, if and only when you are happy being back.
Don't think that you can't disappear from social media as there are other ways of connecting with people who matter like your customers, and perhaps use that time to focus on the creative side of the business. People who like your work and want to connect would stay with you. People who leave weren't that interested anyway.
•• Be selective- It is impossible to manage all the various channels and get informative and useful content out, at the right time, all the time.If you prefer a channel, why not focus on it for a while and try to establish meaningful connections!
Focusing your energy on one or two social media platforms will go a long way to ease the pressure and reduce the feeling of dread and overwhelm. You can as well get a social media manager if you are keen on maintaining online presence on several platforms.
•• Be Authentic- I recently read an article from @Mhizutty, where she talked about the fake lifestyle people live on social media, and this influenced this part. You can check it out by clicking on the link below.
Fake things, fake life! https://read.cash/@Mhizutty/fake-things-fake-life-226d67c8
You need to remind yourself that the things we read and see online aren't always true. It is merely a tiny glimpse into someone's reality and not the entire world of the person. I think that losing sight of who we really are, is often the cause of anxiety.
Try and believe in yourself and in the fact that your brand is you, and a reflection of your values.When you post, interact and engage with social media while being yourself.Being genuine and true to ourselves can be deeply refreshing and can ease off any pressures that we might be putting on ourselves unconsciously.
**Finally, do not use social media to impress or oppress others; what goes around comes around.**
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P.S: All images except the Lead Image are gotten from Unsplash. https://etactics.com/blog/social-media-and-mental-health-statistics
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Making Impacts: The Essential Asset To Living A Purposeful Life..
"When you love people and have that desire to make a profound and positive impact upon the world, then you will have accomplished the meaning and purpose of your living"
-Sasha Azevedo. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/497999671276160292/
While reading the book " Go suck a lemon", an emotional intelligence recommended piece of masterclass written by Michael Cornwall, I noticed that the end of each chapters, the author was always writing "it will take the force of will to do that."
I never completely understood this statement until I got to chapter 12 which was talking about happiness. It will take a force of will to be happy, too..? I reasoned...
However, I came to the conclusion that what the author meant by "force of will" is forcing a good thing to happen whether or not your feelings agree to it at first.
Most times, our initial feeling don't give us the opportunity to do something productive but after forcing it, we will later be grateful we did such thing.
Basically, it will take the force of will to pray, to read, or even to write as a writer, and without doing so, one literally can't make impacts.
As humans, you won't always feel like doing something productive or valuable but using the force of will is the first step to being successful.
Determination could also mean applying a force of will. Determine to be productive and successful whether or not you feel like it and you will end up feeling like it. This way, make sure you are making an impact with your determination.
Juxtaposing this, to the definition of Impacts, which is the action of one object coming forcibly into contact with another, I couldn't help but believe how essential it is to make a meaningful and more fufilled posts
Sometimes ago, I was asking some sets of people what they would rather pursue first between wealth, impact, and fame. A lot of people picked fame and wealth but only few people picked impact then it dawned on me that not many people understand the principles of making impact while fulfilling purpose.
I had to patiently explain to them that the first on the list should be to make impact before allowing fame and wealth to come into the picture.
Does that mean that fame and wealth is a bad thing even while fulfilling purpose?
No! Hang on!
Being wealthy and famous while fulfilling purpose is totally fine but that shouldn't be your top most priority. You shouldn't seek to make fame or wealth when you've not made impact at all.
Your first priority should be to please God and to make impacts and every other thing like fame and wealth shall be added unto it.
Just a quick reminder:
*You won't always make the impact that you are meant to make if you pursue fame and wealth on the journey to fulfilling your purpose.*
Got value..? Let me know in the comment section.
P.S: Lead Image https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image?phrase=positive+impact
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Conquering Fear And Anxiety On The Pathway To Success..
"Inaction breeds doubt and fear, Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit somewhere and think about it, go out and get busy"
-Dale Canergie. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-search-meaning-after-age-50/201808/the-meaning-your-fear%3famp
Without a doubt, fear has been one of the greatest form of human weakness. It weakens every part of the human soul, and worst of all, it proves to be an hindrance to success.
To succeed in life, it is one thing to not give in to failures, or I should say to not break down due to experiences of failure, but it is also another thing to realise that anxiety and fear are two hindrances to success, guess what, they are frequently berated and underestimated.
People don't really see them as stumbling blocks, and they are. Of course, you can't expect to have a pleasant ride, but what happens when you were literally expecting failure as the challenge, but fear and anxiety show up. It can be tricky, and if care isn't taken intimidating as well.
Without mincing words, fear is an unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger, real or imagined.
It is a mutual feeling common among humans. We tend to have the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, the fear of living a purposeful life, and even the fear of making impacts.
We mostly ask ourselves questions like... "What if I don't make it to the top?" "What if my application letter got rejected?" "What if I don't pass this examination?" A real lot of questions like this has led people to the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.
However, if one's fear is not properly looked into and corrected, it might lead to dangers, reason being that fear is a false experience appearing real. Of course it's Apparent!!
Moreover, I've been a victim of fear in diverse areas of my life. Fear of failure was my main classification of fear. I feared failure to the extent of not wanting to take risks at all but all these happened before I learned to face my fears in whatever situation I find myself.
Yes! I learnt to face my FEARS!
Facing your fears is the best way to come out of your fears. You might be wondering... "How do I face my fears?" "How do I look at my fears directly and tell it.. Hey you, I'm gonna face you today..?"
Before you can tactfully overcome and conquer fear and anxiety, you have to first muster the courage to face your fears.
Funny, right?
You're not going to do either of this. Instead, you're going to do what you feared doing. I know right..
A friend once asked me, "what would you do if you were not afraid?"... I never gave him a direct answer but in my heart, I there are many things I'd have done if I wasn't afraid.
While writing this article, I asked myself again... "What would you do if you were not afraid?"
Then I told myself, DO IT! If I can, then you can too.
Do what you'd do if you were not afraid. Assume you're not afraid and DO IT!
Yes you can! You can pass that interview, you can fix that thing. All you need is a positive and strong mindset.
I hope you got value. Don't forget to ask yourself this simple question...
"**What would I do if I wasn't afraid..?"**
Cheers to your success and development.
P.S: Lead Image https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-search-meaning-after-age-50/201808/the-meaning-your-fear%3famp
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Determination And Passion As The Pivotal Keys To Success..
**"Passion equals drive, drive equals determination, and enough determination equals success".**
– Anette Sandberg. https://www.coolnsmart.com/quote-passion-equals-drive-drive-equals-determination-and-33224/
Often times, people with sound abilities and talents tend to give up on their goals and dreams almost immediately they encounter setbacks and difficulties. They sometimes assume they're pursuing the wrong goals just because things seemed difficult from the beginning.
**DETERMINATION**
According to Wikipedia, Determination is a positive emotional feeling that involves persevering towards a difficult goal in spite of obstacles. Determination occurs prior to goal attainment and serves to motivate behavior that will help achieve one's goal. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determination
It's a mutual feeling among humans generally, to give up on some things especially when one is striving really hard and results are not forthcoming. Saying the statement "I'll never give up" is a very easy task to do but abiding by the words said might be quite difficult.
Life brings to us trials, tribulations, temptations and a lot of bad experiences just to make one fall completely. Someone who has been pursuing his dreams for years and has almost gotten the chance to fufill it might give up suddenly because he lost his determination.
Determination is one of the secret behind everyone's success. Hardwork without determination would be useless because one might feel tired on the long run but the moment one is determined to make it happen, then his dreams shall come to reality.
Determination is a strong force that will keep you moving when other roads seem blocked. Determination will save you from misfortune and bad luck.
In all, determination is one of the secrets to success
Remember also, that there's no form of luck anywhere. Only your hardwork and determination makes you lucky.
**PASSION**
Passion according to Wikipedia also, is a feeling of intense enthusiasm towards something, or a compelling desire for someone or something. Passion can range from eager interest in or admiration for an idea, proposal, or cause; to enthusiastic enjoyment of an interest or activity; to strong attraction, excitement, or emotion towards a person. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passion_(emotion)#:~:text=Passion%20(Greek%20%CF%80%CE%AC%CF%83%CF%87%CF%89%20%22to%20suffer,desire%20for%20someone%20or%20something.
There was a time I wanted to stop simply because I got less engagements on my write ups . There were times, giving up was the only option left for me but my PASSION for writing kept on driving me to only who knows... There were times I'll feel reluctant to take my pen or my note pad to write but my PASSION kept on burning.
I don't know who needs to hear this but you might be thinking of giving up on what you do because you don't have people commending you or probably because you don't have a lot of engagements or upvotes on your post as you would have pleased.
Do not think of doing that because there is someone somewhere who is watching what you do silently and is going to appreciate your works sooner than later. Disappoint those who think you'll stop by pressing further, and let your passion make the difference.
**Remember: Whatever you do, do with determination. You have one life to live; do your work with passion and give your best.**
Let your PASSION be your drive, and DETERMINATION your spark, the sky's your limit, embrace this pivotal keys!!.
Do not give up!
Have a beautiful weekend ahead.
*Cheers to your success🥂*
P.S: Lead Image https://wallhere.com/en/wallpaper/119613
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Life Is Transient, Never Look Down On Anyone...
"Life is so transient, finite, and fragile that there is no time to hate or look down on anyone".
—Debasish Mridha https://www.quotes.wiki/life-is-so-transient-finite-and-fragile-that/
The best things in life happen unexpectedly. The best stories begin with "and all of a sudden..."
The best adventures and events were never planned as they turned out to be.
Free yourself from expectations, the best will come when and from where you least expect.
Never look down on anyone because of their present situation. Sometimes the people you look down on today will be the ones you look up to tomorrow.
When things are fine with you, don’t treat others like they are insignificant. A person who is down today can climb up triumphantly over adversities tomorrow.
No one can predict the future… only the Almighty knows what tomorrow holds.
So, I saw a video of a team of young children who were to run a relay race. They were about 6 in number, if my memory serves me correctly. Just 4 seconds to the race, one of the boys fell and that didn't stop the game.
He got up and continued, he was so far behind the 5 boys. Just about 3-5minutes later, he over took the 5th, then the 4th, then the 2nd, eventually, he beat the best...He came first, then game was over! Who could have thought...?
Listen here, position and power is transient, like I often say, life itself is transient.
Never look down on someone who fell. Never treat people like trash, just because you're ahead of them. The person you're ahead of today, can be far far ahead of you tomorrow. The person you're a boss over today, can become your boss tomorrow, see, we're talking about LIFE here... Anything can happen! Why can't you be responsible..?
And to you who's downcasted, heartbroken, disappointed, delayed, listen up!
The best things in life happen unexpectedly. The best stories begin with "and, all of a sudden..."
The best adventures and events were never planned as they turned out to be. Free yourself from expectations, the best will come when and from where you least expect. Falling down is not a failure, failure is to stay where you fell.
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Lead Image https://steemit.com/steemchurch/@omoyiwolabusayo/i-am-thanking-god-for-life
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Mistakes And Us; Letting Go And Moving On...
Sometimes ago, I made a very silly mistake that got me worried and angry at myself. I felt so bad that I kept on blaming myself for what happened. The more I remembered the mistake, the more I got angry and hated my actions.
My friend who noticed how it affected me said these words to me; "stop thinking about it. It has gone". Hearing those words from him catapulted my mind to the next level. I allowed those words he said sink in and then, I felt good. I noticed that I brooded over the matter too much and that was the reason I felt bad about myself.
However, this is to tell you that I felt good afterwards not because I saw the mistake as no big deal or as a normal thing but rather because I accepted my wrong doings and also accepted to move on and let it go. It's one thing to make a mistake and feel less of yourself, it's another thing to make a mistake, accept your fault, make amends and move on.
There are a real lot if people who would have gone far today but because they kept on making reference to their past mistake with a bitter heart, they remain at a spot. Moving on by letting go of your past mistakes is forgiving yourself, it's not hating yourself, it's giving yourself no limitations whatsoever in knowledge, it's not judging yourself. I can go on and on but you should ask yourself, "have I really moved on from my past mistakes and disappointments?" "Have I forgiven myself?"
Moreover, you should also know and understand that moving on and letting go is not just saying it. Moving on is believing and acting it. Moving on is forgetting your past mistakes without making reference to it in a way that will make you feel bad or less of yourself. It is believing that you can try again without making any mistakes, it is also accepting your mistakes with meekness, love, and a free spirit.
Stop brooding over past mistakes. Instead, take actions by letting it go. It will help you heal your mind.
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*Got value..?. Let me know in the comment section.*
*Special thanks to* @Talon *for his sponsorship renewal. More wins ahead brother. I immensely appreciate.*
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Lead Image https://www.timeshighereducation.com/hub/university-queensland/p/limiting-loneliness-longer-life
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Be Purpose Driven...
"Your purpose will solve a problem that your generation needs, but first you have to take the steps of: becoming yourself, discovering your purpose, identity, who you are and writing out your life vision. This is the formula for success and once you do this…then you become influential and start getting people’s attention.”
-Myles Munroe https://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/galleries/5-lessons-on-purpose-dr-myles-munroe-taught-me.aspx
*****How Can You Be Purpose Driven..?*****
The direct answer to the question above is "begin to develop your purpose."
As a friendly and always willing to be helpful type of guy, I have come across various people who would tell me that they have discovered their purpose but they need a push to make them work towards it.
Questions like... "How do I develop my purpose?" has constantly been on the lips of my students which is the main reason for putting up this content.
Interested in knowing how to develop your purpose? Follow me!
• The first step you need to take in order to develop your purpose is to make it one of your top most priority. Making your purpose your priority will help you see purpose as a "must" in your life. Seeing purpose as a must will erase the thought that you don't have enough time to fulfill purpose.
• Build your passion: This is what you have to do when you notice that you are not passionate about what you refer to as your purpose. Fall in love with your purpose and you will see your purpose developed on daily basis.
• Surround yourself with positive and purposeful people. People that will inspire you to take purpose serious. Most times, all you need to do in order to explore is a PUSH and this can only happen when you surround yourself with people who are taking purpose serious. That will inspire you to develop purpose as well.
• Practice: Practice makes you to become consistent.It also makes fulfilling purpose an easy task for you to do. Practicing a lot more would make you master the principles of purpose.
Remember, discovering your purpose without developing it is as good as not discovering it at all.
Lead Image https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2021/06/four-opportunities-for-the-for-purpose-sector-reflections-on-seven-years-in-europe/
Got value? Let me know in the comment section.
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BULLS vs BEARS: A Rivalry In The Cryptoverse..
"Well if you think there will never be another bear market, that is wonderful. In Washington, they say do not worry we will never have another bear market, we have things under control. I know that they are either liars or fools cos I know we have always had bear markets and we'll always do, but I do know bull markets are the dominant forces.-**Jim Rodgers**
Of course, a lot of duels exist in the cryptosphere, from **Bitcoin** vs **Bitcoin** **Cash** to **Bitcoin** vs **Ethereum**, to which I have also heard of **Bitcoin** vs **Litecoin.** But the most probably and much more logically and understandable to say, is that there has always been one rivalry, one which has always brought the whole world excitement, and sometimes more frequently than not panics is that of The **BULLS** and The **BEARS**.
It is worth taking note, that many do not regard this as a stiff competition or rivalry per say when the former is dominant. Whenever, the bull gains control, certainly, the market turns bullish, and the arrows go greenish. It is quite admirable then, isn't it..?..
But as soon as the reverse is the case, and the bear gains a slight upper hand or advantage I should say, the most loyal of investors, start considering their stance, a lot of participants in the block chain, fear for the worst, and most of them result to converting to stable coins or purchasing **bargains**
**What Exactly Is A Bear Market And What is a Bull Market.?**
According to earlier synopsis and explanations, A **Bull** market is actually a market that is on the rise and which is by all comparable standards, economically sound, whereas in the opposite, A **Bear** market is a market that is receding, where most stocks are declining in value.
****Origin****
The perceived origin or more concisely, reason for the usage of the terms is thought to be from the way in which each animal attacks its opponents. That is, a **Bull** will thrust its horns up into the air, while a **Bear** will swipe down. These behavioural patterns, were then likened to the movement of a market. If the **Bull** thrust it's horns up, then it's similar to when the arrows go up, and prices increase, and likewise when the **Bear** swipes down to gain a hold of its rival, the market plummets.
The Rivalry
One of the key fundamentals, of this rivalry is the fact that, no matter, how long the reign of one might seem, the other soon takes over, and basically, that is the true nature of cryptocurrencies. Tellingly, over the course of the year, this two rivals have made each other a mainstay in the cryptoverse, refusing to totally be jettisoned.
The average **bull** market has lasted for a full nine years, generating an average gain of 480 percent, staggering right..?.
You don’t need to necessarily take a side in every battle, but you do need to understand the differences in bull and bear markets to have long-term investing success. Everyone looks like a genius when bull markets are raging, but successfully navigating bear markets is how great investors separate themselves from the rest.
**Conclusion**
Bull markets are usually far more durable and robust, but the smartest financial plan is to be keenly aware that the next Bear market is surely destined to come. Exactly, it's destiny.
To give you a little historical context: The **bull** versus **bear** battle has been decisively won by the **bulls**. From 1926 to 2022, there have been nine **bull** markets and eight bear markets. While there’s no tendency whatsoever to have that assurance history will repeat itself, **bull** markets have tended to run for much longer than bear markets, and their gains have – so far – outweighed the losses endured during **bear** markets.
Currently, as at the time of writing, Bitcoin Cash is down by **14.06**% I'm the last 24 hours, **22.44**% in the last 7 days, and **31.88**% in the last 30 days.
What defines a staunch and shrewd investor, is the exhibition of patience, and eraser of all forms of FUD. The market has clearly plummeted even Bitcoin and Ethereum have too.
The conclusion of the whole matter therefore is that, no matter how fierce the battle, and rivalry between bulls and bears may look, there is only one the whole people are cheering, and want a landmark victory for, and your guess is right the BULLS. Victory on the way!!
***Images***:
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***2nd Image:*** *Investopedia****. com*** https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/bull-bear-market-names/#:~:text=The%20terms%20%22bear%22%20and%20%22bull%22%20are%20thought%20to,the%20movement%20of%20a%20market.
***3rd Image:*** ***pixabay*** ***Images by geralt*** https://pixabay.com/illustrations/stock-exchange-bull-bear-finance-641907/
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30 Benefits Of The Trema Orientalis You Never Thought Of..
Trema Orientalis is a botanical name given to the Charcoal.
Charcoal is something you must have on you all the time. In Case you never paid much attention, it's time to do it.
Here are the benefits of charcoal you never thought of:
1. Does your shoe smell bad? Just buy charcoal and put it in it.
2. Do you have a bad smell in your room? Drop Charcoal that you think the smell might come from.
3. Does your refrigerator or freezer have a smell? Put a piece of coal in it.
4. Do you have a strong body smell? Just make a charcoal powder and use. Charcoal is very good to get rid of the bad smell.
5. Have you ever wondered why your parents always pick up the ashes of the coal pot to pour in the hen or toilet before sweeping? It was to get rid of the smell.
6. If you want your vegetables to be fresh all the time, make a solution with charcoal and leave your vegetables.
7. Nowadays, people complain about the use of fertilizer on plants and vegetables, making them unhealthy and toxic. If you have charcoal, you don't have to worry about it. All you need to do is leave the vegetables in a charcoal solution during the night and it will take care of the toxins.
8. If you suspect that a food contains too many chemicals, simply drop them in a charcoal solution for a few hours and you are ready to leave.
9. If you want to whiten your teeth, don't pay attention to all these ads on chemicals and bleaching technology. Just get charcoal and catch a plantain stem. Make a powder on charcoal, crush the end of the plantain stem, soak in charcoal powder and brush your teeth with a week.
10. Did your peanut or palm soup go wrong? You don't have to worry about everything. Just put it on fire and drop a piece of charcoal. This will extract all the bad taste and smell and restore soup to its fresh state.
11. Do you have a hangover of a drink with friends the previous night? Just have charcoal with you and chew on it. To make it more effective, make it a nice solution and drink. You're good at it.
12. If you have made a wild mix and you think it can bring you down, add charcoal to the mix and your problem will be solved. Or if you've taken too much alcohol, just drink a charcoal solution and you're ready to go.
13. Do you have a situation where someone's injury has become so infected that doctors say they have to cut the affected area? Don't insist on it, take a large amount of coal powder and pour it on the wound. This will help extract all the poison from the wound and help it heal faster. If you have a cup and you want to treat it quickly, take charcoal powder and pour on it.
14. Do you feel like your water is contaminated? You don't need all these products on the market. Charcoal can do better, just drop part of it. Don't worry about the color, for sure, you can even chew charcoal. It's a lot safer than eating kfc chicken.
15. Do you have pimples, acne or skin disease that you really want to get rid of or do you want a very smooth face or skin? All you need is charcoal. Make a thick solution and apply it on your body and leave it for a few hours before taking your bath. It will leave your skin fresh and fresh.
16. Do you have a persistent stain in your kitchen, bathroom or tiles? You really need charcoal to get rid of it. I know you imagine how this black terrazzo product can actually eliminate stains? Try it, it works like magic.
17. If you ate or drank something and you feel swollen, Charcoal is the best solution to get rid of bloating.
18. Make a solution and drink help eliminate all the bad cholesterol you stored in you. Charcoal can treat all ulcers. Take the habit of always chewing.
19. Charcoal is very goldfish. They move away from evil spirits, fumes from malicious people and negative influences of the places. Before Adjusting, put coal and garlic in a bowl in each of the parts of the house to occupy for 3 JRS. The 4th Jr, remove it all and bury it without touching them in an no corner. Coal and garlic will have cleaned the place.
20. You got hurt, pour some coal powder and you'll see.
21. Headache, a teaspoon of coal drink and you'll see.
22. Stomach aches, a teaspoon of coal and evil goes away the next minute.
23. It treats diarrhoea, Amoeba, injuries (Ash outside that it's an antibiotic, it's more than medical alcohol), and in the metaphysical field, coal aspires to negative elements or entities on the body , water to drink, bath (just some 2 OR 3 Pieces) and in houses (house corners a little salt).
24. Constipation; you have done 3 days without going to the WC, CROQUE 2 TO 4 Piece and you will go to the wc that same day
25. It's the sovereign drug against viruses including aids virus. He doesn't kill viruses, but he has the ability to neutralize them so that they are in the body and remain harmless.
26. Charcoal also cures migraines.
27. A handful of salt plus a piece of coal at the end to extract the excess of salt.
28. Charcoal also softens the influence of chilli either in the mouth or in the eyes.
29. It is used in stopping severe diarrhoea.
30. For ulcer it's mixed with sugar and for effective dental hygiene also mixed with lemon to brush.
#liveagain
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Special thanks to @Honey_bch for her sponsorship. More wins dear✌🏻
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I Forgot My Twelve Seed Phrase And My Life Savings In BCH Is Gone..
You probably might think, this is a click bait or something, I wish it was. But the truth hurts, My whole Bitcoin Cash investment is gone. I thought I was being wise here, and I actually didn't back up my seed phrase to my Google cloud account on the Bitcoin.com wallet.?. Why didn't I..?. I was worried cos I knew a lot of people had access to my phone, and one day, they might try finding out.
I wished I had listened, my fellow friends had told me and warned me sternly to keep it somewhere. "Oh, have mastered them off head". I had always replied them, wondering if it was any of their business.
I actually did master them, and I safely locked my app with a 4-digit pin only known to me. That way, I knew even if the worse came to worst, I could well manage to call all the twelve key words out without missing any.
Three days ago, I was at a viewing centre, awaiting the start of the UCL match when suddenly an Old pal of mine tapped me on the back.
After exchanging formal greetings and pleasantries, and conversing, more of a chit-chat for fifteen minutes, he told me he was working at a Restaurant in town, although the name of the restaurant rang a bell, I wasn't entirely sure where I had heard it before.
In the long run, he told me there was an ongoing discount offer they were hosting to gain more customers, curious as I had always been, I inquired and he told me it needed me to sign up and after the first eleven hours of my sign up, I would be given a call, and any order I placed, I would be given a 15% discount offer and a free food to complement.
I downloaded the app, registered, finished watching the match and went home, the next morning, I tried opening my metamask to check out a few of my SmartBCH investments project, but the App gave me a "*Application Forced to shutdown, click to Restart"* Response*.* I tried again, but the latter result was any different from the initial.
I tried checking my Bitcoin.com wallet, and oops it the exact same error message. I was completely petrified.
I wondered what could have happened, and suddenly I remembered the previous application I received through Xender from my friend, and opening it, a pop-up appeared and it read *"Application contains Spyware virus and unable to Open".*
I immediately went to an engineer, and I was told the phone needed a formatting and a few security installation and Scans.
After the whole issue, I re-downloaded all my application, but when I tried setting up my Bitcoin.com wallet, I forgot my seed phrase, I remembered the first four, and the last four, but the middle four was what I couldn't remember.
I have been trying since, and it appears my life long Bitcoin Cash savings is gone, my retentive memory failed me, but had I listened I could have spared my blushes.
Learn a lesson from me, and back up your Wallet securely.
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Don't Listen To FUD, HODL Your Bitcoin Cash And Head To The Moon!!
Bitcoin has this worldwide name recognition and brand. When people buy BTC today, they’re expecting it to work like Bitcoin Cash works today. Now, my new job is to educate people on that front. Bitcoin Cash is the original Bitcoin described in the Bitcoin white paper. It’s the peer to peer electronic cash for the world that can bring more economic freedom to every single human being on the planet, where you don’t need a custodian to hold your Bitcoin for you like you do with BTC today.-**Roger Ver**
There is always a humble beginning to every investment brand in the cryptosphere, and what makes you a shrewd investor is your ability to distinguish between a rug pull, a bad investment and an investment capable of catapulting you to greatness.
Bitcoin Cash is clearly scaling to the top, and just along the way, at times the market becomes bearish, and there is a steep decline in the fall in its price, and all of a sudden you feel the urge to convert to Fiat, or your local money, sometimes even to a more stable coin.
Just then, the market becomes bullish again, and the green arrow regains its dominance, and you start to regret just why you couldn't HODL in the initial instance, why..?. Due to FUD.
Just a sec, what does FUD and HODL mean.?
**FUD AND HODL MEANINGS**
Well, just like the real world, the cryptosphere has a whole lot of slangs, which are frequently used by investors in certain cases.
In early bitcoin forums, someone posted a message that spelled the word "HOLD" as "HODL", and readers interpreted it as an acronym "**Hold** **On For Dear Life,"** Now, it's become a meme of sorts, so that when the prices are highly volatile, buyers and investors say "HODL".
**HODL** is therefore a term used by cryptocurrency investors that refuse to sell their cryptocurrency regardless of the price increasing or decreasing. It is more frequently used during a bear market when people refuse to sell their coins despite the price drop.
**FUD** then is another term which In the cryptosphere means **Fears**, **Uncertainty** and **Doubts**.
**WHY YOU SHOULD HODL YOUR BITCOIN CASH**
BCH is the ideal peer to peer crypto that is being adopted globally. The adoption in the Caribbean is an example. If it keeps up this rate, in the next few years, it is going to the moon.
A lot of distinguished personalities have started to invest hugely in Bitcoin Cash, and when this happens, the market captalization increases, and the coin starts to become bullish.
BCH is the real deal and encompasses the original plan of peer to peer electronic cash on Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper.
In 2013: BTC crashed to $50
In 2015: BTC crashed to $200
In 2017: BTC crashed to $3000
In 2021: BTC crashed to $30000
The statistics above clearly shows the magnificent rise in BTC in 9 years meaning those who HODled it for that span gained significant profits.
BCH has that ability as well to do this, even a lot better than BTC did, cos it's user base is ever growing, with a lot of staunch supporters contributing to its cause so why not HODL now and see what happens.
**CONCLUSION**
Do not listen to Fears, Uncertainty or Doubts whatsoever, Bitcoin Cash is destined for greatness, dunnot be fooled by its unpredictability in it's charts now, rather HODL it and I bet you when it does rise, you are heading to the moon.
**IMAGES:**
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***2nd Image:*** ***Wikimedia.org*** https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hodl.m.svg
***3rd Image:*** ***Edurbose.com*** https://edubourse.com/acheter-bitcoin-cash/
***4th*****Image:** ***Medium.com*** https://medium.com/fintech-trends/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-long-term-crypto-trading-132802efb714
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Bitcoin Cash: The Cryptosphere's Undisputed New Bitcoin..
"Bitcoin Cash felt almost like the fracturing of a religion, Miners had to decide which chain to allocate their efforts toward, exchanges had to decide whether or not to support trading of this newly forked currency, and market participants had to decide whether they had any interest in the new currency and what its fair price should be.”- **Henrik Gebbing.**
Before the creation of Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin was no doubts the world's most popular Cryptocurrency, as a matter of fact it was the first ever Cryptocurrency. The decentralized digital asset was created in **2008** by the legendary Satoshi Nakamoto.
Although he remains anonymous,and speculated pseudonymous, his creation of BTC has being regarded as one of the major landmark creation of the human race. It could have been a **rug pull**, It wasn't.
But, inspite of all this, BTC had evident flaws, it had clear defects and weakness. One of which was its relatively low volume of transaction per second limiting it to a small or practically zero utility for payments.
Something needed to be done, many blockchain participants debated this, and wanted a reformation of the rules, and whenever there was a change of protocols, two paths emerged, and this time around, BTC kept its place, but a new one was born. Make no mistakes about it, Bitcoin Cash it was.
**What Exactly Is Bitcoin Cash.?**
From the earlier synopsis, Bitcoin Cash is a digital asset that was built on the same blockchain as Bitcoin. The Altcoin which was a "fork" of BTC was officially launched on August 1st, 2017. The brand aims to recreate the original vision of **P2P Electronic Cash.**
Bitcoin Cash has grown in prominence over the years and, unlike its original source, Bitcoin, is considered the most important cryptocurrency, racking up more and more share holders and investors with each passing hour.
**Bitcoin Cash: The Cryptosphere's Undisputed New Bitcoin!**
Majority of Cryptocurrency users across the globe feel Bitcoin Cash is the undisputed new Bitcoin, here's why.!
**Faster Transactions With Zero Fees.** With a transaction cost of less than a penny and the potential to process over 100 transactions per second, Bitcoin Cash is a viable payment platform and definitely the new **BTC**.
**Increased Scalability Makes It Gold.** Bitcoin Cash’s larger blocks allow for a blockchain with increased scalability, resulting in lower fees for users and therefore making it more transactable and Indeed **Gold.**
**Decentralized Digital Money**. Bitcoin Cash requires no trusted third party, middleman or payment processor, thus purely decentralized.
**Accessibility**. Bitcoin Cash is one of the most **popular cryptocurrency** in the cryptosphere, if not the most, and can be purchased through most major exchanges. The BCH/USD price is only about $300 per coin, so it’s also more affordable than trying to buy a single BTC, practically making it the undisputed BTC.
**Conclusion**
Contrary to what critics may say, BCH isn't and was never the underdog rather it was a much needed evolution to the increasingly stagnant BTC.
With a Market Capitalization of over **$5.5** **billion**, Bitcoin Cash is on the rise, and it's rising because of its vision, to encompass the initial ideas of **Satoshi** on white paper.
BCH is the new BTC, its vast Utility, which BTC doesn't possess is another key factor in its rise to prominence.
It also makes an impact with its rising userbase globally from Europe to Asia, Africa and America, and the recent adoption of it as a wage by Roland Brison has definitely made its mark.
A lot of blockchain users are becoming more and more accustomed to its use in everyday life. A major propaganda to this cause was creation of Club1BCH forum which is also a plus and the more reason BCH is the new BTC. A lot of wonderful activist here , speaking of the likes of@Fexonice1, @alberdioni8406 , and @PVMihalache are real warriors in the game and have immensely contributed to the massive growth of the ever spreading Bitcoin Cash tentacle across the entire cryptosphere.
Make no mistakes about it, Bitcoin Cash is the new undisputed Bitcoin..
**Images:**
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***2nd Image:*** ***pixabay*** ***users by geralt*** https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/
***3rd Image***: ***Dreamstime.com*** https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/finance/city/916850/bitcoin-cash-news-what-is-BCH-cryptocurrency/amp
***4th Image:.******edubourse.com******/acheter-bitcoin-cash/*** https://edubourse.com/acheter-bitcoin-cash/
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Seventy Days As A Writer And A Bitcoin Cash Activist..
Yesterday, while I was reflecting on how I have been spending my 2022 especially with my write everyday challenge that I did here, and which I frequently posted a status update on whatsApp about, I just couldn't hold back on how grateful I am to the Almighty, @TheRandomRewarder and Bitcoin Cash for helping me to be consistent with its frequent support and upvotes.
Although, as at yesterday, I was still at article number 56 of 70 instead of a 70 all which implies that I still have to write 14 short and more meaningful contents. I have made up my mind and that is, by this time next month we should be in a hundred all.
I thought about which strategy to use in order to meet up with the challenge as it not only takes mouth to speak out words but also actions to carry them out
So, I got ready to write 14 3mins or more articles. I took my pen and jotter to jot down some things but then, nothing was coming to my head as I was totally blank. I dropped the pen and was thinking hard on how to go about. In the midst of my thought process, I told my ultimate source of inspiration; the Holy Spirit to inspire me. This was me getting ready to write but nothing was coming to my head.
After the thought process and all, I had the urge to have a breakdown of these goals. I made a tabular form with days on one column and topics on the other. My plan was to break these 14 contents into different topics I was going to be writing on for these few days.
I wrote down the topics that were coming to my head at the moment but still, I couldn't write as I wanted to. I reflected on my past experiences, on the books I've read, on the book I authored, on the movies I've watched, but was still blank.
I was about dropping my pen out of frustration when a beautiful thing dropped into my mind. Something entirely different from what I've written down before, something God has helped me to be very good at.
I had a successful breakdown of this 14 articles into 5 contents on Bitcoin Cash, 5 contents on writing tips for writers, and 4 positive affirmations every one might need.
After I got the inspiration to do that, I wrote all the contents almost immediately. No! Scratch that... Not almost immediately in that way. You should not think of me not encountering any difficulty at all in writing those contents. Of course, I did but I was able to sink deeper into my experience as a content creator and a bitcoin cash activist.
Speaking of Bitcoin Cash, I have actually been making it a point of duty to evangelize (if that were the correct word) about Bitcoin Cash to every one of my Rich friends around and make them see reason to invest in it. Those I know had a flair for writing, I invited to Read.cash. Isn't that cool. Try it out..
By God's grace, I am done writing these contents and this little experience has made me learn new things.
One of which is dividing goals into bits to make it more specific and attainable. Do not fret if it seems to you that you've not achieved your stated goals for a stipulated time. Instead look for a way out by trying to make it easier for you. You might need to divide that book you want to write into two chapters for each day to help complete it. That way, it won't look too big to achieve.
Another important lesson I also learnt is to set deadlines while setting your goals to make it a smart one. I never really experienced the importance of deadline until yesterday when I told myself I was never going to continue this writing challenge next year. My deadline was set and it made my mind prepared to achieve the goal.
Finally, I've said this before but I will say it again... Do not leave God out of your goals or even activism for anything. Invite him because only by inviting him will you get the accurate inspiration to do exceedingly well. You will only get frustrated if you think doing it all by yourself will work out for you.
Thanks for Reading 💙
Michael Returns With The Finale Of The Teenager's Kidnap..
Where do I start from folks..?. I know many of you might have missed this writer, some angry at him, for not visiting your articles, others probably even forgetting someone like him existed. Well, what can I say than apologize. I have been extremely busy, with seemingly unending school projects.
It's not like am entirely free now, but I am still trying to. I gotta find time to write this, cos I know you guys had been anticipating. Let's dive!!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
What happened the next second is unexplainable. All I know was that something hit the wall and I heard the man cry out.
I opened my eyes to see the knife had flew a distance away from where we were standing and Baba was on the floor.
I looked shocked. "What happened?" I even bent to help the Old man up.
"Don't touch me." He shouted out as he flung my hands away angrily. The limping man who had since stood guard by the door way ran near to help him up since his partner was holding me.
"Sir, what really happened?" The man asked as he helped him up.
He looked thoughtful for a minute before answering. "It was as if someone flunged the knife away from my hand."
"Doesn't that happen when.?" The man holding me said frighteningly but he didn't complete it.
"You are right." The priest replied sharply.
"Young lady," for a second, I could have sworn the old man was looking at me in concern. "Think carefully, have you been taken somewhere like this and you didn't know."
"Taken Somewhere? Me?" I asked back surprised.
"No me." He said back irritably.
"See, let me tell you something. With what happened, it means you have been accepted as sacrifice by a powerful being."
"Henn." I looked at him shocked.
"Yes, the power just claimed ownership over you." He completed.
"Of course, I am a child of God. I am a Christian." I said confidently.
"Shut up." He shouted out. "Don't I know you are a christian before. What I am talking about is different. You have been sacrificed."
I was blank. What was he saying?
"What happens to any one who tries the acceptance procedure twice in this situation is not palatable. It means you are competing with that power over the person."
"I lost my friend to that so I know what I am talking about. He didn't know the lady had a spirit living in her since childhood, he wanted to connect her to another spirit of which those two spirits are not from the same geographical kingdom so they don't see eye to eye. He paid for it with his life." He explained.
"So ?" I asked.
"You are leaving this place immediately."
"Thank you Jesus." I whispered.
"You better don't thank anything yet and go and investigate. Ask your father and mother if they have given you to any power. This thing is a serious something." He said emphatically. "Take her away." He commanded.
Within minutes, I was led out of the stinking place. They didn't even touch me because no one wanted to anger the powerful person that owned me.
The driver and Bright looked surprised to see me. The young man looked encouraged.
I entered the back seat quietly as they dragged the young man out.
"What happened ?" The driver asked the man.
"Her case is complicated, you have to return her to the exact place where you took her." He replied and without another word turned and left with the young man.
"What happened in there?" The driver looked at me bewildered.
"Well, the old man said something about me being a sacrifice to somebody."
"Henn." The driver shouted out and looked at him pitifully.
"That's serious Indeed." His partner, Bright shook his head.
"Really?" I asked.
"Yes. You better go and do deliverance when you get home."
Ha! Deliverance. What are this men talking about?
I was grateful I would be going home alive but I was concerned about all that had transpired and all the men were saying.
"Lord what sacrifice are they talking about now?" I wondered out loud and one of the men shook his head at my predicament.
"John is coming back." The driver elbowed his partner.
I stretched in eagerness to see if he was returning with the young man, but I was disappointed.
"I guess we are good to go." The driver said to Bright and he turned on the ignition.
The man he referred to as John came beside the vehicle and stretched some amount of money to them.
"380k since only two worked out." He said.
The driver frowned; "Isn't it supposed to be 400k ?"
The man stood straight as his contenance changed; "20k has been deducted for bringing a wrong person." With that, he turned and left.
The driver looked like he wanted to go after John and beat him up as his partner hit the dashboard in anger; "Why did this old man do this ? Do they think getting people is easy ? Why can't they do the job themselves then ?
To cut the long story short, I was saved by the Almighty, and that night, the kidnappers even dropped me at the front of my church.
The gateman recognized me and opened the gate, the pastor was thanking God after listening to my story, and I think you too will.
The next morning, my parents arrived and their joy knew no bounds when they saw me.
They soon took their bundle of joy home with them.
**Lessons Derived**
*•We should never of our own accord, approach an evil Altar. We should stay at the altar with our Father.*
•*The Father has accepted us, we are his.*
•*Nobody, no power can touch us. We are secured in his hands.*
•*Always Say No to Kidnapping, no matter the circumstance.*
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Thanks for Reading 💙
DISCLAIMER: All materials published in this article, is intended for informative, entertainment and educational purposes only. No offence aimed at any person, entity, body, institution or religion.
Lead Image: Unsplash.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and/or author.
WRITER:MICHAELBCH
TOPIC:KIDNAPPING
DATE:30TH APRIL,2022
Say 'No' To Kidnapping: Real Life Lessons From A Teenager's Story (2)
The door opened beside me and the man stopped.
He looked at me strangely from head to toe.
My tongue went loose again and I started praying in tongues audibly.
"Malik, you sure say this girl no be one of the Christian teenagers that them dey do program for? He eyed me suspiciously.
"I no know oo. I just carry her not too far from the place." (I don't know. I just carried her not too far from the place.) The driver replied without confidence.
The man shrugged; "No Problem. Baba go dey furious if she no work oo." He cautioned as he pulled me out of the car with his rough hands.
"Pray." The young man inside the vehicle shouted after us. He was so scared out of his wit. He knew prayer worked but he didn't know how to do so.
As the man pulled me on, I continued praying.
We soon arrived at the front of the shrine and we stopped.
Landlord of the house, should we come in ?. He shouted three times at the door, I watched to see what will happen.
And to my utter amazement, the wooden door opened of its own accord.
I grimaced.
The man moved and pulled me after him and we entered the shrine. The door closed behind us.
I naturally have a very sharp sense of smell so the first thing that had my attention was the smell of fresh blood.
The limping man who had brought in the woman earlier was standing at attention beside a pile of clothes.
Pile of Clothes? No! I looked at it well.
My stomach turned as I stared at the lifeless body of the elderly woman. Her head had even been cut off.
Gracious Lord!
My legs gave way and I fell to the ground as tears rolled out from my eyes.
"Bring her here." I heard a small voice command and it was then I lifted up my head and noticed a man standing behind an altar.
He was a short fat man. His head was bald and he had a red towel tied around his loin. He had a traditional-like bead around his neck and his wrists. Then I noticed something else: he was using spectacles.
Silly me, I burst into laughter amidst tears. The men looked confused.
What is wrong ? The old man asked furiously.
"I thought only literates use spectacles." I spat out.
His eyes looked like fire would come out of his eyes straight at me.
"Bring her here." He commanded in anger.
The limping man shook his head at me in pity.
I felt hands pull me up from the floor as the man who had brought me in muttered "fool" behind me. He dragged me with him towards the altar.
The older man was now standing at attention beside it. We got to the front of the altar and the reality of what was about to happen dawned on me.
I started praying in tongues loudly and the priest looked furious even more.
The man who brought me in was looking at me with pleading eyes to stop and not provoke him any longer. I ignored him.
"Let's get this thing over with." The older man said as he dipped his hand inside a calabash on the altar which i hadn't seen earlier and brought out a hunting knife.
The entire atmosphere changed at that point. It became more fire charged. I could literally feel the presence of God wrapping me up.
"If I use this thing to touch your forehead and it still remains in my hand, it means you have been accepted by the gods." He explained mockingly.
"But if it falls, you leave here."
I swallowed as he put forth the knife to touch my forehead. I closed my eyes.
WATCH OUT FOR THE CONCLUDING PART FOLKS!! SEE YA 👀.
CURTAIN FALLS!!
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WRITER:MICHAELBCH
DATE: 28TH APRIL,2022
TOPIC: KIDNAPPING
@MichaelBCH
