It is better to trip with your feet than with your tongue ❤️ because your tongue has the power to make you great as well as put you into trouble. Words are spirit; once spoken, they never come back ❤️
It is important, therefore, to fill yourself with knowledge. As Socrates wisely suggested, true knowledge begins with admitting ignorance. He said, “I know that I know nothing.” ❤️ This understanding creates room for dialogue and questions — something we lack today, as questions are often mistaken for confrontation ❤️
Therefore, seek knowledge ❤️ Read, research, and think for yourself. Draw conclusions from your critical analysis of events ❤️
Fun fact: Everyone is affected by three kinds of influences ❤️
- Input — What you feed your mind on a daily basis ❤️ The books you read, the movies you watch, the music you listen to, and the games you play.
- Associations — The people you spend time with ❤️ The old mantra says, “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.” The level you attain in life is highly dependent on the associations you belong to and the friends you keep ❤️ The quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships.
- Environment — Your surroundings; where you exist and operate ❤️ The internal environment is the most important. If the first two factors are positive, your physical environment will have no hold on you, because you will become uncomfortable and leave ❤️ However, if those two factors are negative and affect your internal environment, it becomes very difficult to help you.
Secondly, respect yourself ❤️ Life’s heaviest burden is having nothing to carry. If you have nothing you are working on or trying to solve, that is when the seed of evil is planted — because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop ❤️
My friend, you get in life what you tolerate ❤️ You are the one who teaches people how to treat you. There is a saying in Igbo:
“Onye kpoo ogba ya mkpokoro, agabtaobi enwere ya kpoo ahiha” ❤️
(meaning no one will look down on you without your permission)
Treat yourself with respect ❤️ Set healthy boundaries. Listen more than you talk, and speak when you have something meaningful to say — not simply because you feel you must say something ❤️
Finally, keep your circle small ❤️ Life is about stages and choices. It is a stage in life to grow beards, develop breasts, and become an adult; however, it is your choices in those stages that determine who you become ❤️ Our people say it is wrong to tie a stone around your neck because you love palm kernel ❤️ It is a stage in life to marry and have children; it is your choice to stay married, remain faithful, and raise your children together — or choose otherwise ❤️
In whatever stage of life you find yourself, you have the opportunity to make conscious decisions that will reflect in your future ❤️ Therefore, surround yourself only with people who make you better, because iron sharpens iron ❤️
In summary, this generation seeks validation — constantly looking for external approval to feel worthy ❤️ This has led many young people to join unhealthy groups just to feel accepted ❤️ The absence of one or both parents in the lives of many children has produced wounded inner spirits ❤️ But if you find yourself in this category, remember: it is just a stage in your life ❤️ Decide whether you will be a victim or a victor ❤️
I sincerely hope you choose to be a victor ❤️ because you are unique and specially made ❤️
I remain your friend and brother;
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi ❤️
Pen it down. 