Look around and you will find reasons to throw in the towel. From your neighbourhood to your schoolyard, to your social media feed, there is a constant source of self-loathing and self-doubt. Friends’ galleries of accomplishments may remind you of…
The desire to be liked is instinctive. We, as a species, evolved to pay attention to what other people think about us because in the wild we needed them – to like us – to survive. Even today, you still…
I grew up in a poor family in a bustling but economically impoverished neighbourhood of Lagos, Nigeria. With six of us living in one room (so you can imagine how cramped and exhausting it was). Sometimes, I would wake up…
Earlier this year, at the beginning of the academic session at the university, I applied for a space in the hostel and was allocated a room. I was quite hopeful for the new session and looked forward to meeting my…
I saw a meme a few days ago where a porcupine was admiring the smoothness of a snake. The porcupine said, “I hate these spikes. I wish I had her body”. Then, in the next frame, the smooth-skinned snake was…
As a new chess player, I made many mistakes. This was frustrating, and I would get discouraged whenever I lost to a more experienced player. However, looking back, I realize that my mistakes helped me improve my game. I learned…
It is normal to think that you were ghosted because of your fault - maybe something you said (or didn't say), did (or didn't do), or lacked (or owned). But, just like rejection, ghosting actually has more to do with the other person than it does with you. Yes, you might have actually said, done, or lacked something, but it was still the person's decision to cut you off without even giving any reason.
Do you know that over 100 million kids in elementary and high school all over the world, experience bullying? Do you also know that 80% of bullied kids grow up with PTSD from childhood?
The power of patience is that it allows us to transform the pain of waiting into the joy of hope, while helping us to understand our journey better, appreciate the present moment more fully, and aspire for a brighter future.
The crucial wisdom is learning to accept things as they are, even if we don't understand them, and to forge ahead. That is the power of acceptance. And, it includes not denying the issues we have or the uncertainties, but rather acknowledging them and working through them as best we can.
