Grow & Glow

It’s very easy to go through life doing things you’ve always done. When such practices serve you, they are considered empowering rituals. However, when they don’t, you may find that you have begun to operate your life or work from the mode of the “status quo.” It’s when you find that that is becoming the case for you, it can be rather refreshing to do something that challenges your notions of what is possible for your life or in your work.

Earlier this week, I decided to break my usual modus operandi by doing something I would never have even believed was an option for me this time last year. For the first time in my life, I celebrated Christmas in two countries Nigeria and Ghana. Here’s how it worked out: I arrived early morning in Nigeria, the nation of my birth, to spend time with my aunt, uncle and a few friends before hopping on Arik Air to depart for Accra, Ghana where I would spend the next two weeks visiting a dear friend who was home from Harvard for the holidays.

I share this  journey with you to express a major life lesson: that no matter what we believe is possible for our lives, we can always break our usual mold. We can always choose to operate differently.

As you begin to close out 2012 and prepare to ring in 2013. Ask yourself:

What mold am I ready to break free from? In what ways can I do something unexpected and begin the process of living my life differently?

You will find that as you break your habitual patterns, you will begin to give yourself permission to do things you’ve never done before. You might even find that deep inside you is a passionately brave person who absolutely enjoys breaking the rules!

Wishing you the best that life has to offer! Before the year is through, go break one rule that no longer serves you.

One is another word for we

We all belong to one family.

One voice.

One note that will be sung.

One day we will acknowledge that we are all connected

That we are all one whole.

On that day, our lives will be lived with more peace.

More understanding. More joy. More love.

One that day we will know that one is not the loneliest #.

One is filled with love.

As a strategic thinker, I am always considering the most expedient manner to progress any initiative, whether it be for myself or one of my clients.

Today, I began engaging in a major vetting spree after realizing that I had once again accumulated way too much stuff. So, while Americans are going mad stocking up sales, this Black Friday I decided to go skinny dipping.

Honesty is akin to nakedness, and as I stood there naked looking at my closet. I asked myself this power question: why do you have clothes in your closet that you DON’T love? I stood there trying to come up with a suitable reply. When I couldn’t come up with any justifiable answer, I began to evaluate my closet based on a simple criteria: LOVE.

Whenever I picked up anything I would ask myself: Ozioma, do you love this shirt?  or Ozioma, Do you LOVE this pair of jeans? Do you LOVE this purse? If I didn’t LOVE it then  I gave myself permission to loosen the internal reigns and let it go.

As a result of this fun, loving exercise, I now have a trip to make to the salvation army where I can donate materials I like to people who may actually LOVE them.

Application: Use this technique anywhere in your life where you are having a tough time letting go or making a decision. It will free you up to bring more LOVE your way.

May all your dreams come true!