Albert Einstein once said:
"Weak people revenge. Strong people forgive. Intelligent people ignore."

Here are 9 timeless lessons I’ve learned from him:

1. Don’t Overthink the Future
"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."
The future is uncertain, and worrying about it steals today’s joy. Focus on what you have now and keep moving forward.

2. Dare to Think Big
"I believe bold speculation will take us further than the mere accumulation of facts."
Daring ideas have changed the world more than safe ones ever could.

3. Keep Moving Forward
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving."
Don’t stand still. Progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

4. Politics Is Harder Than Physics
When asked, “If man discovered the atom, why can’t we solve political problems?”
Einstein answered:
"Because politics is more difficult than physics."
Brilliant minds still struggle where emotions, power, and ego take over.

5. Embrace Simplicity
Einstein believed in “Einstein’s Razor” — removing what’s unnecessary and holding on to what matters.
Simplicity is power, as long as it doesn’t become oversimplification.

6. Education Should Teach You to Think
"The aim of education should be to train minds to think, not to memorize facts."
So read more. Reflect more. Let your curiosity be your best teacher.

7. We All Belong to One Tree
"All religions, arts, and sciences are branches of the same tree."
Humanity thrives when we grow together, not apart. We are more connected than we think.

8. Stay True to Your Conscience
"Never do anything against your conscience, even if the state demands it."
Let your principles guide you — especially when it's not easy.

9. What Is Relativity?
Einstein once joked:
"Sit with a pretty girl for two hours and it feels like two minutes. Sit on a hot stove for two minutes and it feels like two hours — that’s relativity."
Perspective changes everything.

A wheelbarrow pusher was laboring under the scorching sun, moving loads of bricks and rubble from one site to another. His clothes were tattered, and sweat poured down his face. A smartly dressed banker passed by, briefcase in hand, his shoes gleaming in the sunlight.

The banker looked at the wheelbarrow pusher and, with a smirk, said,
“Why are you wasting your life doing this? I work in one of the top banks in the country. I deal with millions every day, and I’m on my way to becoming the youngest executive. What’s your plan, wheelbarrow man?”

The wheelbarrow pusher wiped the sweat from his brow and replied calmly,
“I don’t have a big plan. I just push my wheelbarrow.”

The banker laughed derisively.
“Really? No ambition? No dreams of wearing a suit and making deals? You’ll be stuck in the dirt forever. You need to think bigger.”

The wheelbarrow pusher just smiled and continued his work, saying nothing more.

Years passed. One day, the banker was invited to a grand event hosted by a prominent business magnate known for a revolutionary construction company. The banker arrived at the lavish estate, awed by its size and elegance. As the guests mingled, the magnate stepped up to the podium to speak.

The banker was shocked to recognize the magnate. It was the wheelbarrow pusher, now dressed in an immaculate suit, speaking confidently about his journey from humble laborer to construction mogul. The audience erupted into applause.

After the speech, the banker approached him and said,
“I’m stunned! I thought you said you didn’t have a big plan?”

The man smiled and replied,
“Sometimes, the greatest plans aren’t spoken. While others are busy talking about ambition, some of us just get to work. I built my empire one load at a time, while you were busy declaring how much you’d achieve.”

Success doesn’t always wear a tie and speak loudly. Sometimes it starts with quiet grit, patience, and unwavering focus.

Wisdom for Positive Impact

Copied.

When Okon applied as a gateman at my husband's work place in 2013, I noticed him almost immediately.

There was just something about him.

Maybe it was the way he greeted, cheerful, respectful, eyes bright like he had no worries in the world. Maybe it was how quick he was to learn, even though technically, he was just “the man at the gate.”

My husband was the branch MD then. We both worked in the same company. He was the MD, and I handled internal affairs. That’s how I first noticed Okon, the gatekeeper who never acted like one.

However, my husband is the type that believes everybody deserves to be treated with dignity, from the cleaner to the board chairman. And Okon? He mirrored that same energy, like he was carved from the same wood.

But what really struck me about Okon was how he carried himself.

While some gatemen used style to scan your dressing and weigh your pocket before hailing you with:

“My Oga… I dey loyal. Anything for the boys?”

Okon never did that. Never.

He did his work like a professional, too professional sef for the role. He wasn’t the type to disappear when the sun was scorching and customers were no longer trooping in. Instead, he would curl into his plastic chair, pull out one heavy textbook, and read like he was preparing for a bigger mission.

Every single time.

At some point, I started paying closer attention. Something told me this young man was not just hustling, he had vision. He had fire in his bones.

I mentioned it to my husband one night while we were locking up and heading home. And he smiled and said, “I’ve noticed too.”

So we both agreed, it was time to talk to him.

That evening, after everyone had left, we called him in.

He walked in, slightly nervous, still polite.

We smiled and asked, “Okon, we’ve been watching you for a while. You’re not just different—you’re intentional. What are your life goals?”

He smiled, a little shy, and said:

“My goal is to be a chartered accountant, I’ve actually completed my ND 2, I'm just trying to raise money and go back to school.”

I blinked. ND1?

“Where are your parents?” my husband asked gently.

He swallowed. “They died when I was five. I was raised by my grandma, but she passed away three years ago.”

My chest tightened.

“So you’ve been on your own since then?”

“Yes ma,” he nodded.

I swear, I had to swallow the lump in my throat.

He had every reason to go astray, to become bitter, to be entitled, but he chose a different path. A path of hard work, dignity, and quiet resilience.

I looked at my husband. That was it.

We had to help him.

We encouraged him to get the HND form. He did, and registered for part-time with some of the savings he had already gathered. We paid the rest of his school fees.

When he knelt down to thank us, I almost burst into tears. But we told him, “Stand up, biko. We’re just doing what God laid in our heart.”

We got someone to assist him on shift duty, so he could combine work and school properly.

In one year and six months, Okon graduated. No social media noise, just focus.

When it was time for his convocation, my husband and I went and stood in as a family for him.

We came with different cooked delicacies.

When he saw us, Nah to cry remind for Okon. He said he has never experienced this kindness in his life before, or even being celebrated.

The convocation went well, and we took a cute photoshoot which was enlarged.

Okon however didn’t even wait for NYSC. He got his statement of result and continued working.

Then my husband told him, “Apply as a staff. You can’t be at the gate again.”

He applied.

They gave him the job.

That same gate where he used to stand, he now walked past wearing a shirt and tie. His former colleagues would hail him:

“Okon! You don be our boss oh! Remember your boys!”

He would smile and still “remember” them from time to time.

Okon worked with integrity, humility, and excellence. Two years later, he got promoted.

We were already a family. He would come to the house, gist with us, celebrate small wins, bring cake for the children.

He even got married, before my husband got transferred to Abuja.

Ah, when we were leaving, Okon wept like a baby.

He hugged us over and over, came visiting again before we finally left.

He still calls us often.

Just last week, he told me he had been promoted to Executive Director.

I froze.

I didn’t know when tears gathered in my eyes.

From a gateman to Executive Director?

Only God can write such beautiful stories.

And sometimes, he uses people like you and I to hold the pen.

Moral of the story?

Don’t look down on anybody. That “ordinary” gateman you’re ignoring might just be a giant in the making.

Life is truly beautiful… when your heart is good.

Your current situation is not your conclusion.
You may start at the gate, but if you carry vision, discipline, and integrity, the gate won’t be your final address.

Finally, when you’re faithful in little, life will trust you with more.
Okon wasn’t waiting for a big role to show excellence. He gave his best as a gateman, and life respond and became executive director.

If this story inspired you, kindly share

This is the focus now

THE ELEMENTS OF THOUGHT

In all academic disciplines, and in thinking, they share one universal truth that whenever you reason, you are trying to accomplish a purpose within a point of view using concepts and ideas, you are focused on some question, issue or problem, using information to come to some conclusion based on assumptions, all of which have implications. Thinking then generates purposes, raises questions, uses information, uses concepts, makes inferences, makes assumptions, generates implications, and embodies a point of view. It does not matter who you are; whenever you engage in thinking, you will find all these parts.

By pulling apart anyone’s narrative, we will uncover the logic behind their thought. Let's start from the point of view; as soon as the perspective changes, there will be a different combination of the elements of thought. The perspective may be political, relationships, money, religion, gender, family, or education. When we start from a point of view, e.g. religion, we ask what the person is looking at, and how they are developing the argument. One could make three different inferences following the information given to them on the Abrahamic Covenant from the Koran, Bible, or Tanaka; the inferences change based on the information, which also changes other elements of thought, like concepts, assumptions, implications and questions. One inference coming from the Koran is that Jesus was a prophet. Another inference coming from the Tanaka is that Jesus is not the Messiah.

The inference coming from the Bible is that Jesus is the son of God, the seed of Abraham. The concepts differ for Christians: salvation through Jesus, the cross, the Trinity, grace and truth, prophecy fulfilment, and a New Covenant. For Jews: the Torah, the Messiah is a future/political leader, a covenant made with Israel through Issac and Jacob. For Muslims: prophethood, lineage through Abraham and Ishmael. A Muslim assumption is that Jesus was a prophet and not divine. A Jewish assumption is that the Messiah has not yet come. A Christian assumption is that the Abrahamic covenant pointed forward to Christ. A question in the elements of thought would differ, such as the Jew would ask what it means to be God’s chosen people. Is the messiah divine or human? The Muslim may ask who the true heir of Abraham’s covenant was, Issac or Ishmael? The Christian may ask what it means for Jesus to be the seed of Abraham. The implications of thought for the Jew are that when the Messiah is coming, the New Testament is not authoritative. The implications of thinking for Muslims are that Jesus is honoured but not worshipped. The implications for Christians are that salvation is available through Jesus, not the law.

Let’s change to another point of view on money. Inferences will follow the information one has about money. The possible inference is that money is to be spent, money is to be multiplied, or money is to pay bills. Although money can do all those things, it will have different consequences. The difference in understanding creates the end outcome. Ideas associated with money can differ based on social class, culture, family upbringing, and life experiences; however, attached to all those contexts is a narrative, yet money operates by laws.

Another point of view we could use to model thinking is politics in an American context, in the present generation. A possible inference is that Trump is a dictator. Trump is making good decisions for America. Trump is an absolute nightmare as a president. For all these conclusions, there would need to be some premises on which the argument is built. Therefore, the inferences are coming from a source of information. We must also consider the social location of the person making an inference if you were a man coming from a patriarchal society where women are expected to serve the man and engage in unpaid domestic duties just because she is a woman. However, the ideas associated with gender may differ significantly if we change cultures; people’s differing understanding of religious texts can impact their conclusions based on how they interpret meanings. Therefore, we must consider the one making that assessment when weighing up differing opinions. We can also find the logic of a thinking pattern by observing those different conclusions based on the information.

They all involve some concepts, principles, and rules. It is always important to identify these; if we want to take command of thinking, we must accurately define the concepts being used, implicitly/explicitly, consciously/unconsciously. You wouldn’t just make the statement that Trump is a dictator. When we label someone, something, or a place, further investigation is needed to understand how that conclusion is made. Some will disagree, maybe because Trump is their president and they believe that he is doing well for the country. The person saying he is a dictator may have come from one of the 12 nations Trump has banned and have family members in America that they can no longer visit. The concepts in this person’s thought may be equality, human rights, democracy, authoritarianism, and discrimination, e.g. inclusion/exclusion, as it is targeting Muslim nations; therefore, Trump's far-right nationalism is also using the discourse strategy of us and them. If we were to develop our thinking by taking command of the concepts concealed within a narrative, we would get an accurate understanding of a concept by finding descriptions of its meaning. So often, we only have a shallow understanding of a concept, or it could be inaccurate.

Let’s explore the concept of democracy as an illustration. According to the Webster dictionary, democracy is government by the people, a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. On the other hand, according to the Webster dictionary, authoritarianism favours complete obedience or subjection to authority as opposed to individual freedom. To be critical of someone’s perspective, we must find the definitions of the concepts they may be using. This is why, critically, not emotionally, getting to the logic of an argument is crucial if we come from a different viewpoint. There will be other concepts that someone from America may have based on a negative experience, maybe they were caught up in the Twin Towers on September 11th and have developed a negative view of a religious minority.

Yet to say that all people from one nation are going to display a terrorist character trait is a heresy. To further develop our understanding of the parts of thinking, we need to ask what information they are using. Perhaps a good example of this is that Trump is a radical right nationalist, where to be American, you must qualify by ethnicity and race, as some of the other terms that he uses in discourse are “Build the wall nice and tall.” His thinking shows that he has an us and them narrative; he is analogising using sentiment of American nationalism.

We need to identify the information source from which anyone is drawing inferences. Here, we look for the facts, experiences, or data the person uses to draw conclusions. Inferences are the conclusions people draw from the information. For example, Trump is an authoritarian, but there must be some connecting premise that logically connects. Sometimes people make an inference but do not have enough evidence to support that claim, or their reasons do not connect logically. In the bible, the chief priest and the elders devised a plan and gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say 'Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” And this story has been widely circulated to this day. That is why the Jews draw the inference that Jesus did not resurrect from the grave. Hidden in that inference are untested assumptions made by a whole people group as one of the premises that they believe support this argument that Jesus is not God. That is a serious assumption that could determine the whole trajectory of someone’s belief system, which is why we must always test our assumptions.

Assumptions are the information we have taken for granted; they underlie the reason for someone's argument. Assumptions can usually be unstated or not made explicit, but they are always an element in the parts of thinking. What is the key question someone is asking whenever they think? For example, this article is trying to settle a question: Can we understand the logic behind anyone's thought, even if they are different from our own? Questions always drive our thinking; we must clarify what question directs our thinking. What is Trump's question about tariffs? How can he make America the financial superpower of the world? There are strategic reasons behind his decisions. Our goal is to figure out the question behind someone’s reasoning.

What is the main purpose of someone’s reasoning? There is always a purpose that drives thought. This is universal and will be in everyone's thinking, depending on the subject. Take a mundane activity like grocery shopping, you take out a pen and paper because you don’t want to forget what you need at the grocery store. There are clear purposes in your thinking. I may write on a subject that particularly matters to me because I have seen the injustice a problem may cause; therefore, my reasoning has a clear purpose. Here, we try to discover the intent of reasoning. What is someone trying to accomplish through thinking? If we accept some line of reasoning, what are some important implications of that reasoning?

What likely consequences follow, such as believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is God? According to the bible, the implications of thinking spiritually lead to life and peace, and the consequences lead to eternal life with God. All thinking has implications. Another way of thinking is that if we fail to accept this line of reasoning, some important implications are. Then you could ask what important consequences are likely to follow if you ignore the information. I have covered all the elements of thought that you can start implementing into your reasoning. This is an extensive subject. Still, it needs to be practically applied for it to have long-lasting benefits and to understand how thinking arranges itself just by adjusting or changing some of the assumptions that have not been tested, checking for other information sources and thinking through the logic of other people’s points of view. Practice critical thinking every day.

Picture taken from Nike Art Gallery a place of creative arts plus and displays in Nigeria.

Dear Son,

Focusing on your needs isn't selfish. It's necessary. You can't pour into anyone if you're running on empty. You don't need to be everywhere. You don't need to respond to everything.
You need to start focusing on what you actually need. Not what looks good. Not what keeps people happy. Not what gets claps. What you need!!!!!!!!
Stop pushing your needs to the bottom of the list.

No one is coming to save you son!.

DEVELOPING YOUR ABILITY TO SEE IN PICTURES

The clock displays a specific time, which may influence your current actions. If you are reading, you have chosen to focus on letters representing words; furthermore, these words convey ideas about physical and intangible objects. The images provoked in your mind depend on the words you read. You aren’t creating those images; they appear as a finished picture, like an Alsatian dog or a Dalmatian. Those breeds symbolise physical features that may seem tangential unless we provide more details about their age, gender, coat, colour, and context. As we string sentences together, those words enhance clarity, allowing us to create ideas over time.

Do we simply take this skill for granted, that no other species can take descriptions and names and identify physical features? The most fascinating part is that your mind forms images and develops thoughts based on how you present those ideas. Not everyone’s mind is conditioned to think this way, as they may have a completely different depth of thought, or perhaps they haven’t trained their minds to consider the abstract aspects of life that require more explanation. Allowing our minds to freely contemplate details or abstract concepts aids in developing our thinking faculties to analyse information.

I can pick up a book and read for ten minutes, and during that time, my mind absorbs words from the page that I didn’t put there; it engages in another person's thought process and how they perceive things. It's fascinating that not only can we create, but we can also be influenced by others' opinions through visual or linguistic codes. Yet the way they describe something or analyse it may indicate that they see it from a different perspective, or it may present new information, or it could confirm ideas you already hold. This illustrates the difference between the two minds. However, if those minds were shaped by different cultural, social, or economic contexts, how might their perspectives diverge based on their social locations?

Imagine your physical space, exactly where you are now; you might be in your house, on the subway, at a café, in a park, or sitting at the beach. The first observation we want to make is that no one else in this world is occupying that small piece of the earth except for your physical body. You could be on a roller coaster about to start, experiencing something entirely different than Taylor Swift, who is choreographing her next music video. She hears different sounds, is immersed in the cultivation of creativity in dance, and frames physical objects to convey the meaning she wishes to impart to her listeners.

But if we were to go even deeper, there may be a philosophy at another level that influences people's experiences. The rollercoaster rider is a go-getter who wants to enjoy having fun and may prioritise such experiences more than a religious monk on a meditation retreat, quietly seeking the source of their ideas. The monk isn’t on the rollercoaster because of a completely different set of values. Understanding that people’s priorities change based on various factors is important. A corporate businessman who is the CEO of his own company won’t find himself at a meditation retreat because he has a business attitude towards time. What I’m emphasising here is the ability to think in pictures and to create with words. I’ve just taken you on a journey of imagination, a skill given to you to replicate God’s image and likeness.

No animal or any other species on Earth has a philosophy of life, can dissect truth, see in pictures, read the same object, or understand and comprehend language. These are our sources of wealth if we understand how to maximise and use them for God’s kingdom. We can take measurements and analyse if they match the plumb line and know where we are supposed to be from the numbers on a clock. We can navigate the roads of life and steer our lives according to the manufacturer’s instructions through intentional living and deep introspection. Studying how well you have developed skills or where you need to improve is something only you can analyse, and it could re-automate the compass of life according to your values. Life shouldn’t be something that happens to us; it should be intentionally lived in alignment with the one who created you and made you material for this dispensation of times and seasons. Study all the hidden capacities within you and develop them to be more attuned to maximise all the wealth God has given you.

BENEFITS OF OBSERVATION SKILLS

How can you maximise your time in everything you do? By having clarity of purpose, you can learn every minute of the day when you have defined how each hour will be used strategically. We all have different purposes for creation, so the key observation you might be looking for could be quite different from mine. For example, an artist may use their observation skills to notice nuances in shadows and light at various times of the day. They might look for details that could improve their artistic talent and then think about how to incorporate those into their art. Isaac Newton was fascinated by the apple that dropped on his head. After much contemplation and using his observation skills, he derived the three laws of motion that explain the cause and effect created by the movement of energy and material mass.

This explains that nothing moves without material force unless there is an applied action. Sometimes, mundane parts of life, like household chores and even engaging in the Uncle Sam system, require us to sell our time to an employer for a wage. However, we know this is not the reason we were created, and yet, with intense focus, we must prioritize our observation skills using our willpower while finishing the tasks set before us. These tasks are merely intermediaries as we transition from employment to self-employment, using our skills and purpose for creation as the ultimate reason for waking each day, to add value to that gift, even in the mundanity.

First, you need to clearly define your purpose. How can you make each hour work towards that goal? For example, you might sell your hours to others in exchange for money until you have enough to work for yourself, so that your time truly becomes your own. You must develop a strategy to apply high-yielding principles that can improve your ability to serve those who benefit from your gift, which must be clearly identified. Different parts of the day can be used to maximise your potential—reading, writing, listening, and conversation are all equal components, each with its own logic that can be maximised through observation. Have you ever become an observer of yourself without judgment, simply noticing how well you engage in each activity, recognising where your strengths and weaknesses lie? Sometimes we are good at one part but weaker in others. They all have different logic.

Listening requires 110% focus. Have you ever noticed you were thinking of something else when you were meant to be listening? Therefore, the time you thought you were converting into added value has been completely wasted. Listening is a skill that can be developed to be strong, like writing or reading. When we listen, we need to shift from our own point of view to truly engage with the other person’s perspective and understand. I try to broaden my thinking. I do not dismiss information just because it comes from someone whose fundamental views oppose mine. For example, I am a lover of truth, not religion. First, we must define religion from truth. Religion is a set of rituals that someone practices, e.g., churchgoing, prayer, and reading religious texts. At the same time, all of those are good; they are simply behaviours that one does. However, all religions have other rituals, such as praying five times a day and observing the months they believe the prophet has announced as holy. Others engage in chanting or meditation. You can find many rituals attached to a belief system. Yet, many of those do not lead to the father.

Yet, when saying something profound, you can observe whether you are open-minded enough to look beyond a person's religious worldview. They may have uncovered universal truths that apply to everyone, regardless of their faith. Another point you might notice is that they are fully committed to a worldview that, just as much as we confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, serves as the foundation for our entire belief system. Their thinking might start from a different perspective—one that is the first building block of their understanding of life, which is someone's worldview. There is a significant difference between the worldview of the kingdom of God and that of many traditional Christians.

The first point is that the pulpit ministry has become so exalted that Sunday tradition has turned into a way of life for many Christians. However, beyond gathering, the rest of their week is spent serving the Uncle Sam system to earn money and pay their bills. This has become so normalised that it would be difficult for people to see any alternative. Jesus said there are only two gods; while it is true that money answers all things and could solve every problem, money has many voices attached to it. It tells us to go here or there and can dictate where it is spent. It demands obedience, and unless we understand the laws associated with it, it will control us rather than us controlling it. Money is not meant to be spent; it is meant to be retained, multiplied, and invested.

That is why many people sell their labour for a wage. However, since many only earn enough to make ends meet, they are often trapped in a perpetual cycle of working to build someone else's vision. This is a catastrophe in light of God’s word, because to whom we give ourselves is our master. It has been subtly woven into our thinking since childhood—to go to school, get an education, join the workforce, and sell our lives to it. How can we serve God if that is our philosophy? We must discover our God-given purpose and find a way to live for that purpose instead of selling our lives to the world system. Many structures support this, including the pulpit ministry with one man who has discovered his calling and is multiplying that gift. Meanwhile, the rest of the church is held back from reclaiming all that the thief has stolen—from politics to education—because we are not walking according to the priorities and principles Jesus gave us as instructions, which are based on truth, not a set of religious rituals.

Jesus said, “Go into all the world and teach them to observe all that I have taught you.” I have been observing people from different religions who do not openly declare their faith; you must listen carefully to discover it. Still, they teach principles that can change lives and even use God's word to support these principles, but they do not openly confess Jesus Christ as Lord. They have millions of followers who are being discipled by them. However, the most critical part—the foundation from which all their teachings are built—is deeply flawed and deviates from the truth. This deception is so subtle that it schools people into a worldview containing powerful principles from God's kingdom according to our original nature. Still, it ultimately leads people to permanent separation from God because the root is corrupt.

The truth is what everyone desires, but because people have been mentally conditioned by their environment, how the truth is told, even if it is in error, aligns with foreign beliefs that have entered the psyche and have persisted for many generations, shaping how they see the world. Still, we must recognise that this is a lie, and while we sit in churches every week for our spiritual fix to solve our problems, countless others will be separated from God because we did not follow the instructions of grace and truth that Jesus left for us. You alone are created from something that I do not have the same capacity for because of your unique path of preparation and God's design for your life. The light is created for darkness; it is the only thing that will uproot and remove every voice that opposes Jesus as God. Unless you manifest that in the world, nothing can change, and a whole people group that God created you for will perish, for which we are answerable.

We focus too much on the wrong things, like church attendance, giving your tithe, and pastors want their followers to be faithful because of this. But actually, the one who should be our master of our finances, our way of life, and everything we do is the captain of our faith, Jesus Christ. We were created for a calling in the world; that’s how our Monday to Friday lives should be lived in accordance with His will. If we don’t make His will our priority, it will always come second to our work. We need to live our lives to the fullest by following God's ways laid out in truthful principles. The key to this is in observing. In the Cambridge dictionary, observing means watching carefully how something happens or how someone does something, especially to learn more about it. We need to reflect on what Jesus means by observing everything He has taught us.

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A COMPOSITE OF AWARENESS, CONCENTRATION AND WILLPOWER

Just as a palette of colours is to an artist, a vast array of words and their syntax is to a writer. By blending and combining words, a writer weaves a rich tapestry of meaning. Meaning is the ultimate goal of writing, even though the process of sending and receiving messages can be complex. It is fascinating that all of humanity shares in language, even though the dialect spoken may differ. For example, the word used to stand in for a dog may be different in another language, but that word can often be translated so that we understand they refer to the same object in the world.

Words are like cutting patterns in paper; although they are abstractions of the real world, they serve to stand in for and represent something. That's why, when we share terms and definitions, it’s often important to clarify what we mean by those terms so that everyone starts with a shared understanding of a word. Currently, I’m working on taking three words that serve as the active ingredients influencing my behaviour daily. The goal is for the words not just to be abstract ideas, but to be converted into tangible actions, so that the words benefit me physically in the material world.

The three words I want to focus on are awareness, concentration, and willpower. Right away, you might think you understand what I mean from those words, but to avoid the different connotations that can vary in people's minds, let's start by defining what I mean when I mention these terms. Sometimes, creating a picture is the most effective way to convey understanding.

Think of awareness as a glowing ball of light that moves around the vast areas of the mind, so to speak. For example, when you're running a race to win, your awareness is in a competitive part of the mind, compared to when you're listening or watching a movie. The movie producer can take your awareness and direct it to various parts of the mind, such as turning something funny into a happy feeling, or something suspenseful into fear, or something that may make you angry. This is influenced by an external source created by your environment, over which you have no physical control. Awareness is triggered by the money you paid to a producer to evoke emotions in you, which is determined by the pictures, words, and storyline associated with the movie. In everyday life, many people are not in charge of their awareness. Something upsets you, and you keep thinking about those ideas; therefore, they have taken control of your awareness as it shifts to a worried state of mind. Then it is rehearsed, and by doing this, we are practising distraction in allowing our awareness to be focused on an external or internal conflict. This is why we need to be conscious in the present moment, so that we know exactly which part of the mind our awareness is focused on.

The practice of meditating on quality information, such as scripture or complex problems we aim to solve, should be a more productive time using our awareness. Today, there is an epidemic of distraction caused by many factors, like social media, messages, news stories, or emails that pop up. The longer we let our environment dictate where our awareness goes, the more we practice distraction. Every second in our lives is wasted if we haven't set an intention or purpose to focus on one thing. External influences govern our focus if we allow others to decide where our attention goes.

Next, I want to define concentration: the ability to hold our attention on something for a set period until the mind chooses to shift focus. Looking at some of the great inventors and discoverers of universal truths like Isaac Newton, Einstein, or Shakespeare—who spent ten years writing one book studied across generations—we see people who developed new inventions, such as rockets that go to space, or achieved anything beyond instant gratification through commitment to concentration. Edison is a clear example; after his 1000 attempts to build a light bulb, he finally cracked the code. If he had given up, it may have taken many more years for such a discovery to happen. We can't finish anything we start unless we develop the skill to concentrate.

The next concept we need to understand is willpower. We can think of willpower as a muscle we all possess, though to different degrees. For example, you might decide you want to exercise, but you have a habit of not following through with that commitment. It’s not that you lack integrity with your word; it may be that you need to develop the skill of willpower. We can incorporate this into our daily routines; it involves completing tasks until they are finished. If you get out of bed but don’t make your bed until later in the day, your sleep cycle remains incomplete. If you say you’ll leave the dishes until the morning, you’re not taking advantage of the opportunity to build willpower by finishing a task. This isn’t laziness; it’s the inability to sustain willpower until everything you set your hand to is complete. If we commit to finishing every task, such as eating, washing up, and putting things away, without compromise, and practise this as a routine in our daily life, we’ll strengthen our willpower muscle. The more you resist the temptation to leave things until later and complete the task, the better your results will be over time.

Imagine our world if half-finished buildings were inhabitable, children didn’t have to finish the school year once they decided to stay home, ingredients for a cake were put together but not baked, dishes piled up, rubbish was not taken out for weeks, and a bridge was left incomplete. This is the foundation of disorder. In Genesis 1, at the beginning of the world, at the end of each day, God had a protocol where He performed quality checks — using the principle of evaluation — when the Bible states that God saw that it was good, not only did He complete His work, but He also gave it a quality mark. Everything we undertake must be finished, and not only finished but also pushed a little further, doing a bit more than is comfortable. This builds your willpower to be a finisher. There are mundane tasks we all must do, like washing dishes, cooking, cleaning, and making the bed, and often we don’t see why completing these tasks is so important. It’s not just about the satisfaction of having done them; it is about developing your willpower to complete everything you start. If this principle hasn’t been embedded in your consciousness, you might look back over the last five years and notice projects left undone. There could be valid reasons for this, but the real key is cultivating the willpower of a finisher.

Over the last 7 to 10 years, I have been dedicated to academic and self-education, making it a lifestyle culture. To dismiss this for trivial pursuits is not an option because the amount of willpower I have built to pursue this has become second nature, often going against the cultural norm. People are motivated by different things; it depends on our values and what we consider priorities. However, willpower, concentration, and awareness are fundamental. If we do not prioritise these skills in areas where we are weak, we cannot effectively use them as tools that benefit us. We have a lawn mower for cutting grass, a dishwasher for cleaning and drying dishes, and a computer is essential for many tasks. It is as important to understand and practise conscious awareness—being aware of what part of the mind our focus is in—or concentration to uncover new solutions that may resolve problems. Willpower is like a muscle that sustains lasting change. I challenge you, as I challenge myself, to develop these skills.

Written by Rochelle White

[23/05, 12:02 am] null: *START YOUR DAY WITH GOD...*

*SHOW COMPASSION*

_Colossians 3:12_
_"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"_


As God’s chosen people, we are called to wear compassion like a garment, allowing it to influence how we see others and how we respond to their needs. Compassion is not mere sympathy; it is being prompt to show genuine concern to someone in need. It expresses itself in mercy, kindness, meekness and longsuffering.

It is taking the time to recognize a weary mother struggling to cater for her children and offering a helping hand, noticing the colleague weighed down with stress and taking a moment to listen, or reaching out to a church member who has been absent and might be silently battling discouragement. Just as God showers us daily with mercy and grace, He calls us to act the same way toward those around us.

Jesus consistently showed compassion everywhere He went. He wept over Jerusalem when he saw their spiritual state, was moved with compassion for the multitudes that followed him, and paused to teach, heal and feed them (Matt 14:13-21). Compassion shifts our focus from ourselves to others. It helps us bear one another’s burdens and respond to others in humility and meekness.

Today, choose to show compassion. Be quick to understand and slow to judge. Ask the Holy Ghost to help you see the needs around you He wants you to handle. As you obey His leading, may His blessings overflow in your life in Jesus name, Amen.

_To continue reading today's devotional, please visit:_
https://prayingthepromises.co.uk/show-compassion

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_*God bless you*_
[23/05, 9:01 am] null: It is 9am
*It is Time for Holy Spirit worship.*

_You can take a quick break from whatever you are doing and say this prayer. (If possilbe You may lift your hands or kneel)_
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Holy Spirit of the Living God, I welcome You into my life, my home and my businesses.

Help me today not to grieve You in any way as I lay myself down in total worship and surrender to you.

I consecrate my body, soul and spirit to You oh Lord my creator, companion and Helper.

May all that I say and do today be directed by you to bring glory to the Father. Amen.

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The *Last Day Worship Network*, setup by our man of God, Prophet Isaiah Macwealth, is geared towards promoting the expressive and demonstrative worship of God through a daily three-time act of worship to declare and publish the name and greatness of the LORD in homes, offices, organizations, in nations all around the world, and for generations to come.

We have a daily three-time act of worship:

- 9am – Holy Spirit Worship
- 12Noon – Jesus Worship
- 6pm – God worship

*Do not forget to observe your 12Noon and 6pm worship break.*