Essays, Articles & Tales

Socialize, Serve, Sell (Contd.) Some of us have had a smooth life, paved by the goodwill generated by the network effect of our family name. Making it a point of interest to form meaningful bonds with neighbors and acquaintances becomes paramount, as a rich network of friends will develop bonds with like-minded souls who become family. Their contribution to our general well-being cannot be overemphasized.  Service to humanity is a huge component of our growth journey.  When we give of ourselves, we enrich our life experience.  Selfless living is a skill that takes time to develop, as we are born selfish by default. Giving initiates a universal principle that ensures we receive in return.  It  unlocks our "abundance mindset", creating avenues for more resources to flow into our orbit.  For example; t eaching a topic helps us understand the subject matter better, and a s we offer a helping hand, we strengthen our hand as well.  L istening to our neighbor...

  Practice, Produce, Publish Creators are always up to something good, daily stretching their imagination to bring about a desired outcome. Busy hands yield great rewards. Practice what you learn. You master it by producing your version, to prove to yourself that you have mastered it.  You easily allow the world to pay you for it when you are convinced of your mastery. Until then, you might struggle with impostor syndrome. You need to develop the habits of repetition and steady practice  to commit ideas to memory. Doing something you once thought about completes the cycle of creation. Write, write, and write some more, to relieve mental stress. Just do it. Explore that thought which was once a crazy idea in your mind. Package it into a product and launch it into the market. Good products are great rewards to their creator - a purchase is merely a bonus.  The world could benefit from that spark of creation that began as a figment of your imagination, now available in ...

Harnessing the Power of Visualization: Overcoming OCD Visualization is a vital skill, needed by every creative mind. The ability to sit with an idea, develop its components and expand its potential mentally, will serve you beyond words of affirmation.  When you speak a thought into existence, holding vivid images will help the manifestation process, as emotions get involved - creating the experience of fulfillment in the mind.  Ever wonder how Nigerian creatives manage to dominate their field of endeavor, with total disregard for all signs of oppression, marginalization, or depression? With mental health awareness way below average, Psychotherapists have once labeled Nigeria to be the world's happiest country, even without depression treatment. The visualization of success practiced by an average Nigerian hustler in Lagos or the UK (home and abroad) should be a case study in psychiatry, as Nigerians lead the world in many fields. From   entertainment to academia, Nigerian...

MENTAL HACKS Meditation - The Psychological First Aid  Meditation helps to calm the monkey mind, whose natural tendency is to jump from one thought to another, with little to no positive outcome. Fear, worry, stress, and anxiety can be brought under control via meditation, and this should be your psychological first aid before you pop any pills. T he mind derives benefits from being calm, and this is the best self-help for anxiety. Simply relax - Life is not that deep (LOL). PS: Avoid the Nigeria Stock Exchange, Nigerian Newspapers, and Gossip Blogs. Your mind is the source of all suffering, heavily impacted by the kind of media we consume. Social media is a chief contributor to the mental health crisis, so to stay creative, regulating my screen time became necessary. I chose to block out time for relaxation and meditation. After a short meditation session, I feel a boost in my ability to focus on tasks. Focus is regained when we slow things down, which greatly reduces post-traumat...

  GET ACTIVE: THE FOUNDATION OF WELLNESS We age according to how much stress, anxiety, depression, and muscle atrophy we experience. Yes, we might fabricate our age for as long as we can. But the grey hairs and wrinkles are no respecter of persons. They come to stay and we better make peace with them. - Provoe  The Creative Body Our sedentary lifestyle has been proven to be the leading cause of back pain. As I write this article, I am on my feet, moving my body to some great Amapiano playlist - I prefer music with words I don't understand, so my mind can wander without distraction. Going to the gym regularly may be difficult but you have all the weight you need to flex those muscles - Calisthenics will be your best friend. It includes Push-ups, squats, stretches, pull-ups, planks... and all sorts of exercises that need no equipment. Though aging is known to sneak up on you, moving your body is vital to checkmate the process. For example, being creative and suffering from OCD, ...

Self-Mastery: Taking Control of Your Mind Self-mastery is about being in charge of your thoughts and feelings, becoming self-aware and conscious of your internal state of mind. With self-mastery, you refine your focus to achieve your desires and unlock your highest potential. But this is a difficult task as you will discover. As a young creative coming up, people will take advantage of your determination to prove your worth. Your initial salary may remain unchanged for the first 5 years of employment, with the excuse that your value isn't well defined in the company. They will purposely devalue you. When you finally get their attention by disturbing their peace, your appeal may lead to a 30% increase in the meager salary, and that's it. You may end up stuck with a bad deal for many more years, with no one caring about your well-being. Good luck affording two meals a day. You will wear second-hand clothes and shoes to your “prestigious” office while living in a rundown apartment...

A GUIDE TO MENTAL HEALTH In my 7-year effort to build the Provoe brand (a platform teaching self-mastery), I applied some hacks that helped me to survive the challenges of being a Nigerian creative. Dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder from my childhood without therapy, I encountered some toxic experiences in the entertainment industry, which helped me detect symptoms of bipolar disorder. I self-diagnosed my mental health condition through dedicated research and self-observation. Have you ever felt sad, angry, or confused, shortly after basking in joyful enthusiasm? It's OK to feel these emotions, as everyone does. But when your mood changes erratically, consider paying attention to your mind. What is Mental Health? Just like self-care - you brush your teeth, bathe, eat healthy, exercise, and get good sleep to maintain a healthy body. But what do you do to maintain a healthy mind? Mental health is about how you feel, think, and behave. This affects your attitude and impacts ...