Eliminate the Distractions pulling you away from your purpose, By Rita Oluchi Obi

We've all had that moment in life where we've told ourselves over and over again "this time I'm going to get it done!” But as soon as we start working towards that goal or the betterment of yourself, distractions get in the way.

It may be an argument a few days ago with one of your friends or family members, your social media feeds filled with too many imposters or text messages from an annoying old boo refusing to let you move on. You've gone from being extremely ambitious to quickly obsessing over minor matters that are not contributing to your growth at all! 

We have to remain strong and focused ladies! Your experiences and relationships play a significant role in shaping your future. So it's extremely important for us to be careful with who and what we invest our time in.  Below are four ways you can weed out the distractions in your life 

Photocredit Tamara Flemming Relevant Photos, Image Concept WCA 2017

1.    Recognize what your distractions are

Every time you want to pursue a goal, what gets in the way? Is it family members constantly nagging you about everything, friends thinking that your life revolves around theirs, on and off relationships with men, or images on social media having you think your life sucks?  Write your distractions down in a journal and develop practical ways for you to avoid each one.   

2.    Stop entertaining toxic friendships 

Stop entertaining friendships that aren't pushing you to be better. Surround yourself with individuals who inspire you, bend over backwards for you, and see the potential in you to be greater. It's that simple. If you're friends aren't helping you become the best version of yourself, let them go! Dead weight will weigh you down! But positivity will propel you towards greatness. 

3.    Use more of your free time to participate in activities that will contribute to perfecting your craft

Quit investing so much time in activities that aren't enhancing your life. You have so many goals, yet you're turning up every week, traveling all over the world or looking for the next boo to go on a date with. Do these things in moderation. Indulge in these activities AFTER you've accomplished a major goal on your list. Look at it as a way of rewarding yourself after a period of working extremely hard.  These activities will only bring you joy temporarily. But spending your free time perfecting your craft, improving your business plan, or networking with likeminded individuals will draw you a       step closer to your goal.

4.    Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!

Photo credit CreateHer Stock

When I pursue my goals, I remind myself that I have no time for political correctness or disclaiming every single sentence      so as to not “offend” anyone. I know I have to focus on doing everything possible to become the best version of myself. If that means I have to limit my time with certain people, and even exclude a few more, then that is exactly what I’m going to do. Why? Well, because I've made the goal of fulfilling my purpose my number one priority. 

Are you doing everything within your power to fulfill your goals? Are you devoting time to pursuing your goals? Are you     committed? Have you made any sacrifices? If your answer is no, then your goals are not a priority! 

This part of your life sets the bar for how high you will go in life? You know hard you've worked mentally, spiritually, and    emotionally to get where you currently are in life. So quit allowing temporary distractions to pull you away from permanent success. How will you ever be able to hear God or see your purpose, when your mind’s crowded?

Rita Obi, MPH is the founder of @buildingyou, a consulting business that works with nonprofit startups to develop programs, workshops, and events suitable to their persona, in an effort to secure funding. She has over 7 years of experience providing consulting services and training to nonprofits startups in areas of program planning and fundraising. She has served organizations in New York such as Children's Hospital At Montefiore, New York City Food Policy Center and organizations in Nigeria such as UR4 Africa and Head Start Private School . Rita is also a humanitarian and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of the educational nonprofit organization, @korfoundation, , a nonprofit organization that provides social and academic support to students in rural villages of Nigeria and the U.S Marketing Executive Director for @crystalcourtlekki, a luxury hotel in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.

Find her on her Instagram page @oluchi_ob

Discover Your True Purpose by Rita Obi

Have you ever experienced that feeling of incompletion?  Everything seems right externally. You've got a good job, your finances are in order, your business is flourishing, your friends are amazing, and you’ve got a good man by your side! Although life seems great, there’s still a feeling of emptiness that lies within you. You know there’s something missing, but you can't put your finger on it.

You're searching for your purpose. You're trying to figure out what your "WHY " is on this earth. You've probably attempted to pursue a career in medicine, law, nursing, etc. and realized it wasn’t your cup of tea. Or maybe you've even tried pursuing a career in event planning, retail, beauty, and many other business ventures that seem successful for other women. But you weren’t really into it.  And guess what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Don’t settle, keep digging! 

Here are four tips that will help you find you purpose:

1.     Listen To Your Life 

Listening to your life is a matter of observing ongoing patterns of feelings or emotions. Pay attention to these signs. If there is a feeling of emptiness within you, don't ignore it, confront it! Outings, retail therapy, or going on a million dates will not fill that void!  Stay still for once in your life. Take some alone time out of your life to self-reflect and listen to your thoughts. This step will force you to confront your fears and embrace your strengths. More importantly, it will trigger growth.

2. Listen to Your Dissatisfaction 

You are not satisfied with where you are in life for multiple reasons. Acknowledge these reasons, accept them and work on them! Transform this frustration into motivation by doing the work that needs to be done to live a life of satisfaction.  For instance, you may realize the profession you're in isn't as fulfilling as it once was. You want more! This desire for change and growth will push you to discover your talents.

3. Listen to Your Gifts

Stop ignoring what you are great at. Yes, I know, you’re getting that degree to make your family proud. But remember, it’s your life. Start embracing your gifts. Everyone tells you how great you are at something and you push it to the back burner because you're scared of taking risks. You've become so afraid of being judged or talked about that you've started neglecting your gifts. 

Your family thinks you’re silly for pursuing a career in writing and the thought of you pursuing a career in fashion design is intimidating because of the competition. Stop doubting your potential to succeed!

Embrace your  magnificence! Your gifts and talents are entirely unique to you and your purpose in this world.  If you’re good at it, go for it.  Perfect your gift, plan it ( strategically of course) , and shoot for the stars. This gift may create doorways of opportunity for you!

4. Listen to Your Passion

You know exactly what you’re passionate about. It’s that “thing” that brings you joy, excitement, and a sudden adrenaline rush. You can easily envision yourself spending the rest of your life doing this “thing.” But because you want to "play it safe", you call it a hobby. You’ve allowed your fear of failure to convince yourself that you are content. Cut it out ladies! Don't call it a hobby, it's your passion!   Overlooking your passion will simply cultivate a life of regret. 

You were destined to do something much greater than what you are doing now. But you will only find out once you open your eyes and heart. Listen to your heart and inner wisdom. It may feel slightly uncomfortable, but that’s a good thing! Explore that passion further and see how things may go! As long as you are patient with the process, you’ll be a few steps closer to your purpose.

Rita Obi, MPH is the founder of @buildingyou, a consulting business that works with nonprofit startups to develop programs, workshops, and events suitable to their persona, in an effort to secure funding. She has over 7 years of experience providing consulting services and training to nonprofits startups in areas of program planning and fundraising. She has served organizations in New York such as Children's Hospital At Montefiore, New York City Food Policy Center and organizations in Nigeria such as UR4 Africa and Head Start Private School .

Rita is also a humanitarian and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder of the educational nonprofit organization, @korfoundation, , a nonprofit organization that provides social and academic support to students in rural villages of Nigeria and the U.S Marketing Executive Director for @crystalcourtlekki, a luxury hotel in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.

General instagram page is @oluchi_ob