UNLOCKING POTENTIAL: THE POWER OF REFLECTION AND REALIZATION IN ACHIEVING LIFE’S GOALS
Today I’m speaking on maximizing your life by releasing the potential within you.
This is essential because even God says, “Come, let us reason together.” When you review, the realizations you come to can significantly help you.
For instance, I reviewed my life as a medical doctor. I observed those ahead of me, particularly those who were lecturing me, and I realized that wasn’t the life I wanted to live. I know a pediatrician who spends nearly all day in the intensive care baby unit. I didn’t want that kind of life. I wanted to live at my own pace, without compulsion. So, very early on, I decided that I wouldn’t continue practicing medicine beyond the age of 40. I reviewed my life and my profession and realized that I needed to acquire the skills to transition into general practice, allowing me to end active medical practice at 40.
When I started ministry, I looked at churches and general overseers. I noticed two things: they always complained about the attitude of their members, and they constantly faced financial challenges. They had so many cases and issues to settle, which I didn’t have the strength for. I wanted to do things at my own pace.
Another realization was that I didn’t need to leave Nigeria to succeed because I noticed that very wealthy Nigerians rarely stay outside the country. So, I stayed in Nigeria. I also realized that you don’t need to be in an urban area to do well. Many of my contemporaries in urban areas are just paying high rent, sitting in traffic, and going through the motions. So, I chose to stay in a suburban area. I also realized that I didn’t have the capacity to compete in Lagos or Warri, so I went to a suburban area where land and labor were cheaper. This allowed me to establish what I wanted because my services were more in demand.
I also realized that I needed to establish relationships outside my tribe, locality, denomination, and congregation. But that’s a topic for another discussion. These realizations, when acted upon, lead to understanding. The Bible says, “By wisdom, a house is built, and by understanding, it is established; through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and precious ornaments.” When you review, you come to realizations, and then you must act on them. When you act on your realizations, you achieve self-actualization.
Most people know what they need to do, but they are too scared to act. They are comfortable where they are and not ready to take the next step. We’ll discuss risk-taking in another session.
So, what have you realized? What have you realized about life or about what you are doing? Until you come to those realizations and act on them, they will remain dormant and may judge you in the future.
As I get older, I realize more things. For example, I realized that I needed to have money to live comfortably in old age. Even though I have joint businesses and family businesses with my wife, I still needed to be the man of the house—the breadwinner and the bread baker. I needed to be in a position where I could exercise authority. Take this to the bank: if you are poor as a man, you are financially incapacitated. You will lose your authority, no matter how much you complain, quote scriptures, or talk about love. I’ve been down that road. As a man, you must be able to make decisions without fearing who might be upset.
I once did a video, and someone told me I should avoid church matters so that people wouldn’t frown upon me. But do they feed me? Do they pay my bills? Am I their pastor? What rights do they have over me? Those they have been smiling at, what have they done for them? Frown at me? Forget it. I realized early on that you must cultivate financial independence. Otherwise, as a man, you won’t be able to speak out, make decisions, or provide leadership. You’ll just be a “CCE” (Chief Complaints Executive) everywhere—in the church, at home, and in your community.
God bless you. I’m your friend, Dr. Charles Apoki.
