Dear Destiny Friends,

I would like to begin today’s article with an experience I had with elementary school students. I was privileged to speak with the amazing students on what they would like to be in the future. I started by telling them about myself and how I became a lawyer, author, life coach and a public speaker before asking them to tell me what they would like to be in the future. It was interesting to hear the amazing interest and desires those kids have in mind.

I shared practical and insightful tips with respect to how they can achieve their desires. My messages to these young kids were centered on believing in themselves, and realizing that they are the captain of their lives.

Each of us were once like those amazing students. We all had dreams of becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer, actor, pastor, etc., but while some of us were able to reach, surpass our goals and even aspire to conquer more grounds, some of us unfortunately, could not achieve our heart desires and goals. One reason or another could be adduced for the failure.

Did you know your life is like a ship sailing in the waters, and you have the power, authority and capacity to direct and take it to the destination of your choice?  As you sail, you will definitely experience storms and challenges, but you must endeavour to take absolute charge. If you don’t, there is the tendency that things might end disastrously.

To prepare your ship, you need to have your crew onboard. Imagine your crew as your mind and thoughts which will direct your life. Being the captain of your life gives you the freedom to do what is necessary for you, because if you do not govern your life, it will be governed by others.

As the captain of your life, nobody knows you more than you know yourself. Each of us have a ship, but it’s quite unfortunate some of us don’t sail.

You will surely direct how your life will unfold when you sit on the driver’s seat, and take absolute control. Just like a dog cannot give birth to a pig and a lion cannot give birth to a goat, you will definitely get what you sow depending on the attention you give the ship of your life. Little wonder those in the know say garbage in, garbage out. Success, with every respect in the books, is never a guest of the weak. To succeed, strength of character is required just like a lot of processes and strategies. However, one must not lose focus on the two most important features of success; the “God factor” which I call “grace” and the “human factor” which I can call determination.

You may be wondering why I mentioned the God factor and the human factor. You need the grace of God to succeed in life nor matter how intelligent and hardworking you are. When you have the God factor, even your weakness will be celebrated; you’ll find favour with men; you will work less and thrive where others worked so hard and fail. Also, you need to put in the work if you really want to succeed. Even if you have the God factor, remember God will not do the work for you, you will have to put in the time for the ‘God factor’ to bless the works of your hands. Isn’t it true that the God who saved you without your assistance cannot also save without your assistance?

The man, who is the captain of his life, takes ownership just like the captain of a ship or the pilot of a plane. Nobody, I repeat, nobody, will hand over success to you. You will have to demand it.

Before you can be the captain of your life, you will have to know yourself, what works for you, and what doesn’t work for you. You will, for all intent and purpose, master your life. And when you do, every other thing will become secondary. As the captain of your life, every other thing in life answers to you.

Here is a practical concept of how you can be the captain of your life. You must be able to master how to use money, and it will be a slave to you. It is quite unfortunate to note that many people have allowed money to enslave them. They fail to understand that money answers the name you give to them. If you call money your slave or a servant, it will respect you. You are not meant to be a slave to money. Money is meant to serve you, and not the other way round. If you allow money to decide your choice of job or the person you will marry, you are a slave to money. When you cannot be bought, you have reduced money  to your slave. However, it’s okay to work for money for a period, but it should not be permanent.

Morale: Master money, don’t serve money.

According to scholars of jurisprudence, to captain your life, you need to have four pillars in shape: Relationships, Health, Work and Provider-ship and Spiritual Development. All of them ought to be given equal attention because no one is superior to the other.

Take time to examine your life and ask yourself; am I the captain of my life or am I just a crew member in other people’s ship?

Henry Ukazu writes from New York. He’s a Human Capacity & mindset coach. He’s also a public speaker, youth advocate and creative writer. He works with the New York City Department of Correction as the Legal Coordinator. He’s the author of the acclaimed book Design Your Destiny – Actualizing Your Birthright To Success and President of gloemi.com. He can be reached via info@gloemi.com