Since the dawn of time, or at least since the earliest years of recorded human history, there have been differing opinions on what the fundamental motivation for life was. Scientists, philosophers, and religious clerics alike have all been concerned with the question of an objective meaning to life with each school putting its best theory forward.

Up until the early 18th century, however, the generally accepted answer to the question of meaning was provided by religious beliefs. Many religions posited the concept of a utopic paradise as man’s final destination and the fundamental purpose of Being.

But as the age…

Not too long ago, early this year to be precise, I found myself getting worked up and enraged whenever my girlfriend and I engaged in discussions where we each held opposing views.

And at times — because she’s a smart cookie, that one, and far from a pushover — our disagreement would reach such a crescendo that I would unwittingly resort to launching ad hominem attacks — going after her and creating a hostile atmosphere in a bid to defend my ideas.

Afterward, I would be overcome with guilt and shame because as my temper flared and I launched into…

Anyone who has seen or read what is perhaps one of the greatest stories ever told — The Shawshank Redemption — would be all too familiar with the words that make up the title of this essay. These seven words, spoken by Andy to Red in the equally mesmerizing movie rendition of Stephen King’s masterpiece, packs within them a profound truth, that many seem oblivious to.

Andy’s words illuminate clearly two separate paths every individual faces in life — on the one hand, the choice of becoming an active participant in one’s own life. …

Millions of articles, books, and videos have been written or made about the power of habits. Some inspirational and life-changing, and others, well! I wouldn’t say horseshit, but if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck. The emphasis, however, on forming and maintaining good long-term habits is not misplaced because humans are, by our nature, creatures of habit. …

After being away from home for a while during which I completed the year-long compulsory service, which every Nigerian graduate must pass through before they are deemed worthy to join the workforce, I returned to find my room a mess, as is to be expected.

For some reason — laziness mostly — I was not up to the task of giving my mostly unhabitable lair the sort of thorough cleaning that it was in dire need of and opted instead for some peripheral and surface touch-up that would make it, at the very least, a little more habitable.

By now…

It was Heraclitus who first recognized the massive role our characters played in shaping our destinies. For thousands of years, humans have believed in some kind of divine force that compelled their every move. Our earliest ancestors believed in predestination — in the belief that our lives have been planned and laid out in advance by some transcendent being. But thanks to science and critical thinking, we see the world much more differently now. We have come to believe that we are, to an extent, masters of our fate and that we create our own destinies. …

I have never been one to concern myself with Nigerian politics or social activism for obvious reasons. I must confess that in my heart, I had no love or loyalty left for this country. In fact, I had given up any hope for change and was bidding my time until I found an opportunity to leave for good. In my experience, most people also feel this way, at least up until recently.

It is no secret that Nigerians are among the world’s most unpatriotic people. But this is not because we hate the country of our birth. It is rather…

If I had a penny for every time I’ve tried to change a particular behavior or incorporate a new one and failed miserably, I’d probably be a wealthy man. I used to, like most people, think of self-discipline in terms of willpower.

I believed that I could do anything I wanted if I just pushed myself hard enough. But after abandoning numerous resolutions after just a few days of undertaking them, I was forced to admit that building self-discipline required much more than sheer willpower.

The first few days of starting a new diet, or hitting the gym, or canceling…