Today is the last episode of the Inspiration republic, I am excited about it.

I have taught over a hundred participants at my webinar about the last profile in the last two years.

The last profile is a concept of creating the end of life and walk back to the present to live it.

It is all about creating the statement you would want to hear from the lips of everyone at your funeral services when you finally depart from the earth.

It begins by asking the question, “What would I be known or remembered for when I am gone?”

I decided to follow them. When we arrived at the graveyard, the Clergyman preached the shortest, most unforgettable sermon I have ever heard.

He said:

"As is our culture in this town, everyone is expected to write his or her last profile and submit to the timekeeper. Today is the day of reckoning. We shall examine Madam Agnes's profile written and submitted 40 years ago to see whether or not she lived by it."

I haven't heard such before. It was very shocking to me. Someone called “The Timekeeper” came and presented her profile to the Clergyman to read out loud.

The whole town was shut down.

There was wailing and crying.

Everyone was heading in one direction.

In my confusion, I stood and watched for a few minutes. No one said a word. The young and old were crying uncontrollably.

“Don’t accept the world as it is. Dream of what the world could be - and then help make it happen.” -  Peter Tatchell

You can make it happen.

Your dream is a possibility. If it wasn’t possible, the divinity wouldn’t have allowed it to be conceived in your mind.

You can design your life the way you want it to happen. You can make life happen from and through you.

We need you to make the change to seek to make.

You can create a new order of humanity through your daily decision in life.

This is my admonition to you today:

First, life happens TO you. Then you CHOOSE to make life happen. Life happens FROM you and finally, Life happens THROUGH you.

The state of 'Life happens to me' is the powerless state of life. A life of survival rather than a life of meaning and contribution.

The best state to be in life is a state where you make life happens to others through you.

In early life, Life happens to most of us. But as we grow and attain maturity the best way to begin to live a life of meaning and contribution is to start making life happens as we choose.

Praise is a positive enemy.

Seek feedback, not praise.

When you receive feedback, filter it, and consume the ones that inspire you to expand your horizon.

Praise can destroy your capacity to do more if you don’t handle it carefully.

“Every time you give someone the power to build you up with praise, you are also unknowingly giving that person the power to destroy you with criticism. Therefore, accept praise and criticism as nothing more than someone else’s expressions of opinion. They have nothing to do with who you really are.” – Vishen Lakhiani

When you are told you are the best. The hole in your heart that is constantly seeking validation gets filled. Your ego rises and sometimes become bloated. This is not healthy for your success.

How do you handle praise?

“Most people don’t like being criticised. There is no way to achieve a serious level of success without getting some attention. Yes, people will eye you and make it clear that they disapprove of what you are doing. Let’s face it: No matter what choices you make in life, someone is going to criticise you somewhere along the way.” – Grant Cardone

You need collaboration, recommendation, association, feedback, etc. But two things you must be immune to if you desire success in life: Praise and Criticism. Yes, these two are dangerous enemies that tell you that you are not born enough, you need someone’s approval or validation.

To succeed in your terms, serve humanity and divinity, make meaningful contributions to the world; you must build up immunity against Praise and Criticism.

In this episode, my focus is on criticism. Never allow criticism to stop you from succeeding and excelling in your pursuit.

What is Criticism?

“Self-Appreciation — being compassionate and loving ourselves — is not only the foundation of our lives; it’s the foundation of a better world. The stronger it is, the more we can build together.” - Gustavo Razzetti

When I asked a friend to write 10 things he loves about another friend. He was able to complete the list in 60seconds. Then I asked him to write what he loves about himself and the exercise became a daunting one.

Why do you know so much about people and you know nothing about yourself?

I know you love people, you believe in them. But why have you left the chief task of loving believing in yourself unattended to?

Please have mercy on yourself. Be compassionate and kind to yourself.

To fill the hole in your soul, you must have compassion for yourself.

What is self-compassion?

What do you do when you appreciate someone for what they have done?

Most likely, you would say, “Thank you”, or you would be nice, kind, and courteous towards the other person.

But how many times do we say “thank you” to ourselves? How many times do we give thanks to our bodies for functioning properly the way God has made it or for gifts and talents we are endowed with? Not many times I guess.

Lydia made her first speech at the speaking club. She expected validations, commendations and appreciations. Unfortunately, everyone was carried away. She became so sad and said, “I am not good enough”

There is a hole in her soul expecting other people to fill it up with good, kind and appreciative words.

To fill the hole in our soul and become wholesomeness, we need self-appreciation as a daily tonic for the soul. How do we self appreciate?

To fill the hole in your soul, it begins with self-love. You must love yourself as if your life depends on it.

“There is nothing more attractive than a person who loves himself or herself so deeply that their positive energy and love spill over to others and the world” – Vishen Lakhiani.

There is a hole within every soul that seeks validation, love, praise, and care from others. It is a feeling of ‘I am not enough’ that is deeply rooted in the soul.

When you make the filling of the hole in your soul the responsibility of another person, you begin to seek for love, attention, approval endlessly.

To live a happy and fulfilled life, you must move from a hole to being whole. You must move from the stage of seeking validation to a stage of completeness – a stage of being more than enough.