Women of Rubies
Category

self development

Category
Building Unshakeable Confidence
In self development By

JANE UDOKA: THE IDEAL WOMAN: THE IDEAL SERIES

All over the world, there are diverse ways an ideal woman is looked upon. Some countries or tribes judge this based on the ethnicity, the looks, the moral disposition, social nature of a woman. Some however even judge this idealism based on trivial things such as her body size, her feminine curves, her sensuality, her height, accent or even the way she walks.  It’s funny and inconsequential but the world has placed insanely high standards on women that some find it quite hard to come to terms and be happy with whom they are.

To us however, these are the standards by which an ideal woman should be measured :

An Ideal woman is an independent woman, she is a woman who is capable of taking care of her emotions, her duties, herself and people who depend on her. She is someone who does not manipulate people around her to do her wishes but instead takes the bull heads on and achieves the task needed. She is a goal getter, a trend setter and one who does not shy away from duties no matter the sexual barriers that are attached to it. She is one that’s able to put sentiments aside and forge ahead with the right things.

An Ideal woman is a purposeful and creative lady, she is a lady with a purpose. She is a career oriented woman with set goals. She is one who sleeps at night and wakes up with a refreshed and energized spirit to fight for her dreams. She is one who does not conform to the world’s standards for good, but seeks to become better with each passing day.

The Ideal woman is a motivator and helper to people around her. She is one who motivates and encourages people around her. If she is in a relationship, or married, she is one who’s not just there in favorable times but even in the gloomy days. She is one who understands and is ready to help whenever and however she can. She is a loyal woman.

Our ideal woman is one who understands that her worth isn’t just defined by her sex. If she is married she is one who knows that motherhood isn’t her totality but also an added role she plays. She is one who focuses on being the best mother and also the career woman she is. She is one who does not accept the people’s definition of a good woman but goes ahead to create her own version of it.

Our Ideal woman is the confident lady.  She is one who is extremely comfortable in her own skin. She is one who is not intimidated by what the world throws at her but takes it and makes the best out of it. She  is one who is not deterred by her failures but rather sees it as a chance to becoming better. She is one who revels in her capabilities and pulls up those all around her . She  is the hard working woman.

 

Photocredit: Google

About Jane

21 year old Udoka Jane O is a trained  Engineer, She is  a professional freelance writer on Relationship and healthy lifestyles. Jane has written a number of mind engaging articles….
by
Keep Reading
In self development By

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, HARVARD HAS FOUR BLACK WOMEN FACULTY DEANS

Beginning August 15 2018, Harvard University now have four  its schools led by Black women, which is the first time in the Ivy League institution’s history, reports The Harvard Crimson.

Last year,  Professor Claudine Gay became the latest string of Black women to be appointed to dean positions at the university. Her role as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences will make her the first woman and first African American to hold that position. In an interview following the announcement, Gay said she hopes her new promotion will inspire other women and people of color, similar to how former University President Drew G. Faust inspired her as Harvard’s first female president.

“If my presence in this role affirms someone’s sense of belonging and ownership, the same way Drew’s appointment affirmed my sense of belonging, then I think that’s great,” said Gay. “And for people who are sort of beyond our gates, if this prompts them to look again and look anew at Harvard and imagine new possibilities for themselves, I think that’s great as well.”

In 2016, Michelle Williams became the first Black person to head a faculty at Harvard, and the first Black woman to lead the Longwood-based School of Public Health. In May and April, Tomiko Brown-Nagin and Bridget Terry-Long became the first African American women deans at the Radcliffe Institute for Advance Study and the Graduate School of Education, respectively.

Before their appointments, Evelynn Hammonds served as the first female and African American dean for the History of Science school for five years until 2013.

John S. Wilson, a senior advisor and strategist on Harvard University’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, calls these recent dean appointments “significant” considering Harvard has long been known as a predominately white institution.

“To now be moving into a phase of Harvard’s life where people who don’t meet that profile are now empowered to advance Harvard, it just signals that Harvard is getting ready for a new future for itself and for the country and for the world,” he said.

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

NEW RESEARCH SAYS SEMEN MAY ACTUALLY TREAT DEPRESSION IN WOMEN

In a recent study conducted at the University of Albany, a psychology professor and his team found that the absorption of semen by the female body correlates with fewer symptoms of depression.

The team conducted anonymous surveys of 300 female students.

Each participant completed a survey about her intimate activities including frequency of intercourse, last intercourse, and how regularly the participant uses condoms. Participants also completed the Beck Depression Inventory.

The Beck Depression Inventory, or BDI, presents a person with 21 questions that gauge their level of depressive symptoms including:

mood

negative outlook

feelings of guilt

self-dislike

social withdrawal

difficulty functioning

Responders rate each question as it applies to them. The rating scale per question ranges from zero to three, three being the most intense experience of the symptom.

The total score can be as high as 63, higher scores again correlating to more severe depression. When the team compared participants’ BDI scores to their intimacy habits, answers about condom use stood out.

According to lead author Gordon Gallup, women who never used condoms in penetration scenarios showed significantly lower scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) than their peers who always or usually had their partners wear protection.

In developing this conclusion, the team made a point of adjusting for potentially relevant variables such as: relationship status use of other contraceptive strategies frequency of partner intimacy.

Among all variables, condom use correlated with the most clinically significant difference in participants’ BDI scores.

ALSO READ: Why Nigerians are the most depressed in Africa

The research team believes that the correlation between condom use and depressive symptoms may result from the interaction of biological material.

Gallup theorizes that upon penetration, the female partner’s internal tissues absorb some of the fluids that the male partner produces.

It is possible, the team suggests, that a woman’s mood and feeling state may change in response to this absorption.

The study’s sample size is relatively small and there are a number of unanswered questions surrounding the results.

Still, Gallup and his colleagues believe that the connection between improved mood non-use of condoms warrants further investigation.

The team cautions women and their partners not to take these findings as a motivation or an excuse not to use condoms.

Gallup has issued a statement to remind the public that protection from infectious diseases and the prevention of pregnancy should take precedence over an attempt to make use of these findings.

If you found this article interesting or surprising, please remember to SHARE it with your family and friends on Facebook!

Source: Higher Perspective

 

 

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

OLUFUNKE ADEBAYO: FERMENTED FOODS

I actually did not know that foods that have gone through fermentation are powerhouses of nutrients until my father shared a research done on locust beans (Irú) with me. He said  that locust beans was spread on some cancer tissues and the locust beans killed all the cancer cells!  Apart from killing cancer cells, locust beans also promotes good eyesight, aids digestion, the water and alcoholic extracts of fermented locust beans are used to reduce blood sugar. Locust bean does more  but it’s so unfortunate that most of us hate this wonder food.
Fermented foods are foods that have been through a process of lactofermentation  in which natural bacteria feed on the sugar and starch in the food creating lactic acid. This process preserves the food and creates beneficial enzymes, b-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and various strains of probiotics.
Some foods are not safe for human consumption; it is only through fermentation that the plant toxins in them are removed  and it is this process that brings out the best in such foods. A good example of this is soyabeans . It is less harmful when fermented. The Japanese  eat Miso, Tempeh, Natto and Tofu which are all made by  fermenting soyabeans. Now, guess what? When it comes to living healthy and long lives, the Japanese are good in that department!  If you still take soya milk, I advise that you try to be fermenting it before drinking or, better still, use your soyabeans to make soya locust beans .
Fermentation has also been shown to preserve nutrients in foods and break the food down to a more digestible form. This, along with the bevy of probiotics created during the fermentation process, could explain the link between consumption of fermented foods and improved digestion.
Apple cider vinegar is  also a good example. It is made from fermented apple. It is loaded with a lot of health benefits.  Women who have  met me for their menses to be induced naturally would  testify  to the fact that this wonder drink is  part of the treatment.
Yogurt is  another fermented food. It is made by adding bacterial cultures to milk, transforming the milk sugar, lactose, into lactic acid. Here is why yogurt is better than milk.  As a matter of fact, it is healthier to take yogurt than milk because, like I have discussed before, the cows that produce the milk we drink are given hormonal injections so that they can produce more milk and also become fleshy on time. While we take milk, we ingest all those hormones too!  Fermentation reduces all these. However, not all brands of yogurt are healthy; some have preservatives and that is why they have a long shelf life. This is why I advise people to make their yogurt at home. I know a particular brand that has a shelf life of three weeks  because it doesn’t have any preservatives.  It is made here in Nigeria. I can be consulted to give the name.
Besides the fact that they taste great , there are several great reasons to start making and eating fermented foods:
 1. Eating fermented foods will introduce beneficial bacteria into your digestive system and help the balance of bacteria in the system. Probiotics have also been shown to help slow or reverse some diseases, improve bowel health, aid digestion, and improve immunity!
2. Having the proper balance of gut bacteria and enough digestive enzymes helps you absorb more of the nutrients in the foods you eat. Pair this with your healthy food diet, and you will absorb many more nutrients from the foods you eat. You won’t need as many supplements and vitamins, and you’ll be absorbing more of the live nutrients in your foods.
3. Incorporating healthy foods into your diet can get expensive, but not so with fermented foods. You can make them at home. Adding these things to your diet can also cut down on the number of supplements you need, helping the budget further.
4 Fermentation allows you to store these foods for longer periods of time without losing the nutrients like you would with traditional canning.
5. Fermentation brings out some amazing health benefits in foods.
6. Fermentation removes anti-nutrients from foods .
So, when next locust bean is added to your soup, I want you all to eat with so much relish. In fact, you can eat it raw without adding to soups!
by
Keep Reading
In self development By

QUEEN ESOHE IGBINOBA: WHY YOU NEED TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES

I had an amazing experience recently I’ll like to share with you.

I was feeling a bit restless and overwhelmed with all I had to do in my job and business and I felt like there was a lot of clutter around me.

Then I did something a bit strange.

I started clearing my physical environment, my room to be more specific.

I cleaned up the whole place, rearranged the beds and wardrobe and even made preparations for a painter to come paint and set up a mini office/studio in all the new space I had just created.

It was an exciting experience for me!

From where my bed was now positioned, I could see my vision board more clearly and I was more inspired to achieve my goals.

You need to be very intentional about the experiences you create for yourself because what you see, feel and experience affects your worldviews, belief systems, the stories you tell and your ability to take massive action.

If you want to be able to make accelerated progress in your life, change your life experiences.

Another way you can change your life experiences is by traveling and going out for events in inspirational places. These experiences influence your worldviews, quality of life and the life stories you live and share.

This encourages you to be more confident in yourself and your ability to produce results.

 

About Esohe

Esohe Igbinoba is the Founder, The Global Brand Network. GBN is a brand management organization with a focus on teaching entrepreneurs the art of influential storytelling for attracting visibility and building an engaged audience so they can build profitable businesses. She helps them to achieve this through her unique system: The Influential Storytelling Formula. She has helped over 150 people in 10 countries. She helps them through her online school, GBN Business School where she offers one on one coaching programs, online courses and training programs.

You can connect with her on

Social media @queenesohe

Or send an email to esohe@queenesohe.com

Or on her website queenesohe.com

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

LOLO CYNTHIA: CHILD LABOR- AN AFRICAN CURSE OR DESTINY?

Yesterday I saw these 3 boys at a construction site and my heart broke because I am certain that they are not up to 15 years old. As a child rights advocate these kinds of scenarios always leave me in a dilemma because I never know if I should complain to the boss because he’s encouraging child labor or thank him for giving the children the job because I know that they need the money.

 

Lolo Cynthia Is a public health specialist, sexuality educator and founder of the social enterprise LoloTalks, that employs all forms of media (online and offline) to create awareness and sustainable solutions to our contemporary social and health issues in Africa.  She also doubles as a documentary and talk show producer and lends her voice on issues regarding interpersonal relationships, sexuality, gender, and social issues through her YouTube channel LoloTalks and her blog.

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

NIGERIANS ARE THE MOST DEPRESSED IN AFRICA – WHO

Condition contributes to 800,000 suicide deaths yearly
From being some of the happiest people on earth, Nigerians have slumped to the rank of the most depressed in Africa. This was the conclusion contained in the latest figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which show that Nigeria has 7,079,815 sufferers of depression, that is 3.9 per cent of the population.Also, 4,894,557 Nigerians, that is 2.7 per cent of the population, suffer anxiety disorders. The country is closely followed by Ethiopia with 4,480,113 sufferers, that is 4.7 per cent of her population; Democratic Republic of Congo with 2,871,309 sufferers (3.8 per cent); South Africa with 2,402,230 sufferers (4.6 per cent); and Tanzania with 2,138,939 sufferers, that is 4.1 per cent. Seychelles has the lowest number of depressed persons with just 3,722 that is 4.0 per cent.

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease, according to WHO. Depression can lead to suicide, which is the second leading cause of death in 15 – 29-year- olds globally. Consequently, the condition can lead to more suicide cases in the country.

In the African region, close to 30 million people suffer from depression.

The global body gave the figures in a report released ahead of the World Health Day (WHD) today titled “Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates.”

WHD, celebrated on April 7 every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO, provides a unique opportunity to mobilise action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The theme of 2017 World Health Day campaign is depression.

According to the WHO report, depressive disorders and anxiety disorders are two main diagnostic categories of common mental disorders that are highly prevalent in the population.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

The WHO noted that at a global level, over 300 million people are estimated to suffer from depression, equivalent to 4.4 per cent of the world’s population and nearly that number again suffers from a range of anxiety disorders. It, however, noted that since many people experience both conditions simultaneously (comorbidity), it is inappropriate to simply add these two figures together to arrive at a total for common mental disorders.

The WHO noted that the consequences of these disorders in terms of lost health are huge.

Depression is ranked by WHO as the single largest contributor to global disability (7.5 per cent of all years lived with disability in 2015); anxiety disorders are ranked 6th (3.4 per cent).

According to the global health agency, depression is also the major contributor to suicide deaths (about 800 000 per year).

Why are Nigerians most depressed in Africa? “The number of persons with common mental disorders globally is going up, particularly in lower-income countries, because the population is growing and more people are living to the age when depression and anxiety most commonly occurs,” the WHO explained.

Who is most likely to get depressed? “Although depression can and does affect people of all ages, from all walks of life, the risk of becoming depressed is increased by poverty, unemployment, life events such as the death of a loved one or a relationship break-up, physical illness and problems caused by alcohol and drug use,” the WHO noted.

To address the issues of depression and anxiety disorders, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has introduced LUTH-Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) and its “ONE 1 MORE DAY” campaign aimed at reducing suicide deaths.

Consultant Psychiatrist and LUTH-SURPIN Coordinator, Dr. Raphael E. Ogbolu, told The Guardian yesterday: “SURPIN has hotlines (09080217555, 09034400009, 08111909909, 07013811143) through which members of the public seeking help can reach us. The main target groups are those at risk of suicide and are contemplating an attempt, those who have survived an attempted suicide and therefore may be in critical physical condition, and those who are bereaved by the suicide of a family member, because they themselves also then become at risk.”

According to the WHO, the health condition affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living. At worst, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.

Yet, the condition can be prevented and treated. A better understanding of what depression is, and how it can be prevented and treated, will help reduce the stigma and lead to more people seeking help.

 

Credit: Guardian

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

BBOG KICK-STARTS GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO MARK 5 YEARS SINCE THE CHIBOK GIRLS’ ABDUCTION

The Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) movement has launched a 3-month Global Campaign starting on Sunday January 13th, 2019, 90 days to making it 5 years since the Chibok Girls
were last free citizens of Nigeria.

In a statement released on Monday, the BBOG said: “This 90-day campaign is to pressure our government to free our 112 Chibok Girls, Leah Sharibu, Alice Ngaddah and countless other abductees before the fifth anniversary of the abduction, which will come up on Sunday April 14, 2019.”

The statement continued:

As a movement made up of concerned Nigerians of all economic classes and provenance,
we demand that our government:

1. Bring back our girls NOW and ALIVE!
2. Equip and look after the welfare of our police and our troops
3. Give our children safe and secure schools
4. Properly rehabilitate those who have been victims of conflict or crisis
5. Respond QUICKLY whenever something bad happens to our citizens, and
6. Communicate about what they are doing to the victim’s families and the general public.

While we are aware of the efforts made so far, and commend the government for the
recovery of 107 Chibok girls, and 106 Dapchi girls, we will not relent in our advocacy and strident demands for the rescue of our school children and fellow citizens from captivity.

We also demand justice for the slain. We acknowledge and honour the sacrifice of our
military and express our thoughts and prayers to the families of our heroes in the armed
forces.

As concerned citizens of this country, the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) advocacy group
has highlighted the plight of these innocent girls and other victims of the insurgency, both at global level, and at home through protest and through constructive engagement with the government and other agencies, to secure the rescue of the abducted girls. Our advocacy includes nearly 5 years of a daily sit-out in Abuja; weekly sit-outs in Lagos, Oshogbo, and Ibadan; visits to key local and international stakeholders; development of strategies and tools such as ‘Citizens Solutions to End Terrorism’ and the ‘Verification, Authentication and Reunification System (VARS)’ for missing persons.

While we remain hopeful and expectant that the rescue of ALL the girls is imminent, if this hope does not materialise before April 14, 2019, we will, with heavy hearts, mark the 5th year of captivity for 112 Chibok Girls by gathering with members of the Chibok community and members of BBOG from all over Lagos.

We empathise with the traumatised families and communities of all the victims of
insurgency, those missing, deceased, and forcibly removed from government schools where
their parents thought they would be safe. We pray that many more families will be able to share in the joy of their children coming back home and having a bright future.

We call on local, national, regional and global influencers and authorities to support
and pressure the Nigerian government to bring the nightmare of school abductions, violent extremism and insecurity to an end.

Signed:
For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls Lagos &Ejigbo Families
Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi
Adwoa Edun
Aisha Oyebode
Ayo Obe
Babasola Olalere
Deji Kolawole
F.T. Adebayo
Habiba Balogun
Jonathan Okanlawon
Monday Ojon
Ngozi Iwere
Yahi Bwata
‘Yemi Adamolekun
Yemisi Ransome-Kuti

 

Credit: Bella Naija

by
Keep Reading
In self development By

JANE UDOKA: BYE 2018! HERE COMES 2019: TIPS TO A BETTER LIVING IN THE NEW YEAR

All the 365 days of 2018 was a pretty eventful year for me and I’m sure for a lot of people out there. There were the joyous moments, the sad memories, the pretty memorable times and of course the life changing events. Cumulatively, it had it’s lessons and ones we’d be sure to take note of in the never ending quest to becoming better versions of ourselves

Whilst 2018 had a lot of self evaluation lessons in it, these are a few that are definitely worth working with into the new year:

1: Be kind to yourself:

It’s no big secret that the country economy is tough and there are just about enough reasons to worry and beat yourself up over about each day. But, in the midst of all those thoughts and moves towards a better life, never forget to talk to yourself kindly . The world will still be there, even when you’re gone so why not relax a little after a long day, take time off work on the weekends and just enjoy the little things of life, you might just be surprised just how refreshing that would prove to be.

2: Be Expressive yet assertive:

2018 taught me just how much differently people can interpret what we say from what we actually mean. Yes, in the long run, you can’t control how people perceive and interpret your energy but one thing you can do however, is be very clear about your intentions. It saves everyone a lot of stress trying to decipher what you mean exactly at the end and that’s certainly what we want 2019 to be, stress-free.

3: Act and think positively:

A saying goes thus, “ the world will throw stones at you, it is your choice what you make of the stones, a wall against your self or build a bridge to your dreams”. I’d say I’d take the bridge, build an overpass and add an intersection to the whole lot. For every negative thought that crosses your mind, we always have a choice to dwell on it or banish it from us and look onwards with positivity, cause it can only get better this 2019!

4: Find and fuel your passion:

2018 was an enlightening year for me. I got to find out what really mattered and phased out gradually what didn’t. A passion is definitely something you’d want to find and keep doing. It gives life a purpose, it doesn’t necessarily have to be money oriented at the moment, just basically something that lights up your soul and gives you a sense of achievement.

5: Break that routine:

A routine makes life mundane and boring. When done over a long time, it limits one’s thoughts and creates this monotonous outlook on life. Once in a while, take out time to reach out to loved ones, take that trip to that wildlife conservatory you’ve always wanted to see, go see the movies or just enjoy your own company.

Finally, friends are a basic necessity of life, great friends add quality to life, trust me. Make friends that hold you accountable, and push you towards becoming the best you can be.Let’s do better this year!

Happy new year lovelies!.

 

About Jane

21 year old Udoka Jane O is a trained  Engineer, She is  a professional freelance writer on Relationship and healthy lifestyles. Jane has written a number of mind engaging articles….
by
Keep Reading

©2025. WomenofRubies. All Rights Reserved.