The Audacity Of Hope

"Bí ẹ̀mí bá wà, ìrètí ńbẹ " As long as there is life, there is hope. The enemies of hope are anger and fear. Anger is rooted in the past. Think about it. You're mad about something that happened yesterday, last month, or five years ago. And it's really an emotion that follows pain.  Here, let me say how important it is to separate anger from pain. More precisely, learn to let go of anger and deal with your pain, heal your wounds. Anger is just a scab waiting to be knocked off and release a flow of hot blooded venom. This is why I say anger is an enemy of hope and a killer of dreams as well. 

On the other hand, fear is all about the future. You're all twisted in a knot, anxious and uptight because of something that you don't want to happen tomorrow, next month or a few years from now.  Fear paralyzes you. You envision what you don't want to happen and all the negative emotions associated with it and you become fixated with it, sometimes to the point obsessing over it. The antidote to fear, therefore, is preparation. I like to use scenario mapping with people to help overcome fear of the future. Basically, through scenario mapping,  I guide you through various possible scenarios and the BEST response to each possibility. Here, it's important to emphasize the significance of destiny. In other words, the only way to really appreciate the value of each scenario and response is to compare it to your purpose and reason for being. The stronger your connection to your destiny, the easier it will be to chose healthy responses to ALL scenarios. Otherwise, fear will cause you to commit to short term convenience, that usually contributes nothing to achieving your destiny. This is what I mean when I say fear is an enemy of hope.

The antidote to anger and fear is being present. "Bí ẹ̀mí bá wà, ìrètí ńbẹ " is translated as  "As long as there is life, there is hope" but in actuality,  ẹ̀mí means breath. So,  what the elders are really telling us is to focus on the simple truth of breathing. Slow down. Pay attention to your breathing. Give sincere thanks for every breath. Let every breath fill you with hope. Aspiration is synonymous with breath and hope. It's never too late to dream! Anger and fear are sworn enemies of hope. Overcome them with patience by letting go of the past and preparing for the future according to your destiny.  Live the Medicine. 

Obafemi Origunwa, MA | www.ObafemiO.com

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