Praises Olufemi

This blog is dedicated to a special someone who has recently crossed over to the other side. A great friend and teacher of mine. He would often call me the teacher but I am quite sure that he was the wise one….living fully what I could only teach. The great Olufemi was a previous client I had the honor of working with. I got to hug him 3 weeks ago and felt his power of accomplishment as he stood proud at a graduation celebrating over a year of sobriety. He enjoyed this blog so it seems only right to honor him with it today. I can only be so lucky to cross over myself with the same conviction, peace and serenity that he had at the end of his life. The great Olufemi was a pillar and symbol of conviction. A man who lived many years with a number of concomitant health and emotional issues, a dark past, yet always seeking the brighter, healthier and uplifted lens to see the world through. He chose to imagine the hope even though there were other things grabbing his attention. I am certain he left this plane satisfied with his work here on earth. I often think how I will feel when it is my time. I will hope and work towards the same…to feel as if I did the best I could with what I was given, maximized healing and growth when I had the insight and ability to grasp it, and made as much peace with myself and my choices as possible. I somehow inherently and deeply believe that all we're really here to do on earth is learn how to truly love ourselves. Everything we go through is about practicing, believing and living that truth and one reality. I believe this because I consistently see that it is the single most difficult thing for people to do.

Olufemi did this. He was diligent, honest, vibrant, hard-working, gentle, forgiving and optimistic. I'd like to talk about his qualities and how we can better embrace them in our lives so we too can move closer to the divinity within ourselves. I have observed the below lessons in him and have been reminded to reinforce them in my life as well.

• Choice and intention make all the difference. Choose to see the possibility in all things but mostly in yourself. If you do not believe you can shift, then how can it be possible for other things outside of you to shift as well?
• Shine your light. Complete negation of your positive, unique, special qualities will never get you happiness, peace or fulfillment. Only full internalization of your worth can save you. Work towards this, practice it daily. If you fall off, get up and keep trying. It is not something you achieve, it is a state of mind you embody with practice. 
• Be brave with your vulnerability in seeking help. Masking your weaknesses will not allow you to overcome or transcend them. Pretending, projecting, avoiding or any other method never keeps the unclaimed parts of ourselves at bay. Address them and then move on.  
• See the lessons, not the mistakes. Criticizing yourself for things done in the past designed to bring you to the point of realization and change is completely unproductive. If you see the value in the lesson than that is the point. The point isn't to berate yourself. This only diminishes self-worth.
• Expand and reach. Seek healing from different people and varying methods that speak to you. Listening to your intuition is important. Don't be afraid to try things outside of the box. Ask yourself "what would be helpful for me to do right now to bring me closer to my healing goals?" 
• Be a forever student. If you think you've learned everything and you're prefect, you've missed the mark. If you think you're perfect because you haven't learned everything, you're closer to the mark.
• Mindfulness is imperative. The mind is a powerful tool to use, watch it carefully. How are you using yours? It can be your greatest supporter or the primary contributor to negative internalizations. Get control of it and direct it with focus and intention.

These and many others lessons come to mind when I reflect on the life of Olufemi. I believe that he did these things well. I hope that he is proud of himself because I am quite sure many people are marveling at the man who lived so many years on hope.

I remain committed to this blog, the people that read it and the love I share through it. There are many that my heart calls to when I write and I am so grateful to have a forum to share whatever it is that spirit has for me to say when I sit down and let the words run out of my fingers. I am even more grateful that there are hearts wanting to receive it. Thank you. Be gentle on yourselves as you navigate your own healing path. We are much too hard on ourselves.

Jai Jai

Click here: A song for Olufemi