Years ago, I worked as a trainer for a consulting firm in San francisco. The training team would work closely with the creative team. Once the trainers developed a curriculum, the creative team was in charge of making educational materials, like handouts, powerpoint templates and posters. This including writing, images, color schemes and layouts. But there was always a noticeable tension between our team and theirs. We - members the training team - were the ones who wrote the curriculum and would ultimately deliver the instruction. And so, we felt a sense of ownership over the materials and never really understood why Creative was always taking so many liberties with our stuff. All we wanted them to do was "make it pretty." One day, after a heated discussion between the head of our department and theirs, I went back to Creative in search of answers. I wanted to understand why they didn't seem to get it, no matter how many times we explained it to them. I couldn't accept that, just because they were artists, they were totally incapable of practical thought. So, I walked in, sat next to one of the members of Creative and just asked her one question; "Could you explain the thinking behind why you changed the text that I wrote for this particular learning tool?" She didn't even have to think about it. "You're going to use this in the training session, right?" I confirmed. "Yep." And so she continued. "But then, you're going to leave it with them to share with other people, right?" Again, I confirmed. "Yes, that's right." Then she brought it home. "You're going to be there to teach them what it means and how to use it. But you can't be sure they're going to do as good a job as you are. They might not explain it at all. They might just put a stack of these on the breakroom table. So, if somebody picks it up and they get no explanation at all, I want it to tell them all the important things that YOU would have told them in person..." And then she showed me the original and she was so right. "You're brilliant! Thank you." What did I learn that day? I learned the importance of a name. As long as we thought of them as "CREATIVE," we were going to set our expectations accordingly. But that day, I started to call them the Theme Team. I learned to respect the fact that they were going to make sure every aspect of the message was congruent and consistent with the lessons we were going to teach.
In your own life - personally, professionally, spiritually - people will identify you by commonly accepted names; you're a secretary, you're a mistress, you're a physician, you're an account manager or an emergency medical technician. But the reality of your role and function might be radically different from what your title suggests to most people. Consequently, there can be constant tension between yourself and those you serve because there is a discrepancy between what you ACTUALLY do and what they THINK you do. What's the solution? Stop using your title to define your work. Instead, tell people the OUTCOMES of your work; I provide hope for the hopeless. I help upwardly mobile African Americans discover their ancestral promise. I guide African American professionals from spiritual materialism to the optimization of their natural gifts and talents. When you focus on the outcomes, you become a storyteller. Let's use one of my examples above to illustrate further. When I say, "I help upwardly mobile African Americans discover their ancestral promise,' that is a story. It suggests a journey and that journey evokes feelings. When I tell people that is what I do, they want to know more. If I merely said, "I am a counselor," the listener would be more likely to draw her own conclusions, based upon her personal experience with counselors, which may or may not align with what I actually do. So, in conclusion, it is important to be strategic and precise about how you define yourself and your contribution. Ideally, the description of your work should invite people to become a part of your visionary goal, to help bring about the Good Condition. People say children have short attention spans. But that's not quite right. I have watched them play the same imaginary game for hours a day. When I directed Camp Iwalewa, every day we dedicated several hours to unstructured play time. The children would build cities from sticks and rocks, create races of invisible peoples and tell elaborate stories that borrowed characters from tv shows and comic books. Children have incredible attenten spans. They just get bored with the adult world. Now that I think of it, most adults get pretty bored with the adult world, too! We just have more practice keeping our butts in chairs. But given the chance, wouldn't you love the opportunity to put in a couple of hours of daily play? I mean, if you could get paid and not get into trouble, wouldn't you enjoy hanging out with your peers, playing games in your favorite places??? I would! So why don't you make it your business to play more? I mean, is there anything that makes it absolutley impossible for you to incorporate a playful approach to your life, your work abd your spiritual development? Orunmila himself is known for being playful and wise, as expressed in the song that says, "Erere o! Erere o! Ere ni baba wa se. Ko ma ja!" It means Play, play, play! Play is what our father engages in. He does not fight!" Living the medicine includes bluring the line between work and play. What comes easily and effortlessly is probably most comfortable, too. For example, if you're a good conversationalist, then you are probably comfortable talking to just about anybody. But have you ever met someone who just talked too much? Likewise, if you're a natural introvert, then you're more comfortable as a quiet observer, which is not necessarily a problem. But have you ever been in a situation that required someone to speak up but they chose to simply smile and nod? If so, then you know that staying in your comfort zone can sometimes get you into a rut. If you're not careful, your life can end up stagnant and boring. So, the question is "How do you create create self-awareness?" Self awareness starts with admitting to yourself that there is more to learn, more to become, more to do and more to have. There is a prayer embedded in an Odu Ifa that say, "If there is a place better than where I am today, may my ori please behold it; may my feet carry me there." Within each of us, there is an underlying desire to experience a richer, more soulful life. This is the journey of humanity, which started with Obatala, the orisa of creativity. It was, after all, Obatala who set out from the heavenly realm to create the earthly realm as we know it today. As Olodmare's master sculptor, Obatala shaped and moulded the earth and all of humanity as well. This is why, when we meet an expectant mother, we pray "May Obatala sculpt a masterpiece. Ase!" In this sense, humanity is synonymous with the creative energies associated with the journey of continuous improvement. The key to continuous improvement is optimization. So, for the extroverted conversationalist and the introverted observer alike, the challenge is to known when to talk, what to say, when to listen and what to listen for. When you're able to chose your words wisely and strategically, they will be more likely to achieve the desired effect. This is not only true of your speech, but every area of activity, from making love to spending money to participating in spiritual works. Ifa teaches in the Holy Odu OturaIrete: "You have been initiated, now you must reinitiate yourself. Once you have been born, try to become reborn. One who knows moderation will never fall into disgrace. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, he who is working. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, he who does not squander his money. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, he who does not steal. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, ho who owes no debts. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, he who never drinks alcohol. I say, who knows moderation? Orunmila says, he who never breaks an oath with a friend. OturaIrete, one who wakes up at dawn and meditates upon his own activities... - Holy Odu OturaIrete Consequently, it is through disciplined self evaluation that you learn to optimize your natural gifts and talents. By painstakingly reviewing your conduct you discover the dark corners of your mind, the hidden motivations and striking inconsistencies. It is not a journey for the weak. But for those willing to learn the truth about themselves, the reward is a life without disgrace. This is the essence of what it means to live the medicine that will heal your life and the lives of those you were born to serve. Learn more at the Orisa Lifestyle & Mental Health Retreat.
Religion is the vision of spirituality. Lifestyle is a activation of spirituality. Even when you perform divination, sacrifices, rituals and ceremonies, you're still only coming into contact with spiritual principles. In the Holy Odu OdiOgbe, Orunmila posed a riddle to a conclave of Babalawo. As they were all assembled, he said, "The divinity who would make life better has truly arrived. Who can name that divinity?" First they thought that it was Ogun. Orunmila reminded the awo that Ogun is given to decapitating people. "That's not an improvement." Next, the awo proclaimed that it must be Olodumare. Now, Orunmila reminded them that Olodumare had left humanity at the mercy of Esu, the ajogun and omo araiye. "That's not improvement." Again, Orunmila insisted that the one who would improve people's lives had truly arrived and again he urged the all the awo present to identify that entity. Now, the awo replied that it must be Orunmila himself! At this, he just laughed and reminded them that when people come to Ifa with pressing questions, Orunmila will speak in the cryptic language of aphorisms, proverbs and axioms. He illustrated the point by saying that if there is a snake in one's backyard, Ifa will only advise that person not to go into the yard because there is danger. If, in defiance, the individual decides to go into the yard anyway and runs into the snake, it is only then that he will remember that Orunmila had told him not to do it. Finally, the awo conceded. "We do not know the identity of the one who will make life better. Baba, please reveal it to us." It was at that point that Orunmila declared that it is ORI alone who will improve one's life! It is only ori who leads the soul from heaven to earth and back without ever departing. This sentiment is fully expressed in the Holy Odu OgundaMeji: Ifa said it is Ori It is Ori alone, who can follow his devotee to a distant journey over the seas without turning back. If I have children on earth, it is Ori whom I will praise. My Ori it is you. All the good things that I have on earth. It is my Ori to whom I will give praise. My Ori, it is you. Ori I hail you, You who always remembers your devotees, You who gives blessings to your devotees more quickly than other gods. No god blesses a man without the consent of his Ori. Ori I hail you, You who allows children to be born alive, A person whose sacrifice is received by his own Ori, Should rejoice exceedingly - Holy Odu OgundaMeji Please join us at the Orisa Lifestyle & Mental Health Retreat and learn more about activating your spiritual values. Register today. If one sleeps alone sleeps badly Only Olorun can wake him This was Ifa's message to a stranger, Who was going to a field to stay for good So that he might get someone to help him Lift the load to his head (to carry) He was asked to sacrifice a hen, thirty two hundred cowries and Ifa leaves He heard and sacrificed The stranger got to the field And prepared his load He looked right He looked left He looked forward He looked backward He saw no one He said, This is now the load of Olorun Then, Efulele, help me carry this load to my head, Efulele You do not know that those who have No people will put their trust in Olorun? - OsaIrete Lonliness is a silent killer. When you feel isolated and alone, your problems seem insurmountable and your blessings only seem to offer short term enjoyment. We need other people to help guide us into deeper levels of humanity. This is why they say People are people because of other people. Yet and still, you have to resist to temptation to externalize your experience. That is, in the same way that you chose your destiny alone, in the presence of Olodumare, there are many other decisions that you must make alone. This is the only way to truly reinforce your original choice. Ultimately, you can only lead others where you're willing to go yourself. If we are to believe in your vision, you have to demonstrate your conviction by making choices that support that vision, sometimes in spite of popular opinion. Live the medicine." Obafemi Origunwa, MA | www.ObafemiO.com |
Live the MedicineObafemi Origunwa, MAThought leader, Ifa priest and author of four definitive books, Obafemi Origunwa inspires metamorphosis through living the medicine that will heal your life and heal the lives of the people you're destined to serve. Raise Awareness
Internalize Principles
Embody Truth
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