Araoluwa!
Yay!
If you are here for the free copy of my book, read this article and simply comment on why you think I should honestly give you a copy. That’s all! I have sold 80 copies already. I thought to give back. Remember, you must follow @writewithenergie
If you however, want to buy the book, simply click this link
So…My Article Proper
I think the most striking thing about writing is how you are at liberty to do what you like. Except of course it is someone else’s project and you have to follow a set of instructions but I digress.
What I meant to say was that this year 2020 was a hit album. Right, left and centre, we have been hit on all sides this year. Is it the #EndSARS protest that resulted in the #LekkiMassacre or celebrities like Chadwick and Kobe who left unexpectedly? Somehow, 2020 put a dent in all of our fenders. All of us.
Mine began in January when my paternal grandmother died and then, my maternal grandfather followed in August. Baba’s death…
Hmmmm!
I now understand what it means when someone says, “I lost a loved one.”
The most potent Secret
The only reason why death seems so powerful is its ability to sneak up on its unsuspecting victims. Thankfully, not everyone is taken by surprise. Some people actually prepare for their departure. They also prepare the hearts of their loved ones. Sadly, I was not prepared to lose my grandfather.
When I received news of his passing that Friday, I was devastated. I had not seen him in like eight years and the months before his passing, he had called to say he wanted to see me this December. He promised to take me round the new place he had retired to after serving as a missionary for almost fifty years of his life with then Evangelical Church of West Africa (now Winning All).
Christmas this year was supposed to be in Bauchi, Nigeria but here I am…writing this post and asking why I did not go to see him last year. Life in Bauchi will never be the same again even if our consolation is the fact that Baba lived a happy life and lived that life to the fullest doing what he loved for whom he loved most: God.
Question: Are you currently doing what makes you happy?
Why Araoluwa?
My father recently asked me what my passions are. I thought about the question for a while before I answered. Here is a game I usually play with myself: I assume that I wake up and find myself in a strange country I have never been to with just a backpack and an instruction to start life all over.
First thing I will check are my fingers, mouth and eyes. If both are intact, everything else will fall into place. Next thing I will check is the backpack.
Is there a laptop?
Is there a phone?
Is my old Bible in there?
Can I charge these gadgets on the go?
Then we are good to go!
There are many things I can do but if you put a gun to my head, I will simply write or speak on your behalf or that of your company or organization. Good PR and good sentences go hand in hand. People will always need people and l am most happy when I help people.
This year, I decided to damn the odds and forget my fears…I threw caution to the wind and did most of the things I was afraid to do. It started with identifying that I had the imposter syndrome. I had to be honest with myself and accept that I had shortchanged myself for too long.
That is my major reason for writing this book. My side hustle is encouraging you to go to work on your dreams and yourself no matter how absurd they seem. Work on yourself. Everyone else is taken. Focus on you. Happy for you if you have passed that stage. You will enjoy my humour, nevertheless.
What Is Most Important to You Now?
Making money?
Starting the business?
Falling in love?
Finding purpose?
In my new book Araoluwa, I share lessons on productivity and becoming the best version of yourself especially in the areas you believe you can leverage on to first become useful to yourself and then to others as you package your passion and turn it to profit.
You will only be of much value to others as you have been to yourself.
The most productive months in 2020 for me were the months we were all sitting in our houses. I told myself some hard truths. I had to critically examine areas of my life that I had fallen short of some goals I set and painfully accept my inadequacies in those areas.
A habit I finally ditched during the lockdown period was the need for acceptance. I fell in love with parts of me I had spent years demoralizing. One day, I stood stark naked in front of the mirror and we had a conversation. Me and the naked girl staring right back at me.
I told her things she wanted another to say. I looked at the stretch marks and the imagined flaws, the crooked twists and turns and surplus flesh, the mountains, hills, valleys and flat roads and came to a conclusion: I am a beautiful.
Embrace your oddities. Be kind to yourself.
The Imposter Syndrome
I have a comprehensive article on the imposter syndrome. It is basically that point you get to where no matter how good you are at something, you simply feel like the worst rag in the world. Nobody ever achieves a thing feeling like the man next door can do it better. In Araoluwa, I help you understand why you are the best man for the job you want to outsource or delegate.
You must own it.
Start your “own your life” campaign.
Own your failures.
Tell yourself the truth, YouTube videos can’t help you until you are ready to help yourself. And I say this not because I am a self-motivated person but because motivation can only get you started. In Araoluwa, I share a chapter on the need to go from being motivated to becoming responsible for the outcomes in your life. God has already committed Himself to you, He wants you to get up and get back to work.
Àrá Arise
Confidence is a side effect of competence and a resultant effect of your understanding of how much God can trade to have you in His corner.
My Final Advice
Every great person has a bigger milestone to crush. Whether you just hit your billion dollar mark or your fifty thousand naira savings, there will always be other giants to slay. In Araoluwa, I advice that the best thing you can do for yourself is to get out of that tolerance state; that place where you want to “manage” your life.
Tolerance is a bad deal to strike with your life, relationship or career. You will not grow to like it or them. You will only get coping mechanisms to help you get by. This year, I ditched small thinking.
For years, I wrote books, published some of the best minds in the world but I refused to write my own book. I wanted to have enough social proof so that when I publish mine, I won’t be out here begging you to buy a book that costs just 2000.
Covid is not an excuse for laziness. You simply got the time you have been singing you do not have.
In conclusion, nothing is worth believing for life until you have tested the integrity of the voice behind it. I truly believe in my writing, I believe the voice behind my writing and so it is only natural that I consequently believe in you. Araoluwa is proof of that belief. I wrote a book just so you can know I am your greatest fan. I hope you win a copy.
Here’s to more books and the great stuff we will do in 2021. Remember, to win a free copy, simply tell me why you need one in the comment!
Compliments of the season!
I also wish you a better 2021!
Thank You!
17 Comments
Wow….. Just wow
I appreciate this little piece already
Which means digging deep into the book will open my eyes and mind to understanding a whole lot.
I want this book because it revolves around the circumstances in find my self in presently…. There by having this book with give me the impact I need and the inspiration to move forward for a good course
Hi Sandra, thank you for stopping by the blog.
Wow this article alone has fed me soo much
Ma I really want this book because it actually speaks and addresses what I’m going through.
I just discovered during this lockdown that I love writing and its what I find joy in doing but then I’m facing some challenges like
How to start up,or how to just go about it ,I really want to learn more about writing.
I met you during this lockdown online though I’ve known you in koinonia as a PR member
Discovering you’re a writer made me stick to you and your posts
And I’ve actually learnt a lot from you
When I saw the review you made for this book I really wanted it of which I still do now so much.
I just hope am able to get this book because I know it’ll really help me as a writer and in general
Thank you very much ma for everything
God bless you richly.
Hi Grace!
Yes, I’m a member of the PR department of Koinonia. Glad to know we have a lot in common.
For writing tips, you can visit the http://www.blscksafaya.com/safaya-writers.
Also have a post on IG on “Four Most Important Questions To Answer Before You Begin Writing”
Cheers!
Wow this article alone has fed me soo much
Ma I really want this book because it actually speaks and addresses what I’m going through
I just discovered during this lockdown that I love writing and its what I find joy in doing but then I’m facing some challenges like
How to start up,or how to just go about it.
I met you during this lockdown online though I’ve known you in koinonia as a PR member
Discovering you’re a writer made me stick to you and your posts
And I’ve actually learnt a lot from you
When I saw the review you made for this book I really wanted it of which I still do now so much
I just hope am able to get this book because I know it’ll really help me as a writer and in general
Thank you very much ma for everything
God bless you richly
I’ve always loved to write, I’ve always been a writer since primary school where I wrote fictional stories about characters with magical powers till I got saved and dedicated my writing stories to conveying scriptural truths. Like you my University career path didn’t follow my writing passion,.(doctor of optometry) but the medical line is something I’m also passionate about. How do I learn to manage both of these passions without losing any. I would love to learn from your experiences.
One thing I’ll love to write in 2021 is short stories on Christain historical figures
Hello Uka!
I love your avatar. I also have been a lover of writing from childhood. Combining Medicine and Writing won’t be an easy task but it will be worth the while.
And unlike me, you don’t have to sacrifice Medicine to forge ahead with Writing. You simple need to fine tune your writing to suit the audience you will be writing for.
You can write fictional books with a medical undertone.
You can equally write about magical stuff without losing your spirituality like C.S Lewis did with the Chronicles of Narnia. In fact, I recommend you read up his works to balance your spirituality and your fictional fantasies
Create your own character and introduce him to the world. Who knows, you could be our next Dr. Seuss!
Thanks for pouring out so much ma’am Ene
I believe there is more to unfold in the book
Why do I need the book Araoluwa is because It will help me in discovering purpose and understanding how to appreciate my kind of person.
Also, it will help me build a stronger self esteem in my pursuit in life….. Am passionate about children and the needy.
Pls ma, I would be glad if I get a copy of the book.
Thanks ma
Hello Favour!
Thank you for stopping by. Like you, I had my share of low self-esteem issues. Mine was worse because the Imposter Syndrome attended the party too (read about it in the blog).
When God shows up, the first thing He does is pump us full of praises and love and compliments.
Every time.
It is important because we live in a world where mockery thrives and competition is exalted over collaboration.
The first thing you must understand is God has not called you “compete”. He has called you to manifest His manifold wisdom resident in you.
To lead you down that path of wisdom, He first helps you see yourself as He sees you.
To manifest this wisdom, the eyes of your understanding must be enlightened. Here is a quick prayer I often say regarding this:
“My Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth through me
As it is in heaven
GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY STRATEGY/WISDOM”
In my book Àràolùwa (which I hope you win), I wrote about the greatest antidotes to low self-esteem: it is not hurriedly written affirmations or YouTube aspire to perspire videos but:
1. A crystal clear knowledge of who you mean to God.
2. His thoughts about you (because low self-esteem is usually centered on what we think or assume others think about ourselves).
3. Competence in the areas…well I can’t tell you all here.
Take this from me:
You’re loved.
You’re beautiful.
Get up and get to work on yourself and your ambitions.
Love you muchly and…
Faya on!
I really would love to win a copy of your free book because I feel it addresses some issues I have been dealing with. First, I have fought so many battles both real and imagined with my friends, families (trust me, families tend to put you down more than strangers at times and their punches hurt more because they know just where to hit).
The battles have ranged from body shaming, which affected my self esteem, my self worth and integrity in so many areas were challenged and all sorts. At a point in time, I just sort of let go and stopped trying. 2020 has made me reevaluate my life and I have made a conscious decision to actively pursue my passions which include writing, music and cooking.
I believe Araoluwa will help teach me how to channel my energy aright and motivate me towards my dreams.
I hope to publish an analogy about all I have gone through in the course of my ‘not-so-long-life’ thus far, talking about the highs and lows and the joys and pains and I believe the world is finally ready to hear my voice.
Thanks Energie for being an inspiration to strive for more.
Hello Favour!
Thank you for stopping by. Like you, I had my share of low self-esteem issues. Mine was worse because the Imposter Syndrome attended the party too (read about it in the blog).
When God shows up, the first thing He does is pump us full of praises and love and compliments.
Every time.
It is important because we live in a world where mockery thrives and competition is exalted over collaboration.
The first thing you must understand is God has not called you “compete”. He has called you to manifest His manifold wisdom resident in you.
To lead you down that path of wisdom, He first helps you see yourself as He sees you.
To manifest this wisdom, the eyes of your understanding must be enlightened. Here is a quick prayer I often say regarding this:
“My Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come
Thy will be done on earth through me
As it is in heaven
GIVE ME THIS DAY MY DAILY STRATEGY/WISDOM”
In my book Àràolùwa (which I hope you win), I wrote about the greatest antidotes to low self-esteem: it is not hurriedly written affirmations or YouTube aspire to perspire videos but:
1. A crystal clear knowledge of who you mean to God.
2. His thoughts about you (because low self-esteem is usually centered on what we think or assume others think about ourselves).
3. Competence in the areas…well I can’t tell you all here.
Take this from me:
You’re loved.
You’re beautiful.
Get up and get to work on yourself and your ambitions.
Love you muchly and…
Faya on!
Hi ma’am.
Just reading this piece is enough to make me want more.
Why I need this book, hmmmm!.
Now if I remember correctly, I had asked you one time for one of your books I could read, I’m assuming you thought I was joking or I didn’t show enough seriousness.
So to me, this is the opportunity I have been waiting for, just to honestly see how you think, perceive things and put them down on paper.
I’m a deep thinker, I like to write more than I talk, I don’t believe I do that in a “writers way”. Reading your book will be a huge help to me. I really hate anything that stresses my brain, and I feel writing is one of them for me.
THANK you in advance.
Mama!!!!!!
I simply enjoy reading your works because they are down-to-earth, honest-to- good and challenging ones. They speak directly to me. Thank you for being a wonderful inspiration to writers like me who are trying to discover just how far we can go in touch the world around us for good.
I would really love to have this book because your story sounds just like mine and I’m super curious on how you specifically handled reading Chemistry and developing the writer in you.
I’ve always wanted to write a book about standing for Christ in the midst of fierce adversary that would encourage young Christian teens, especially those in high school because I learnt a lot in my day. Just like in Araoluwa, I think my story and the lessons I learnt are worth sharing.
Hello Prudence!
I’m sure you have a copy now! Congratulations. Can’t wait to read your book!
Wow, thank you, ma’am, for this beautiful piece. I got so much value.
Why I need the Book.
The first time I saw your book on Facebook. I knew I need the book.
I need this book because I love the writer and I aspire to like her.
Secondly, I love writing. And there are so many things I need to learn about writing.
I aspire to write about a wonderful topic. “How to build a healthy self-worth”.
Why I decided to write on this topic is simply because I have suffered from low self-esteem for a long time. It was so bad that I don’t even love myself.
Realizing that I was beautifully and wonderfully made and that God uniquely made me, changed my life. Truly this was a game-changer for me.
I was able to achieve much because I believed in myself.
Low self-esteem is a limiting factor for many.
I want to also help someone build healthy self-worth . I love helping people . And I believe this book will be a blessing to many.
I really need a copy of your book
Blessed by your comment!!!❤️❤️❤️