Do not allow challenges, provocations or unnecessary conflicts to drain your energy.

Avoid concentrating continually on negative vibrations, painful emotions or contrary influences that produce annoyance, anger, hatred, fury, resentment and arguments within your mind.

Self-control and discipline create the foundation for a prosperous, peaceful and fulfilling life. Avoid unnecessary arguments and refuse to allow anger to govern your words or decisions.

Always seek to maintain inner peace when facing obstacles, problems and difficult circumstances.

Return to Your Inner Sanctuary

When provoked, pause before responding. Withdraw temporarily into your inner sanctuary and communicate with yourself through prayer, reflection, fasting and other appropriate spiritual practices.

This form of withdrawal does not mean abandoning your responsibilities or isolating yourself from necessary support. It means creating enough inner space to think clearly before speaking or acting.

Let the language of your life become:

• prayer;
• divine love;
• peace and harmony;
• gratitude;
• patience;
• good character; and
• disciplined action.

Through these qualities, you prepare yourself to fulfil your destiny at every level of existence.

Fasting should always be practised responsibly and adapted to your health, medication and physical capacity.

Learn to Save Yourself

Learn first to save yourself from uncontrolled reactions, destructive habits and negative thought patterns. When you develop wisdom, discipline and emotional balance, you become better prepared to support others.

Strengthen yourself through:

• wisdom and intelligence;
• good habits;
• positive attitudes;
• patience and endurance;
• trust in Olódùmarè;
• belief in the Òrìṣà, Irúnmọlẹ̀ and Ẹbọra;
• conviction in Ori—your sacred inner essence and destiny; and
• responsible physical and spiritual action.

Through this alignment, you become receptive to the profound forces and spiritual energies of creation that can guide you toward higher levels of blessing.

Success May Arrive Disguised as a Challenge

You may currently be passing through a difficult situation. Remain calm, focused and disciplined. Many opportunities for growth initially appear in the form of challenges.

The wise person confronts adversity with determination, sound spiritual preparation, intellectual maturity, emotional equilibrium and physical discipline.

This does not mean remaining forever in situations that are harmful or no longer serve a meaningful purpose. Wisdom also includes recognizing when something is not working and having the courage to release it.

Let go of habits, relationships, patterns and activities that repeatedly obstruct your growth. Establish appropriate boundaries and seek help when a situation cannot be resolved safely on your own.

Life Is a School

A diligent and well-prepared student does not run away from every test or examination. The student understands that passing the test creates an opportunity to advance to the next level.

Life may also be understood as a school. Its tests can appear as problems, disappointment, betrayal, opposition or unexpected change. These experiences may create discomfort before we reach our destination.

Within this spiritual teaching, challenges and opposition often accompany the fulfilment of destiny. Yet adversity should not be glorified, and suffering should never be used to excuse abuse or injustice.

The lesson is to develop yourself so thoroughly—spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically—that adversity cannot easily control the direction of your life.

When you possess self-control, every experience can become instruction. Even the conduct of an enemy may reveal where greater wisdom, preparation or boundaries are required.

Prepare for the Examinations of Life

Be prepared for the tests that may arise along your journey. Learn the foundations of:

• sincere prayer;
• responsible fasting;
• properly guided rituals and sacrifices;
• physical strength and movement;
• emotional balance;
• spiritual concentration;
• divine wisdom;
• intellectual development; and
• mental discipline.

Do not waste your time on activities that bring no genuine value to your life. Learn to govern your mind and direct your thoughts toward what supports your destiny.

Preparation does not eliminate every challenge, but it prevents every challenge from becoming a crisis.

Respect Yourself and Show Love to Others

The universe responds to people who respect themselves, honour life and demonstrate love toward others.

Self-respect is revealed through the standards you maintain, the words you speak, the habits you practise and the boundaries you establish. Love for others is revealed through patience, compassion, assistance and truthful guidance.

Teach through your conduct. Let your good habits, positive words and constructive thought patterns become an example to the people around you.

You are a sacred being who must demonstrate divine love to creation.

Ìwọ gan-an ni Irúnmọlẹ̀.

You yourself carry the essence of the divine messenger.

Pattern your life after the qualities of the ancient Irúnmọlẹ̀: wisdom, discipline, service, courage, patience and devotion to a meaningful purpose.

Protect your energy.
Control your reactions.
Maintain your peace.
Prepare for life’s tests.
Let go of what no longer serves your destiny.
Use your wisdom to support yourself and others.

May it be well with you for as long as the sun continues to appear.

Àṣẹ.