There’s a sweet Swahili proverb that’s been stuck in my head lately. The saying goes, “Kinolewacho, Hupata,” and it translates directly to, “Whatever is Sharped, Cuts.” In two words, this proverb beautifully summarizes a concept that I’ve been deeply meditating on recently. It’s a solid piece of wisdom that rings certain and true, reminding me everyday that all which I attend my energy to, I will manifest into my reality. There’s something incredibly powerful about realizing the fact that, just like we learn in Physics, every action truly has a reaction. Formally stated, Newton’s third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This statement means that in every interaction, there is a pair of forces acting on the two interacting objects. The size of the forces on the first object equals the size of the force on the second object. Put simply and practically, whatever you put out – you get back… times two. This is a vital life lesson that has helped me remain grounded and deeply reverent of the flow of my energy, and specifically what I put out into The Universe.

Thanks to my deep reflection and understanding of this Swahili proverb, Kinolewacho, Hupata, I’m now able to plough through the ups and downs of life diligently, trusting that my efforts will one day be paid in full. However, this law of motion has also challenged me to let go of a lot of anger and fear, because now more than ever, I realize that I cannot allow past traumas that have been caused environmentally (and epigenetically) to be the bane of my existence. Because of this quote, I am able to wake up every single day with something to be joyful about: the opportunity to create the life of my dreams by sharpening my skills, one grind at a time. As I stated in my last article, Metacognition: The Million Dollar Mindset, what you think, you become. It’s easy to get lost in the sauce of a digital age where most people don’t challenge themselves to think critically. However, you must remember that this game of life is also dubbed survival of the fittest. And though success is subjective in every field and capacity, only those who have the wit and rigor to survive will taste the satisfying rewards that this life has to offer. Whatever the “good life” looks like in your mind, you can manifest it. You just need to have enough patience and perseverance to withstand the bad days as much as the good days. Being cognitive of your thinking is the first step towards realizing your dreams and potential because only through self awareness can you tap into making the necessary changes in your life to sharpen yourself in order to propel yourself forward. To know thyself is truly to love thyself; and to love thyself is the first secret to happiness.

Whatever is sharpened, cuts. Think about it. In order to prepare to cut down a tree, you must first sharpen your axe. There is immense power in proper preparation. You cannot go to war with a dull shield; and you similarly can’t win a race that you are simply not trained for. I’m always using the analogy that life is a game because it perfectly summarizes the fact that you cannot take everything in life too seriously, but you simultaneously need to know how to handle obstacles in order to win, and when to cut your losses. I challenge you today to reflect on the meaning of this proverb, and to analyze with intent everything that you wish to become. For a lasting experience, I’d advise you to take a piece of paper or open the notes app in your phone, and jot down 3 things that you hope will happen to/for you during this lifetime. Along those dreams and aspirations, write down 3 words that describe the feelings you associate with attaining those goals, and put the paper away for at least 3 months. I know it sounds like a long time, but trust me, time will fly. I hypothesize that by the time you see the note again, you will be purely shocked at how much progress you make into manifesting your goals into fruition. This is because there is a lot of power in conscious, deliberate thinking – accompanied with diligence and a deep delve into self. It might sound like an easy challenge, but it’s one that will potentially change your life drastically if you do it honestly and earnestly.

When I did this activity a few months ago under the supervision of one of my mentors, I wrote down all the things I wanted to attain in less than a year. Now, looking back on the list, I’ve achieved every single thing that I set out to achieve – and the year has just begun! Of course, I have to set new goals because this is a process where consistency really is the key. Nevertheless, when you practice this activity, you will get a better glimpse of what it takes to make something out of nothing. You must walk into this with an open and trusting heart; the more skeptical you are of your own abilities, the less likely you are to hone in on and/or sharpen those skills. Reflection and time alone are essential for truly finding yourself. And in order to be the most true version of yourself, you must first actually know who you are. There’s a song that goes, “I’m living in power and victory…because I know who I am.” I used to listen to that song every day until I started believing the words that I was singing along, and as a result, my confidence and vision(s) for life have skyrocketed. I am so thankful for wise sayings and proverbs that remind us of why we are here today, and I hope you enjoyed my analysis of this classic African proverb. Like I always say, thank you for supporting my art. I love you all, Royalty Family, and I’ll catch you in the next blog. Feel free to contact me with any questions and comments, and if you enjoyed this content, please donate to support your favorite college student, haha.

With much peace, love and happiness,

Yours truly,

Stacy Rahaka.