Toni Morrison once said that all paradises, all utopias are designed by who is not there, by the people who are not allowed in. In my life’s walk with Christ I have found this statement to be true. More importantly, I have found that when I have purged my life of the impure and tainted spirits of others I have been able to live more freely and receive more abundantly the blessings of life. We all have wants and needs that go beyond just physical and tangible possessions. In fact, we also have wants and needs as it relates to the presence of others in our life. Sometimes we find that this presence is in opposition to the necessities of our success. We want the abusive lover or friend—a person who will keep us from discerning our purpose and label us dysfunctional and abused. We want the popularity with little self esteem—bringing others down in an attempt to lift ourselves up; a failed attempt. We want the relatives who are afraid to tell us the truth—sugar coating our existence with high fructose corn syrup; an unhealthy choice of acquaintances to say the least.
To be truly successful it is important to be reflective about the people in our lives at all times. It is equally important to be reflective about ones own impact on his or her life—after all “you are your own best thing” or worst thing for that matter. No outside entity can complete you, fill your voids, or give meaning to your life which is empty due to your own self neglect. Know and love you before you allow others to do the same. You may develop a circle of friends in life, but you are that first link to you. In this way if all of the other links someday are broken you have you to start over with; you are the unbroken chain. Affirmations of the self are essential. Always tread nearer to confidence and further from that of arrogance—the line between the two is ever so thin. Life so far has taught me many things but beyond all I have learned I know there is much more information to gather. Knowledge is the only thing that can validate the truth and discredit those who seek to speak ills about you, your people, and your worth. Let your knowledge of yourself and the world around you be the affirmation for your future.
Some people think that the possibility of the future rests in the realities of the past. To the contrary, the possibilities of tomorrow rest solely in the individuals who assume autonomy over their own fate; those who tell sorrow and disappointment NO. Those who say yes to victory and NO to defeat; allot of what we accomplish in life is a direct result of and exodus from an ideology of despair. The mentality of such and ideology however, is always a choice. As I always say, choose to have a good day—a good life—it’s just that simple. You make that choice by speaking authoritatively in your own favor. By telling yourself yes I can do this—I will do this—I was made to do this! I once reached a point in my life where I found not much was going right. Things I wanted for myself were not happening; the people in my life were negative, dragging me down along with them. I finally decided I would cut the leash they had on my life and I would do so by creating a voice for myself.
The creation of this voice required that I consider my ways and my language. After careful consideration,I changed my life language in order to chart a more clearer path for where I was destined to go. Not only did this inspire others around me but it also was a way to leave a trail for myself just in case I ever get lost and need to find my way back to me. Now the metaphorical life language I use radiates through my spirit and speaks life into my hopes and aspirations. Even greater than becoming great, is the belief that you can-- the audacity to foresee a better you.
