Day #9

Below are the words to a song produced and sung in the 1980’s.

Ooh-oo child, things’ll get be brighter
Ooh-oo child, things are gonna be easier
Ooh-oo child, things’ll get be brighter

Some day, yeah
We’ll get it together and we’ll get it all done
Some day, when your head is much lighter
Some day, yeah we’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Some day when the world is much brighter

I’ve lived a life filled with all kinds of stuff most of it pretty crappy stuff. I had seasons in my life when I didn’t believe things could or would ever get easier. I saw life as rough, tough and daunting and then you died.

Then something miraculous happened along my life journey. I met an amazing teacher who reminded me that I was a glorious creation in the earth for this time. That after the first born son, there were many others and I was one of the many. And by amazing grace, I came to the realization God had given me everything I needed for this lifetime. The only way my world was going to get easier, lighter and brighter was I grasp what my world was trying to teach me and take responsibility. I had to come to the apprehension no matter how much I ran, wrestled, or denied the buck always stopped with me.

I came to the realization I couldn’t blame my broken relationships, which usually ended with men going away in my life, on the no-good cheating first love who broke my heart when I was eighteen. Nor could I blame the so-called

A Hard Pill to Swallow

best friend who wore my mom-made, hand-crocheted, gorgeous outfit on her first date with him.

I couldn’t blame the drunkard husband who, when I asked him his choice me or his bottle of Jack Daniels, chose Jack. I couldn’t blame the second husband who lost his battle to cancer. And, my parents—could I blame them? I did for a while until I learned that parents are only grown-up kids who have been ruined by other misguided grown-up kids.

After going around the Mulberry bush of life a few dozen times, I finally acknowledged I had an abandonment issue, to name just one. I needed to resolve the matter personally and inwardly. Facing the truth wasn’t an easy pill to swallow. And even now when the proverbial you-know-what hits the fan and the mirror-of-life reflects its ugliness, I still get choked on the truth pill.

That’s right! Things still happen in my middle-aged life where I’d love to blame someone else for my rotten circumstance. However, I now realize it all begins with me. I create my reality, my world. No one and no thing is responsible. And that realization, my friend, is even a harder pill to swallow.

It’s like one of those nasty, over-sized, sticky vitamin supplements my nutritionist keeps telling me is good for my health. How can it be? It’s nasty. It’s smelly and it gets stuck in my throat. But remarkably, once I hold my nose and gag a few times, I do eventually get it down leading to my feeling better physically which, in turn, leads to mental and emotional good health. And the more often I take my supplements, the easier it gets.

Sometimes, life comes at you blazing spitting thirty-eights. And, before you can recover the guns get bigger and the ammo becomes forty-fives. I’ve had the whirlwind of life hit me hard and brutally and at times it seemed before I could get up and recover from the last spray, I was shot and rolled again. There were times when I felt I was done for the count.  And then, a suddenly! An Amazingly!

I came to know the purpose of life, believe it or not, is not to suffer brutally or be its victim. Its purpose is one of abundance, one filled with joy. Life’s experiences are for our expansion which, inevitably, if you learn quickly and don’t fight it, will lead to your joy.

So, can it get easier? Absolutely! When? When you:

1)   look within,

2)   make deliberate and well thought choices,

3)   take responsibility. Whether the choices are good or bad they are yours,

4)   and finally, release and move on.

It will get lighter, like the song says, when your head or your thoughts get lighter. And it can and will become brighter when your mind and beliefs conform to your light within.

Let’s look at a passage of Scripture. It is what I know and use for my base. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Ref.: Jeremiah 29:11. How about this one? “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they [you] may have life, and have it to the full.” Ref.: John 10:10.

These scripture certainly sound positive. The thief, the: robber, burglar, shoplifter, pickpocket, bandit, crook mentioned in the second verse is someone or a force that leaves you feeling vulnerable, violated and victimized. I believe this to be your personally created illusions, shadows and delusions. It is your self-sabotaging, subconscious mind chatter and donkey talk haunting you 24/7.

They are the thoughts telling you life can’t get any better because you’re not worthy of a good, loving, and prosperous life. It is theNiagara Fallsof negative memories reminding and reinforcing the belief, “You don’t deserve love, and you don’t deserve a brighter future, a laughter-filled, lighter or easier life.” It is the malignant belief that you have to suffer and life has to be hard.

Here’s another Scripture? “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Ref.: Matthew 11:30. Meaning, my burden or my oppression is easy: simple, trouble-free, effortless, uncomplicated, painless and unproblematic.

Heresy you say. What about the Scripture that states, “And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” Ref.: Luke 14:27. Could this possibly mean whoever does not carry or bear their own purpose, cause, calling or responsibility cannot follow after or become Me [the Christ minded]?

Let me use one more Scripture to attempt to convince you and then I’ll let you be on your way. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Ref.: Romans 12:2-3.

Now, isn’t that soothing? It should be but probably isn’t because it’s more comfortable and easier to hold on to archaic belief systems that don’t work. The pattern of this world says you must struggle. Life is hard and it’s not your fault. I’m here to tell you that life will bring you ups and downs; and life will mirror back to you who and what you are. Life brings tests and yes, at times, life doesn’t appear to be fair. However, you do not have to be life’s victim.

You can, with ease, understand what these experiences come to teach and learn from the circumstances. You can, with ease, recognize each and every obstacle; and from such create clear objectives, goals and strategies for success. You can comprehend, with ease, how to play the game of life and WIN.

You co-create your life easily or with great difficulty. Realize the only way this world is going to get brighter is when you realize your “things are gonna be easier” begins with you. And yes my friend, that’s a hard pill to swallow.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Ref.: Jeremiah 29:11-13

Another year has come and gone. It’s time for those new-year resolutions, 2012 goals and plans. By now, you probably know how I feel about all of these. Resolutions can be made each and every day at any time of the year. And we, quite often, strive after goals that are fleeting and without clear objectives or clarity resulting in disappointment and greater pain.

As for plans, I, myself, have written a few to include a business plan, a marketing plan and a personal life-plan. Up to a few years ago, I was a strong believer. In my book, “Twelve Magical Keys to Help Women Live Life Abundantly,” I write about and discuss having  S.M.A.R.T. goals and a plan in place to achieve success.

Let’s recap what S.M.A.R.T goals are, briefly. S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym which stands for goals or a plan that has goals that are:

• Specific = The goals are clear and concise
• Measurable = These are the steps taken to help you see where you are in the project, where you need to be, and how much money and time it will take until its completion.
• Attainable = What will it take to reach the goal with the available resources?
• Realistic = Is the goal practical, sensible or reasonable? And/or
  • Risk = How much risk is involved?
• T = What is the timetable for the project including a completion date.

When I included this information in my book, I honestly believed that these steps were necessary. I still do. However, I must admit, my thinking has shifted or transformed to a newer or, what I’d like to believe, a higher way of thinking. I now believe in order to be successful in any endeavor you must have a new, additional type of plan. Please, if you have a few minutes journey with me here.

At the beginning of this piece I shared a Scripture from Jeremiah 29:11-13. This passage is basically saying that the Lord God, the Universe, Omnipotence, All Knowing, Magnificent Light and Love formulated a personal plan for your personal life. May I remind you, this God as well as His plan is not outside of you. God is in the DNA of every person. I find, the sooner you acknowledge this fact, the sooner you lift off.

So, if that plan is inside of you or in your D.N.A., how do you go about getting that plan on the inside to the outside so you can walk into the plan for your life or what I call your purpose and your calling?

Before we proceed, I need to share another passage of Scripture. “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts. I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. Then the LORD replied: ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a heraldmay run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. Ref.: Habakkuk 2:1-3

Let me introduce you today to the H.E.A.R.T^.© plan^.  The H.E.A.R.T^© plan has five steps, like S.M.A.R.T goals.  It helps you find and know the personal plan of God or the heart of God for your life which is simply based upon, “…the plan to prosper you and not harm you, to grant you hope and [an amazing] future.” Your plan is designed for only you. No one can take it or steal it away.

Here are the steps:

• Hear the voice of God.

You must first understand the voice of God is within. Yes, he or she or whatever, whoever you envision God to be is Omnipotent, Omniscient, or all knowing, and Omnipresent. You must also realize that the all powerful, the all knowing and the every place at every time being is not separate from you. I cannot emphasize that enough. You must know if the mountains and the seas are part of the Godliness and greatness, you must also be. “To look to see what He will say,” mentioned in Habakkuk 2 vs. 1 is to gaze, glimpse, glance into yourself, your heart, your soul and hear the voice of God within.

When I was doing case-management work in California, I don’t know how many times I would walk into someone’s home and have to say, “Will you please turn the television off?” or “Please turn the radio down, and even, “Will you please ask the children to play outside until we are done?” I can hear God asking us the same. It’s impossible to have a heart-felt discussion with anyone with noisy distractions and undivided attention. The God within can’t communicate with you if you don’t make time and space for the communication. The “intuitive” voice, the “gut” feeling or fly-by thought that comes to you is also part of the God within attempting to speak to you. You must train yourself to listen being sure it is the voice of God within and not the ego voice.

• Envision: So many women say to me, “I’m asking God for direction.” I then ask where do you want to go? What do you see? Can you see? Do you have an inner vision? You may be so damaged; drained and distraught you can’t see anything anymore. You see nothing but strife, grief and struggle. Your vision may be veiled. You may not be able to discern the ego from the God consciousness leading you into continued cycling, bad decisions, wasted money, and worst of all wasted time.

Your dream that travelled with you through the birth canal and through your D.N.A. may be buried. Be relieved in knowing though it may be sleeping, suffocating or stifled it is not dead. Not if you are reading this piece. It only has to be rekindled. How awesome!

We always write our vision, “….write down the revelation, the vision so he who heralds it or reads it runs with it.” Have you heard people say there is something magical about writing down your goals or creating a vision board? Well there is. It is found in Scripture. To “run” with it means: to bring or move quickly, to hurry.  When you take the step to write your vision, to record what you have glanced into and seen, you can revisit and see your vision daily or weekly. This message imprints upon the conscious mind thereby being rooted in the subconscious mind bringing forth manifestation quickly, hurriedly and easily. More will be accomplished in your sleep with your vision at the subconscious than in your everyday routine of bus-i-ness.

• Ask – “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me …” If you are willing to find the time to be silent, either by prayer or meditation, then you must also be willing to seek the answers to all the questions even the ones you think are forbidden.

I remember when growing up I was always told not to question God. When I became a woman, I asked, “Why not?” If God is my Teacher, and Scripture says he will listen then why can’t I ask? Scripture in Matthew 7:7 clearly tells us to not only ask but to seek and knock. Paraphrased, don’t just ask once but keep seeking and knocking, pounding on the door, if necessary, until you clearly see or hear what it is you need to know. Isn’t that what any good student does? They keep asking and researching until their understanding is clear. But after asking you must astutely LISTEN. Don’t try to over-talk or over-think the teacher.  If you’re not supposed to know the answer or the answer is not timely, you will hear or intuitively know just that.

“When prayer is at its highest we wait in silence for God’s voice to us; we linger in His presence for His peace and His power to flow over us; we lean back in His everlasting arms and feel the serenity of perfect security in Him.” –William Barclay

So, if you desire, ask. If the vision is convoluted ask for clarity. If you require confirmation; that’s right, ask! Don’t stop seeking the answers within until all is clear. To step out before, will only lead to frustration, anguish and disappointment not just sometime; every time.

• Rest–And in the seventh day He, God, rested. We now live in the seventh day and if we are willing to do the first three steps then we must also be willing to LET GO. (The letting go is really the magical piece.) We know it shall come to pass. It: the dream, the desire, may tarry or be delayed but it will come. Learning the magic of letting go may take you cycling or what I call going around the Mulberry Bush a few hundred times. If you’re anything like me, it may possibly take a good portion of your life; but, eventually, you’ll get so fatigued and so tired, if not sick, you will have to come to your end and you will rest.
• And, lastly, here it is: The TRANSITION

You wake up one morning and you’re there. You’re where you’re supposed to be. You’re in the flow and you’re living your dream. The money is coming because you’re on course and more importantly you’re happy. In fact, you’re happy if you’re not making the money because, amazingly, all the good things promised are coming to you anyway. How so? Because the PLAN for your personal life or what is known as your purpose or your calling has overtaken you and you have become one.

This journey is not without bumps, wrong turns, or disappointments. I would be a fraud to tell you otherwise. You may go two steps forward and three steps backward. You might have to go back to the hearing and asking from time to time. In fact, I would suggest you do so every morning before you begin your day. You will most likely need someone to walk you through. But I promise you, you will transition into your dream, your hope, your business and your relationships stronger, wiser, happier, whole, healthy, filled with hope and prosperity. After all, that is the plan for your amazing life.

Why not start 2012 on target! Find out how to fully implement the H.E.A.R.T © plan in your life today. Whether you are challenged with love,   finances, heath, self-expression, career or weight blockages, this amazing life filled with miraculous manifestation and abundance each and every day is for every one. Why not get on board right now?

Reblogged from Messy Jesus Business:

My students are brilliant.  They endure so much and remain hopeful and faithful.  Prayers of gratitude pour out of them easier than on-time assignments.  Every day I hear praise that God gave them another day.  It’s amazing to me.  But, it shouldn’t be. They’re teenagers and they know they have a life of greatness ahead of them. In this part of the world there is abundant chaos, confusion and distraction from what is true and right.  Gang warfare, poverty and drug addictions are thick.  We know …

I love this piece. After reminding a dear Christian “adult” friend we were commanded to love, her response to me was, “But, it’s not always easy.” I’d love to share this piece on my site, w/your permission of course. In love, light & healing.

Reblogged from Source of Inspiration:

Life is complicated only because we make it so. Does a butterfly sigh and moan, “Life is so hard”? Be a butterfly; leave your need for drama in the past

Love this! Life is what you make it.

The Magical Moment that Could Change Your Life Forever

I have to stop and laugh at myself. This is supposed to be a 365-day journal that began back in July. Obviously, I have not written every day; but, I have made the conscious decision and commitment to my readers to not sit down and force words onto the screen that are uninspired and frivolous, And while I respect both the readers’ time and mine, I also honor and cherish my gift within—writing. So let us continue with day 8.

Even if you are not one to follow the daily news, I am sure by now in some way you have heard of the Occupy Wall Street movement. God bless them for exercising their right to protest, I suppose. Lord knows, I have not been especially thrilled with what has been transpiring in theseUnited Statesfor quite some time. However, this piece today is not to judge, support or condemn the movement, but to set the stage to ask a strong and powerful question before each reader. Why and why not?

We, the people, complain about the government: either its lack of progress or its far-reaching, massive intervention and intrusion. We complain about Wall Street and the rich, conniving fat cats. We criticize our employers and their oppressive ways, grumble about our neighbors, our enemies, our everyday pathetic lives, and anything else believing and feeling we are merely, powerless, mortal beings. But, are we?

Each and everyperson holds the power for change and fortune for their life in their own hands. You might argue, not so. You may debate Wall-street executives are greedy, aren’t creating enough jobs, and rule the world. We realize countless graduates are leaving their colleges and universities with huge debt and there is no work to pay back their massive debt. You are correct.

The Answers Lie Within

The unemployment numbers are oppressive and at an all time high. We’re being told by the media, at least the network I listen to, unemployment is at 9.6% (at the time this article is being published) but honestly, it’s more like 17.1%. Many have fallen off the grid. Graduates and some small-business owners have never been counted. There are individuals who are definitely hurting. But, have you ever had the fleeting thought that maybe, just possibly, we might be able to do something about our lowly situations ourselves?

Have you ever given any thought to the reason behind you or someone you know losing their lousy job paying pitons? No one is ever “paid” what their true worth. Is it possible the passion for the position was lost? Possibly more road-blocks and hindrances were brought to the table than solutions? Did you give your employer 110% but the powers-that-be believed you were extinct, paying you too much? Maybe you didn’t play the political game well enough? Or, could it be the Universe, whom I call God, knew you were never, ever going to dig down into the well of your soul until you got a grand kick in the grand behind right out of the company’s grand front door?

You have skills, knowledge and experience as well as innate and inherent talents and gifts. There is not another person like you on planet earth. You are unique and superb. All you need is to stir up the gift or gifts within your core to reach your explosive potential. Realize your power. Own your power.

So you got fired. So what! Your company let you go. Great! Celebrate! You can’t find another job; you’re in debt and under water. Fantastic! What is it that you can do to bring change to your situation? What do you do well naturally? What excites you?

Here are some other precise questions you may want to apply to your life today. What do you whip up in the kitchen that makes people knock on your door every time they get a whiff while passing? “Honey, I was just passing by and smelled you cooking (fill in the blank).” You can start cooking and selling that right out of your kitchen or your church charging only a few dollars until you can afford to purchase a little cart. Go from the cart to a storefront, paying cash, if possible.

Love to bake and it tastes delicious? Hello. How do think Mrs. Fields Cookies got started? Are you great with a needle and thread? Do you know how badly some people hate to repair a hem, sew a button back onto a blouse, or mend a seam? I’m one of them. I render the garment useless banishing it to the bottom of a drawer or closet.

And here’s an idea that just popped into my head. Those outfits that people banish just because they need mending, you can ask for them, repair them and then setup a little thrift store, right in your living room or back yard in warmer climates.

Do you love to help others look beautiful? Well, don’t complain that you can’t afford to open a shop; you can become a mobile hairdresser, manicurist and pedicurist offering the service in the privacy of your clients’ homes.

Why wait for someone to empower you? Why take the victimization path? I don’t know about you but I’m frankly done with the whole disempowering, disabling, disenchanting position.

Why knock yourself out day after day seeking an indentured servant’s position—oh come on, you know it’s true—that is only going to pay you enough to get by? Maybe! Why seek a position you’ll hate getting up and going to each and every flipping morning—a job that will have you living for the weekend possibly filled with alcohol, sedatives, or illegal drugs to dull the experience.

Why not live an inspired, joy-filled, abundant life? Let me ask you again. Why not? Don’t you deserve to live life in its completeness and fullness? Why not sit quietly asking and seeking guidance from within? Asking for guidance outside of you hasn’t worked. As Dr. Phil would ask, “How’s it working for ya?” Honestly, neither the government nor corporate can provide your life with long-term, satisfying solutions.

Why give the so-called evil corporations, government or anyone all your personal power? Isn’t it obvious their only goals are to make themselves more powerful and more rich (which I believe is a corporations duty) while you become more dependent upon their meager distributions becoming less and less powerful. Why not look to the God within and use what has been divinely given you for your personal success?

There are many things that stop us from seeking the divine design within. I would say fear is probably the most common denominator. May I suggest you take the moment, right now, and inquire within? Why and Why Not? Go ahead. Find yourself a comfortable, quiet place in the house. Become relaxed, still (you can find out how to engage in simple meditation here) and ask, “Why am I not worthy of a happy, successful, and abundant life?” Why not do it? It may possibly be the magical moment to change your magical path forever.

I don’t know how many times in recent months I have talked to dear friends and associates about current events in our nation only to receive the same answer every time, “I don’t watch the news anymore. It’s too depressing.”

This is absolutely true. It is incredibly depressing. Here’s just a few of the headlines as I write this piece: Secret Government Banks Financing More Solyndras, Massive Search Underway for Endangered Girl, Disaster Recovery Projects in Limbo Despite Senate Budget Deal, Death Toll Rises to 13 in Listeria Outbreak, the Deadliest in a Decade.

By the time this piece is completed, edited and posted the above will not be news. It will not be current events but a stream of senseless mishaps of the past. Unfortunately, for many more, they will be events not ever known.

I used to be one of those people who believed if I watched the news, I would be flooded with negativity and not able to function for the day. I believed that the news of the day was bad energy, bad karma, and no good thing would come to me. Not knowing how to protect and cleanse myself from the negative energy, I believed I was doomed if I listened to what the media was reporting.

Today, I have come to learn how to protect myself. And, I now believe it has been a concentrated ploy to bombard us with huge doses of negativity so that we first become desensitized and then we simply turn off and choose to ignore the calamities of our neighbors, the senseless wars taking our children’s lives, and the severe level of depravity our nation and our world has reached.

I now believe that it was a plan to detach us, isolate us, leave us ignorant and ill informed so that the powers that be can easily invade and infect our simple little lives and we would be clueless but oh so happy and so enlightened. And while I could write my rant today about any of the tragedies and calamities we have chosen to ignore in the headlines the last few days, I write today about our youth. It is the story of the declining values of our youth that tug at my heart.

Only a few short weeks ago a group called The Barna Group (serving the information needs of the church by offering statistics, resources, seminars and custom research on current cultural and spiritual trends) reported “…nearly 50% of young adults surveyed said ethics and morals are based on ‘what is right for the person.’ The new study shows a significant divide between the nation’s young adults and its older residents.” Well, I’m not too sure about the significant divide but what I do know is we, adults, have chosen to give up and check out.

On September 28, 2011 headlines read, Seven Student’s Arrested in SAT Scandal. The article went on to read,  “Sam Eshaghoff, 19, of Great Neck was arraigned on charges of scheming to defraud, criminal impersonation and falsifying business records, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office…. The six students whom Eshaghoff stood in for, names not disclosed because of their ages, were arrested on misdemeanor charges.”

With all the crap going on in our nation why did this one tug on my heart? Why am I not upset about our economy? Truly, I am but what upsets me more is we have turned off to what is happening to our societal youth and turned on to Facebook, Twatter, as called by one of my evening drama-series characters, and other mind-numbing, time-consuming social media, online games and distractions while life as we know it is quickly eroding.

Am I disappointed with what I believe to be the decline of morals and ethics? Yes! But that is where each and every man will have to give account for his own soul. What I am more perturbed about is the fact we have failed our youth. We have failed to show them right from wrong. We have failed to be the models of good behavior. We have failed allowing Dr. Spock to tell us to reason with our toddlers. We have failed allowing government to take control away from us, the parent, who works as a slave to give their child everything they need and more.

We have failed in teaching our children to respect authority while the government, the police and the justice system, now teach. We have failed to chastise for fear of an on-looker, who has never had the royal opportunity of being a parent, turning us in to Social Services.

So on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 police officers of Great Neck, New York walked into college arresting Mr. Eshaghoff to teach him right from wrong. Eshaghoff had sat in for six high-school students receiving thousands of dollars. The six high-school students were arrested and charged with misdemeanors.  You can read the FOX News report here. When a news reporter asked a fellow college student about the incident his remark with a huge grin on his face, “It’s a great business.”

What have we become? I’ll give you a few suggestions.  We have become a nation whose values are compromised, weakened and then compromised some more. We have become a society where right has become politically incorrect and wrong is the acceptable trend. We have become a society where intrinsic values are shunned at the expense of our children—a nation where our children are the sacrifice upon the altars—the abomination of abominations.

While there is still time, let us once again, truly engage our children’s lives—loving teaching, and nurturing. Let us not be afraid to teach them right from wrong or discipline them with love in love. Let us not be afraid to read, research and comb the pages for truth so we are an informed people knowing exactly who and what agencies want to slowly strip away the intrinsic values of this nation.

Individuals, who give their power over to any person or group, any trend, at anytime who follow the herds of comfortable and complacent zombies eventually wind up with what they deserve—victimization and a lost society that ultimately perishes.

When I was a little girl, my wise dad, a WW II Veteran, used to say, “Daughter, America won’t be taken by an outside enemy, she’ll collapse from within.” I would laugh, of course. America had its problems, but it was strong; it was still the land of the free and home of the brave. However, four decades later, if we fail to provide integrity-filled modeling for our children showing what is right, wrong, good and evil; if we continue to model money as our all powerful God, I’m afraid my dad’s words will become prophetic. And that my friend, is an unfavorable score for us all.

It has been quite a few days since Day #5 of You Are Not a Victim. A day is a thousand years to the Lord so I’m early.

If you have been following any of my writings or read anything on any of my blog sites, you have come to realize that I am not one who glorifies victimization. I believe that each and every one of us has the power to: get wealth, prosper, thrive, and live an abundant life. You know that I believe if you believe you are a victim, than you will be just that. I believe thoughts lead to feelings, feelings lead to actions and our actions give us a result each and every time.

                                                Thoughts ——–> Feelings ——–> Actions = Results

Here’s a simple scenario for you ladies:

Thought:       Hmmm he’s late from work, again. It’s the fourth time this month. He’s probably cheating that no good, lying …..

Feeling:         Anger, depression, low self-esteem, restlessness, fear, suspicion/distrust

Action:          Yelling, screaming, checking mates pockets or cell phone, lack of communication; fear-based decisions,

Result:           Destroyed relationship, possible divorce, hurt children if any, broken hearts/family

Now ladies, or should I say victims, how many times has this happened? How many times have you jumped to a conclusion before you gave anyone an opportunity to explain their actions? Now, let me make this perfectly clear. I am not talking about a situation where you are being abused either emotionally, physically, mentally, or sexually. In those situations I always only have one reply and that is, “Get, the Hell Out!” I am, however, talking about situations where we choose to always be the victim whether it is in relationships, careers, or life in general.

Do you know anyone who always seems to have drama, always in some type of battle? They might be battling

The Great "I AM" - Scotland

with a spouse, child or employer. They sometimes contrive these battles of the mind where they’re fighting some invisible force or entity. Why is it that bad things seem to happen to some good people all the time? If God is good, and I believe He is, where is the manifestation of goodness?

I believe in and practice the, “I AM” theory.  Here’s how it works. When Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”  And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” As you can see, I am also a believer in Holy Scripture.

Let me take this one step further. God said, I am who I am. Now, this next statement will make some of you angry. But, at this point in the game of life for me, I really don’t give a rip. I hope making you angry will shed some light on your pitiful victimization. So, stating this simply, If God is in me, and I believe he’s in each and every one of us since everything is God; and, I am in Him—I cannot be separated from my source, than the “I AM WHO I AM” applies to me also.

                                     When I say, I AM broke—voila’, I AM.

                                     When I say, I AM powerless—amazingly, I AM.                                                                                                                    

                                     When I say, I AM sick and tired, magically, I AM.

What if I began to believe, I AM Good? If God is good and all that is in Him and through Him is good, then am I not good? Is all that surrounds me through Him, by Him not good?

Let’s use our Thoughts ——–> Feelings ——–> Actions = Results model. Here we go:

Thought:          God is good; thereby, I AM Good!

Feeling:            Increased esteem, confident, peaceful, motivated, blessed, resilient, filled with faith

Action:             Move forward with confidence: write a vision plan or business plan, change careers, exit toxic relationships

Result:              A purpose-filled abundant life

It’s very easy to throw around cliches. In fact, we often use them without really ever thinking about or having any real understanding of what we’re saying leading to nothing more than rhetoric.  If God is good, let’s reap what His goodness has in store for us. I’d even go one step further- let’s each and every person become His Divine Goodness seeing goodness in others, letting it magically unfold allowing us to leave our victimization(s) behind to embrace and live a life more abundant.

Day #5 You Are Not A Victim

Why is it that some individuals are able to make it out of the ghettos and inner cities, and are quite successful, while others get carried out, literally? Why is it that someone like me, who went to P.S. 43, Burger Jr. High School 139, and graduated from the worse public high school in the Bronx, Morris High, by choice, has been able to succeed in Corporate America and life. By the way, Morris High School is the same public school General Collin Powell graduated from.

My teachers stunk. They were politically liberal leftist and I spent much of my senior year “walking out” protesting the Vietnam War. We were clueless. We had no concept of the cause or any idea of what was really going on. We were getting out of school and that was ignorantly cool to us. Useful idiots are what Glen Beck calls students who are used. And, that’s exactly what we were.

I had a French teacher, by the name of Monsieur Weiss, who literally put his hands on all the girls’ behinds as they went up to the chalk board. That’s right-right in front of the entire classroom. There was no running to the principal. There wasn’t even any running home to your parents. In my neighborhood, if you ratted you paid the price. It didn’t matter the crime. So, you learned to either defend yourself, shut up or got beat up.

It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized how far behind my inner-city education had left me. And yes, there were plenty right-winged, conservative colleges desiring, in fact, throwing scholarships at poor students in the inner cities. There were football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and even academic scholarships. Colleges were providing opportunity if you showed just a little incentive. Those who wanted to take the victim path called it exploitation when it came to the sports scholarships. Those wanting a way out of the inner city called it opportunity.

For anyone not interested in college or too bored to memorize the dull facts needed to pass the SAT, there was the military. Those who wanted to take the victim path said the man just wanted to kill off young black men. Those young men who wanted to serve proudly and saw it as a means to escape the concrete jungle saw it as a way to learn a skill, get experience, purchase a home and further their education when they got out. They knew their odds of dying on the front line in Nam were no greater than dying on the streets of New York City.

How is it that people like Luther Vandross, Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Lauren, Regis Philbin and Justice Sonya Sotomayor, and me made it out of the Bronx, New York and others died from drug over-doses, alcoholism, and heinous crimes? Is it because we were rich, privileged, had the right color eyes or were better looking than most?

Or is it possible we were persistent, tenacious, and tougher than nails? Is it possible that when we got kicked and rolled, we got back up again just like one of those rubber punching bags. Is it possible we didn’t blame others for our falls but took a hard look at ourselves first? Is it possible that even though we subconsciously battled with our own esteem, somewhere deep down inside our very souls we believed we were worthy? Is it possible we had to learn to compete, outperform, and practice relentlessly to rise above the crabs in the basket?

Could it have possibly been a growth mindset that says, “I failed this time; but, what might I do differently to succeed the next,” verses, “I failed because it was my teacher’s, mother’s, father’s, boss’ fault?”

Can the difference between a social victim and a social contributor be something as simple as attitude: social victims believe everyone owes them something and social contributors don’t want anything from anyone? They want to create their own path, control their own lives, and take responsibility for themselves.

Growing up in the South Bronx was damned tough; but, if I had to do it again, I would.

It taught me to be strong emotionally, mentally, and even physically. It taught me to look out for myself and have my friends’ backs. It helped me realize the truth from lies and rhetoric. It also taught me if I wanted something to go after it with unrelenting tenacity–never giving up and never giving in. It taught me that no matter where I came from, no matter how tough it gets the choice is always mine to make – social victim or social contributor.

Ephesians 6:10

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

It’s easy for someone to tell you how important it is to leave your victimization behind. It’s easier said than done. Isn’t it? I’d like to share a few victimless steps that have assisted me. Remember. I am confident if you follow this path, are consistent and dedicated you will begin to actually live the life of victor.

Ready? Here you go. Now remember, don’t start and stop. Take one step at a time. Put one foot in front of the other, every day.

Become Aware – You must first become aware of the dysfunction, unhappiness, and chaos in your life. I like to call this the drama in your life. Here are a few questions I’d like you to contemplate.

1. Are there traumatic, stressful, debilitating, and catastrophic events always occurring in your life?
2. Are you always worrying about something and when there’s nothing to worry about, you worry because you don’t have   something to worry about?
3. Does the crap rolling down hill always hit you?
4. Are you often asking, “Why me?”
5. Are you always the martyr, always the victim?

You need not share your responses with anyone, but the next step to finding your road to healing, your road to abundant living, is honesty. If you can’t be honest with yourself then who can you be honest with? Bill Watterson puts it this way. “It’s not denial. I’m just selective about the reality I accept.”  Humorous? Yes. But, not when it begins to negatively affect your finances, impede your happiness and stifle your abundance. Why pretend you’re fearless when you’re fear-filled? Why say you’re free, when you’re oppressed? Why say and recite truths when, in reality, there is very little evidence that what you’re reciting is having influence. Is it just mindless utterances you are in the habit of quoting?

Once you’re honest about what you’re wrestling with, get an understanding. If you struggle with debilitating fears, attempt to get to the root. Did the fear come from mom, dad, or another authoritative figure? If you settle in your relationships, work, or affairs ask why? Usually this stems from low self-esteem. How do you really feel about yourself?

Don’t be afraid to go inward. The answers lie within. Yes, God is Almighty, All Creator. Yes, He is in complete control. But, it is also finished. It is my belief that all things have been prepared. It is either finished [completed, ended, done] or it’s not. This means your path, your life-purpose has already been created. It is up to you to find it. You were not created to be a victim. You have the power, all the power you’re ever going to get. You have the authority and ability to co-create for your life. Thwarting responsibility—either waiting for God or othersl—can leave you needy, wanting, and powerless. Go within. Find the God-given power within. Be relentless. God power is in each and every one of us. Empower yourself.

Take Action. While God helps those who help themselves is not an actual Scripture, in every example of Christ healing or helping others, an action was required. For example, the woman with the issue of blood had to press through the crowd and touch the hem of Christ’s garment. The blind man spoken of in John 9, after Christ made a mud/saliva salve and put it on the man’s eyes, he was told to wash in the Pool of Siloam. Even when there was no affliction but a party, action was required. Christ’s first miracle of turning the water into wine, Mary, His mother told the servants to do whatever He, the Christ, told them to do. He instructed them to “fill the jars with water,” and then “draw some out.”

You can’t stand idly by waiting and hoping for change. It is not President Obama’s or any one else’s responsibility to bring you change. Change is a process, and your road to healing is a process; and process is a course of action. Ask for divine guidance which requires quiet time with you, and then MOVE with unbridled faith and energy.

Raise Your Energy. EVERYTHING is energy. You want to raise the abundance in your life, raise your energy. How? Incorporate lively, positive music into your life. Dance like you’ve never danced before. Shout life-changing declarations at the top of your lungs with great enthusiasm. Pray, Mediate. Laugh. Sing. And, when life tries to slap you down, jump up and slap it back. Declare, I AM Invincible, I AM an Overcomer, I AM more than a Conqueror. Get excited. Be excited, and Remain excited.

If you take these first steps, remain consistent, dedicated and focused I promise you will embark on a life-changing journey of happiness, love, and abundant living.

You are not a victim. Begin your journey toward victory today.

Psalm 17:5

Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.

Why Victimization Is So Not Cool

• It decreases your self-esteem and self-worth
• It gives your personal power to someone else
• It always sees life from a negative perspective – the glass half empty
• It always self-negates and self-sabotages
• It causes depression and fosters oppression
• It sees discrimination and evil in every person
• It keeps you looking back
• It promotes weakness and dependency
• It negates your inner abundance
• It feeds on pain & darkness
• It thrives and feeds on fear
• No one wants to be around someone who is always the victim

Why Leaving Victimization Behind is Way Cool

• It increases your self-esteem and self-worth
• It empowers you
• It lets you see life from a positive perspective – the glass half full
• It self promotes and brings about self-sufficiency and self-realization
• It produces a fulfilling, joy-filled life
• It acknowledges the good in every person
• It keeps you looking forward and working toward your goals
• It promotes happiness and good vibration
• It helps you realize your inner abundance and realize your purpose
• It reflects Energy & Light
• It thrives and feeds on faith
• Everyone wants to be with this person; in fact, they attract fabulous people

Which life would you rather live? Many of us have had bad things happen to us. All of us go through difficult life-transition at some time in our lives. Far too many have had horrendous experiences and trials. And, it is always our choice, a decision on how we go forward. Will we use the experience to help and lift others and eradicate the wrongs of systems? Will we choose to advocate for truth and justice? Or, will we just play the victim role feelings sorry for ourselves, looking for attention and sympathy; forever angry with ourselves and the world?

That abusive relationship, that injustice, that heinous crime done to you did not come as a surprise to your Creator. He knew it was going to happen. He is all knowing. He also knew He made you strong enough to go through it. My mom has always said, “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”  Well, there were times when I felt like I was going to die—I wanted to just to get out of the situation.

Just know when the crushing feels like you just can’t take it any more…when it feels like if one more “bad” thing happens it’s going to take you out, just when you plead, “God please take this cup from me,” that’s exactly when the Glory of God will come in taking you over and bringing you forward into your purpose and the calling He had for you before the foundation of this world.

Crazy, it may seem; but true. And, even in your going forward you may fall and become the victim again, either by circumstance or because your past experiences have you believe it. Just  Get Up; Brush Yourself Off; and get right back in the game of life again.

You are Not A Victim

Revelation 3:21

Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.