The Love Within

Sometimes we have so much love to give, we are afraid to let people know how much love we hold within us.  Instead, we choose to deny our love to everyone. Yet, whom is this helping?  Your choice to not step into your “love overalls” impacts the masses.  The people that need you the most are void of all that you have to offer to humanity.  You are absent – from the masses, and most importantly, from yourself.

Why have you chosen to be absent?

Can you choose differently today?

The Face of Worried Souls

For those that are worry-warts, this is a powerful quote from Iyanla Vanzant.  Let go of your worry and live NOW.

“Worry is the vampire that drains life of its force. Worry stagnates the mind, creates an imbalance in the immune system; weakens the throat, your power, and authority center; impairs the ability to see beyond the thing being worried about. We worry about things we cannot control. We worry about the past and future. We worry about those things we cannot do or have not done and how they will affect what we are doing right now. We worry about what we do not have, cannot get and things we have lost. Worry creates confusion, disorder, and helplessness. Then we worry because we cannot figure things out. We must eliminate the tendency to worry without worrying if it will work out. Take the situation creating the worry, briefly and concisely write it down. Place the paper on which you have written in a window, facing the sun. Make a commitment to yourself to let it go and move on. Everyone knows that when sunlight hits a vampire, it shrivels up and then it is gone.”

~ Iyanla Vanzant ~

Shift Happens

I feel a shift occurring within me.  Not a symbolic shift, but an actual shift.  My joints feel different, my hands look different, my spirit feels different, my heart is different, my soul is different.  Yet I am NOT different.  I am shifting. I am evolving. I am stepping into the person I have always known myself to be.

This shift did not just happen over night. It has been a process. An exciting process, but a process none the less. Some things have turned out lovely, some things have been surprising and not what I expected.  Yet within it, I understand.  I understand the why. I understand that sometimes it just is what it is.  There is no need to try and figure things out all the time.  What should be considered, is how I respond to certain things and why I respond that way.  Growth has nothing to do with what others are doing or saying, and everything to do with me.  I  am responsible for my growth, for my shift. I have to take responsibility for what is going on around me and for how people are or are not responding to me.

Its time to WAKE UP people! Stop blaming others for your discomfort, your unhappiness, your miserableness, your discontent, your feelings of pain.  It is YOUR stuff! "Your" is the operative word! So why are you waiting for someone else to apologize, or to make you feel better?  Create your own happiness and stop waiting on others. Take responsibility.  Stop complaining and start your shifting process.

The Music in the Souls of Children

I was visiting my niece the other day and she is so fascinating.  As soon as she pressed the button to one of her many musical toys, she was just a bopping and shaking and bobbing her little head.  She completely tuned out everyone else in the room and was focused on the music that moved from her ears, to her lips to her arms, to her hips to her little itty bitty feet.  She was focused.  She was “getting it”. I was so amazed by how something so simple could completely “take her there” at the push of a button.  It didn’t matter if she was crying the second before, once that music played, she was back.  It was as though she was able to re-create herself the moment she heard and felt the vibration of music. 

That made me wonder.

At what point do we stop allowing our children to dance  to their own rhythm – step to their own beat? Somewhere down the line we’ve allowed our personal fears, and the fears of others to stop us from allowing our seeds to dance and be fully self-expressed.  At some point we no longer allowed our children to be free to explore their creative side.  At some point we have stripped our children from the music that lives within them. At some point my music was stripped from within me, but I am finally conscious enough to put back the pieces. I am starting to hear music again – it is manifesting through my writing.

Do you hear it?

Living

No one ever told me that speaking up was the access to power. I was told that there is a time and a place for everything.  That there are certain places where I could say certain things, and certain people I could say certain things around.  This creates a sense of confusion for children who are seeking to find their own voice.  I challenge parents out there to speak ONE (1) truth.  To create a space where their child feels free to just BE.  Do not constrain them.  Let them learn. Let them live. Let them be.

A Quick Lesson on Leadership

The most notable leaders are those that graciously give others the opportunity to lead.  They are not attached to the idea that they’ve come up with, but rather the possibilities that emerge under someone else’s leadership.  This is true leadership. 

Thank you Clay!!! I am CERTAIN that My Father’s Seed: A Date Night & Awards Gala, is going to be bigger than I could have possibly imagined!

Middle

Sometimes when you feel imbalanced, as though nothing seems to be going your way, that is a sign to pause. To pause and reflect on what is, and on what is not.  It is at that very moment that we have a choice.  A choice to continue on in our imbalanced state, or a choice to re-create ourselves, right there in that moment. 

Consider that all of the imbalance has NOTHING to do with other people asking you to do this, do that, or respond to this, respond to that.  We, at any moment, can choose to respond differently.  To tell them “no more”.  However, fear kicks in, and at that very moment we choose imbalance.  We choose comfort.  We choose what we already know and have already experienced.  But what if what we haven’t experienced is so much more fruitful? So much more divine?

I am no longer choosing comfort.  I am choosing to LIVE and EXPERIENCE what I have never lived or experienced before.

Today is a new day.  Are you walking with me?  

Sometimes

Sometimes we have to do things that we never imagined.  Sometimes we have to say yes to things we never said yes to before – and no to things we have always said yes to.  Sometimes we have to acknowledge others for their patience, and take responsibility for our actions.  Yet there is one thing you should ALWAYS do – be true to self.

Step into YOU today.   

Access to Power - You can Have it Too

The access to the power that we think we have, but are reminded we don't have every time we consider the things that aren't the way we want it to be in our lives, IS accessible.  You can gain access to this power by having the conversations that frighten you the most.

I recognize that the conversations I have to have, have absolutely nothing to do with the people or the outcomes, but rather that I overcome the fear(s) I am working through.

I will engage in the "difficult" conversations.  I will share my feelings. I WILL gain access to the power within me.

I am FIRED UP for the new possibilities that will reveal itself through this new way of being. Who will YOU choose to be today?

My Father's Seed: A Date Night

 unraveling stories, creating new possibilities

EVERYONE has a STORY about his or her Father, Dad, Daddy or Pops::

Supportive Unavailable Loving Absent Committed Unreliable Loyal Judgmental Misunderstood Concerned Unconcerned Present Unfaithful Hardworking Faithful…..

What’s YOUR Story?

What if you had an opportunity to create a NEW relationship with your father – or a new relationship with your child – would you be open to it?

If so, consider attending and supporting GNEP’s new Annual Fundraising initiative:

My Father’s Seed: A Date Night

An opportunity for us to un-write some of the negative stories we have written about our fathers and write new empowering ones, if only for one night!  It will be an amazing evening of music, food, dancing, appreciation and much more!

If this moves you, or even made you feel a little conflicted, please email MyFatherSeed@gmail.com or visit MyFathersSeed.blogspot.com to be included in emails regarding the progress of this event and/or to express an interest in helping to plan the event.  I NEED YOUR SUPPORT! 


Coming February 2011…..

A Little Holiday Laughter - Madea Style!

Prepping for the Holidays? Having guests? Well if you are the host, Madea (Tyler Perry) has some special advice just for you!

Madea's Thanksgiving Rules and Regulations

Print and give copy to each guest that enters your home.

10 RULES FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER AT MY HOUSE

1. Don't get in line asking questions about the food. "Who made the potato salad? Is it egg in there? Are the greens fresh? Is the meat in the greens turkey or pork? Who made the macaroni and cheese? What kind of pie is that? Who made it?

Ask one more question and I will punch you in your mouth, knocking out all your fronts so you won't be able to eat anything.

 2. If you can't walk or are missing any limbs, sit your BUT down until someone makes your plate for you. Dinner time is not the time for you to be independent. Nibble on them DOGON pecans and walnuts to hold you over until someone makes you a plate.

 3. If you have kids under the age of twelve, I will escort their little BEHINDS to the basement and bring their food down to them. They are not gonna tear my damn house up this year.

Tell them that they are not allowed upstairs until it's time for Uncle Butchie to start telling family stories about their mammas and papas. If they come upstairs for any reason except for that they are bleeding to death, I will break a foot off in their BEHINDS!

 4. There is going to be one prayer for Thanksgiving dinner! JUST ONE!  We do not care that you are thankful that your 13 year old daughter gave birth to a healthy baby or your nephew that just got out of jail. Save that talk for somebody who gives a damn. The time limit for the prayer is one minute. If you are still talking after that one minute is up, you will feel something hard come across your lips and they will be swollen for approximately 20 minutes.

 5. Finish everything on your plate before you go up for seconds! If you don't, you will be cursed out and asked to stay your greedy BEHIND home next year!

 6. BRING YOUR OWN TUPPERWARE!! Don't let me catch you fixing yourself  a plate in my good Tupperware knowing damn well that I will never see it again! Furthermore, if you didn't bring anything over, don't let me catch you making a plate period or it will be a misunderstanding.

 7. What you came with is what you should leave with!! Do not leave my house with anything that doesn't belong to you. EVERYBODY WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A BODY SEARCH COMING AND GOING OUT OF MY DOMAIN!!!

 8. Do not leave your kids so you can go hopping from house to house. This is not a DAYCARE CENTER! There will be a kid-parent roll call every ten minutes. Any parent that is not present at the time of roll call, your child will be put outside until you come and get him or her. After 24 hours, I will call DHS on your ignorant BEHIND!!

 9. BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM BEFORE YOU COME INTO TOWN!! There will be no sleeping over at my house! You are to come and eat dinner and take your BEHIND home or to your hotel room. EVERYBODY GETS KICKED THE HECK OUT AT 11:00 pm. You will get a 15 minute warning bell ring.

 10. Last but not least! ONE PLATE PER PERSON!! This is not a soup kitchen. I am not trying to feed your family until Christmas dinner! You will be supervised when you fix your plate. Anything over the appropriate amount will be charged to you before you leave. There will be a cash register at the door.

Thanks to Cousin Alfred and his greedy family, we now have a credit card machine! So VISA and MASTERCARD are now being accepted. NO FOOD STAMPS OR ACCESS CARDS YET!

 

The State of Black Boys in Urban Schools

The entry below is written by Liz Dwyer from an article titled: "New Report Puts the Black Male Achievement Crisis in the Spotlight". To read the full report click here.

The latest study on urban black male academic achievement is out, and the news isn't good. In fact, it's downright depressing.

A 120-page report titled A Call for Change: The Social and Educational Factors Contributing to the Outcomes of Black Males in Urban Schoolsshines a light on six key areas affecting black males, including achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, college and career readiness, and school experiences.

The report is produced by the Washington, D.C.-based Council of the Great City Schools, a coalition of 66 of the nation's largest urban public school systems. One superintendent and one school board member from each member city sits on the Council's board.

According to the report's findings, in 2009, a national average of 51 percent of black male eighth graders scored below the basic level in reading on the NAEP test. The lowest performing cities? In Detroit, 70 percent are below the basic level, and in Fresno, California, 72 percent are below basic.

Mathematics results are even worse. Nationally, 58 percent of black male eighth graders scored below basic in math. Again, black males in Detroit perform the worst with 80 percent of black males scoring below basic. Los Angeles and Cleveland aren't doing much better—78 percent of black males in both cities score below basic.

These low achievement levels aren't just the result of poverty. The average black fourth and eighth grade male who is not poor doesn't do any better on the NAEP than white males who come from low-income backgrounds. The data also shows that black males without special education challenges also don't score any higher than white males withspecial needs.

To read more.....Click Here!

Next Steps:

What the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project is doing to reach young black men: Creating our first annual Brotha-2-Brotha Youth Summit for young high school men in May 2011. We believe that if one provides support and offers love, everything else will fall into place. 

What can you do?

What Inspires Me to Overcome Fear

This poem inspires me to keep pushing when I hear the voice in my head telling me to “quit” and that “I can’t do it”.  These carefully chosen words reignite the flame in me that allows me to push through the fire.

Our Greatest Fear

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

What will BE - Feb 2011 -12.27.10 UPDATE

When you really want something, all you have to do is say it, and act accordingly.  I know that my language is power and it becomes my reality.  I know that once I declare it, the universe immediately aligns.

I am proclaiming to the world what will BE by February 17, 2011.

I will:

1. Have gained a tremedous amount of financial backers (foundations, individual sponsors, etc.) for all of the projects/programming offered through the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project on a long-term basis (e.g. 5+ years).

2. Have paid off my credit card bill - Done as of 12.27.10 WOOP WOOP!

3. Be in a committed, loving, open and authentic relationship.

4. Embody the following mantra - Conversation NOT Confrontation.

5. Be fully self-expressed as it relates to my "feelings" at any given moment. - It is DEFINITELY in motion!

6. Have 4 paid clients committed to unraveling their stories.

7. Have received full financial support to pay for NLP Certification Training.

8. Have developed an even more open and loving relationship with my parents. 

I’ve made my declaration, and now I just give thanks for already receiving everything that is noted above, and THEN SOME!

Conversation not Confrontation

My story is that when it comes to fight versus flight, I would much rather flight! I would prefer NOT to have the challenging conversation because of fear. However, I realize that when I run, I continue to be confronted with the same "issue" over and over again.  It is clear that I will continue to be confronted with these issues until I stop running from them. I need to have these conversations more regularly so that I can be more comfortable with having them. 

Today's Daily Lesson: It is merely a conversation. It is not confrontation. Conversation NOT confrontation.  

Are you Tuned in?

I am sitting at a cafe and I overheard a couple talking.  The woman expressed that she felt like he didn't trust her with the decision she made, and he expressed that he just wanted to be clear on the "why" behind it.  She disregarded him and for about 2 minutes suggested things to order and he was non-responsive, his mind was clearly still on the previous conversation.  She proceeded, and after about 4 minutes, he finally made a suggestion on what to eat.  

What I have to offer:
Why is it always so apparent for a complete stranger to understand what's going on, but not for the people involved?  Are we that into ourselves that we are not present to the other? I would say I was DEFINITELY this woman.  I was so not present in my relationships for a while.  It helps NO ONE. EVER.

Your partner wants to be heard, and so do you.  By dismissing someones voice, you are dismissing the relationship.  When you silence someone, you leave no room for possibilities and only room for YOUR ideas and opinions.  If you want to only hear your voice, do both of yourselves a favor and end the relationship.

What's YOUR story?

A Story Around Inadequacy

I was walking into my building yesterday evening from a wonderful (and tiring day) with my sister and my beautiful niece, eating a slice of my favorite pizza in my neighborhood, thinking about a conference call I had to be on in about 43 minutes. As I approached the last flight of stairs in my four-story walk up, I walked into a “conversation” between my Super and my neighbor. The Super has been in the building for about 6 months.

My neighbor (who we call “Nana”) was concerned about the heat which had not been on for an extended period of time, if at all, during the week. She is an older woman who is retired and in the building the majority of the time. She needs heat. The Super, a gentleman, appeared to me as being really aggressive and was raising his voice at Nana. From what I could tell, he felt that because she suggested that there was another way to control the heat, mentioning that in her 30 years in the building she is privy to the fact that there is a button to modify the heat in the basement, that she was insulting him, and trying to tell him how to do his job. He became extremely upset when another tenant and I stepped in, and he even took it so far as to ask the other tenant if her husband was home, to only tell him when he did come out, that he would appreciate it if his wife stayed out of conversations that didn’t directly involve her.

This is what I walked in to. Yeah – I thought the sammmmmme thing! I said to myself, wow what did I just walk into and what am I missing. It started off with him and one woman in the hallway, and it had escalated to 5 of us in the hallway now.

I listened intently to ensure that I wasn’t missing anything. After about 5 minutes I realized I wasn’t missing anything at all. Nana was simply inquiring about the heat, wanting to know when we could expect it to be on, and she mentioned that she is aware of a button that can turn on the heat for the entire building. The Super expressed again that she was trying to tell him how to do his job. We calmly told him that Nana was NOT telling him HOW to do his job, and that she simply wanted to know WHEN he was going to do something about the heat because she was freezing. He still felt offended and could only “hear” his feelings. He kept mentioning, over and over again, that she, and anyone for that matter, should not tell him how to do his job. He kept stating that we should let him talk, yet he would never say more than the fact that she was trying to tell him how to do his job and we won’t let him speak. After about 10 rounds of this I spoke for the last time and said:

Super, you and I have had some very intimate conversations in the past, so I believe you know my true character and that anything I say to you is coming from a place of love because I know how hard you want to ensure that everyone in this building is content and problem-free. I know you are a hard worker. That being said, I offer you this: as a Super, whether you like it or not, you are a customer service representative for the building. It is a tenant’s right to come to you when they have a concern with their unit, or with the building in general. As a matter of fact, management strongly encourages us to speak with the Super first. As such, this is why we come to your door. This is the only reason why we come to your door. What we expect as a result of following management’s request, is that you respond to our concerns respectfully, expediently and honestly. If you cannot do something for whatever reason, we have a right to know this so that we can escalate it to whatever level we need to escalate it to.

At the end of what felt like a 5-hour conversation to no-where, the Super finally informed us that he is not permitted to adjust the heat and that any concerns we have with heat we have to take that up with building management. We thanked him and informed him that as it relates to heat, we will no longer be coming to him because he can’t do anything about it.

Today’s Daily Lesson: Put your ego aside, listen, and then respond from that place. If you listen, you can actually hear the concern(s) being raised, and provide relevant information. Don’t be so attached to what you think you are hearing that you create an unproductive production out of it.

Unraveling Stories, Creating New Possibilities: So what I got out of the “conversation” is that one of the stories that the Super needs to unravel and create something powerful around is his underlying belief that he is not adequate enough to do……..fill in the blank. I am certain that this is not the first time the Super felt this way, whether in this job, another job or in other areas of his life. We were just additional “chess pieces” in HIS chess game.

If you find yourself having the same “types” of situations occurring in your life, I challenge you to not take it out on who you THINK the culprit is, but to rather assess how you are being that someone else is being.

Next Steps: I will check in with Nana and see if she feels the desire to organize around this, and if so, I will support her.

Be A Whistleblower for Peace

This initiative has moved me in more ways than I can express. I will be a whistle blower for peace. Support the cause! I got my whistle!

Tough Day? Think Positive!

I always try to find the good in everything. I'm breathing life!

Breathing Life or Sucking It?

Everyday you run across someone that is either breathing life or sucking life.  And everyday, whether you know it or not, you either breathe life or suck life.

Are you a person that gets really excited when someone shares a great idea with you? Do you immediately jump on board and share in their excitement? Do you offer resources and suggestions to help them make their dream into a reality?  Do you offer love?

If this is you, you are breathing life into possibilities.

Or are you the person that sucks the excitement out of someone’s great idea by immediately pointing out the flaws and impossibilities in that idea? Are you the one that is quick to reject an idea, but slow to offer suggestions? Are you pessimistic – finding something wrong in everything?  

If this is you, you are sucking the life out of possibilities, thus you aren’t open to seeing possibilities, even when it is right in front of you.  You have made it extremely uncomfortable for others to be around you, and to share with you because they anticipate your lack of support and excitement. 

If this is you, why are you functioning this way? What are you NOT confronting head on? What are you fearful of? Why won’t you allow yourself (or others) to fully enjoy the splendors of the world? What is really bothering you?

What is your story?

Let me help you unravel it.

Contact me at: Akua@EmpowerMeGNEP.org  

A Love Story

I day dream about you. I write about you. I share you and your vision with everyone that is willing to listen (and even to those that don’t appear to be interested). I fanaticize about the things we will build together – the legacy we will leave behind.  I have butterflies in my stomach whenever you are near. Yet you give me sustenance. You give me financial stability and freedom that I could have never envisioned.  You give me strength to keep on keeping on.  You make my heart smile. You are my love. You are my lifeline.

I long for the day when we can be exclusive.  

You are - the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project.  

A little Glimpse into what Support Looks Like

As I sat in our 4^th Annual Sista-2-Sista Youth Summit Planning Committee meeting, I couldn’t help but to smile and give thanks for all that has transpired since we launched the first youth summit a few years ago.  The Planning Committee is growing, the Summit is growing, my Spirit is growing, and I give thanks. 

As I looked across the room, I saw a group of BEAUTIFUL women that were merely my reflection. They are women committed to empowering young girls, women committed to showing girls that there are options, there are possibilities. Women who believe in a sista with a dream.  Women who could have used their talents in many other ways, but women who have chosen to share their talents with me and for my dream.  Women who have been impeccable with their word.  Women that every community longs for and needs. They are self-less and giving.  Open and loving.  Committed to my vision. They are my sistas and I can’t wait to introduce each and everyone of them to you!

I give thanks!

The Impact of Indecision

Choice is a powerful tool that enables you to take control of your life. So why are some people so resistant to making a decision? What are they afraid of? What is the worse that could happen?

Your indecision impacts everyone, and so does your decision. So if you are going to have an impact either way, you mine as well do it intentionally.

Today's Daily Lesson: Stop pitter-pattering around an issue. Make a decision so you can create room for new possibilities to come forth.

When the Universe Aligns

As I embark on this journey of becoming a Master in unraveling people's stories and helping them create new possibilities, opportunities continue to unfold before my very eyes, every minute of the day. Yesterday was no different.

I finally connected with a friend that I haven't spoken to in ages and she informed me about a certification program that focuses essentially on this concept of unraveling stories.  More information to come but I just wanted to share that when you put something out there, be prepared for the world to align.

In love. 

What Moves me - "The Boys of Baraka"

These young men from Baltimore had the opportunity to travel to Kenya to experience a new way of life. To experience a different culture.  To create a new story.  

This is the work that moves me. This is the work that makes my heart beat, and smile. I too will create opportunities like this for our youth and their parents.  

Trailer to Boys of Baraka

Doing What you Love

Sometimes doing what you love to do is met with skepticism because it may not be the most traditional or the most lucrative path from someone else’s perspective.  However, you must be so passionate about what you love, that you are willing to stand for it.  You are willing to challenge others for it. You are willing to do whatever it takes for it.  You are willing to overcome fears.  You are willing to break through barriers.  You are willing to stare adversity in the face and state – “Welcome”.  It is when you’ve gotten to this point that you’re truly one and the same as your passion and NOTHING can sever this tie. 

Inner Monologue, Scene 1: The Q Train

As I sat there on the Q train, I sat quite annoyed that the lady directly across from me felt the need to push her way through me to be the first one on the train.  I mean I was really fuming - trying to calm myself down.  Thinking - who does she think SHE is? I mean, does she think she deserves to be on the train before me because of the day she had? Well, what about my day lady? You have no idea what kind of day I had. 


Does she think the place she has to get to is more important than the place I have to get to? Did I miss something here? I mean we will both get on this train - we will both get to our destinations eventually.  What makes her think it is OK to push through people to get on the train? There is an order to this whole train thing lady. Clearly you didn't get the manual! I was patiently waiting for the train for 10 minutes, and you bum-rushed your way through as soon as the train pulled up. Cutting right in front of me.  Not even acknowledging that I was there. 


Really, who do you think you are? Do you feel entitled for some reason? Do you feel the need to be in control? Oh - I get it - you think you're better than me. Is that what it is?


Then I saw something that quieted my inner voice. I actually allowed myself to look at the woman.  I saw her through her own eyes and I saw something beautifully innocent.  I saw a tired woman.  I saw a woman who worked tirelessly for her family.  I saw a woman who had endured so much and asked for so little. I saw a woman who could have easily been my mother. And then, I saw that she had 5 heavy bags with her!


That was when it dawned on me.  She just wanted to ensure that she got a seat because she had so many bags! 


It was that simple. 

Today's Daily Lesson: Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to make someone wrong that we are not present to what the reality is.  

I am a Creator

I create a new me every day. I am not bounded by my past.  I am not bounded. PERIOD.  Being a creator is about being able to see possibilities in everything.  I see possibilities in everything and understand that there is possibilities even within a “no”.  If there is a “no”, there is a “no because……”. Once you find out the reason behind the “no”, 9 times out of 10 you will recognize the various possibilities within it.

Daily Affirmation: Today I choose to recognize the possibilities in "no".

India Arie - Beautiful Flower

India Arie has been my inspiration since she hit the music scene. Her words are encouraging and inspirational. As I listen to this particular song, it breathes life back into my existence and reminds me that all it takes is for me to believe in myself.

We are all beautiful flowers that are powerful, brilliant and resilient. Don't fight your beauty. Let the world see your light.

"as we let our own light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same".

~Marianne Williamson~

Are you Breathing Life into your new possibility?

My recent post on Raeven Western's "PushyDreamers". 

******************************

Please note that I don’t mince my words, its not about being nice, but its about impact.  It’s about “pushing” beyond your fears.  If you are truly a believer in “Pushy Dreamers”, my style of writing is right up your ally because I am pushing you to take responsibility for who you are being – so read on…..

Some of us are at that point in our lives where we are questioning the jobs and careers that we are currently in.  Some of us are dreading waking up on Mondays to go to work (for a whoooole week); some of us are pissed that we aren’t making enough money; and some of us are just bored out of our minds at our current job, feeling as though our strengths are not being utilized to its full potential.

I challenge you to consider a few things:

1st – YOU created the current situation that you are living.  YOU actually created the possibility of being at the very job that you are at!

Let me refresh your memory….Remember, a few weeks ago, a few months ago, or even a few years ago, you were feeling like the job you were in was not the right match for you? You were miserable, unhappy, and unfocused. You even brought your family and friends into it by sharing with them how unhappy you were.  Do you remember?

During many of those conversations you swore to all that you were committed to getting another job that you felt would be a better fit – as soon as possible.  Well guess what, that’s the very job you are in now! Yup…mmm hmm…that’s the job YOU created. So why the pissed off face? Why the hateful words? Why the rudeness to your co-workers?

Oh I certainly understand why, because you want a change.  And this is fine. But you must first give thanks for what you created (your current job), and only thanks.  Then you can create a new possibility around the type of job you want next.  I mean you already see how powerful you are with creating what you want.  This time you can get even more specific.  Get fun with it.  Think it.  Speak it. And act as though it already exists. Take on the characteristics of a person that would be in that position right now. Give thanks for the new position (because you already have simply by speaking it and following it with actions).  However, note that the easiest way to kill your new possibility, is to avoid giving thanks to your previous one.

So are you breathing life into your new possibility, or sucking life out of it?

I’m here for you if you ever want to explore further.

In love,

Akua aka “The Activator”

My purpose is to Activate YOU to operate at your fullest potential, void of all fears, stories and excuses. I am the founder of the Gye Nyame Empowerment Project.

When you show up it makes a world of difference. People are depending on you. YOU do have an IMPACT on how things turn out. You saying something has an impact. You being silent has an impact. You doing the work has an impact. You not doing the work has an impact.

Whether you choose to acknowledge that you have an impact on the things around you, you are impacting the things around you. Since that’s the case, you mine as well suit up, play hard, and aim for the impact that you actually intend to have, not one that is prescribed to you.

What impact do YOU want to have on the world? What will be your contribution?

I will contribute to the transformation of non-profits as we know it. I will contribute to the transformation of communities as we know it. I will contribute to the transformation of families as you know it. I will contribute to the transformation of individuals as you know it. I will be transformation. I will be laughter. I will be joy. I will be peace. I will be love.

Who will you show up as today?

Should'ves/Could'ves

Today's Daily Lesson: the should'ves and could'ves don't matter because they didn't happen. What matters is your reality - the experiences you actually did have today. Give thanks to that.


I find that when you actually focus on the things that did happen today, it doesn't allow you to have any time to focus and dwell on the things that should've happened today, or could've happened today. Why does it matter any way? I mean really, if "family member X" was supposed to do something for you today, and didn't, yet "friend Y" wanted to hang out and do something for you today, why would you focus on family member X and exert negative energy onto someone who actually "is here"..."right now"? 


It is important to check ourselves when we interact with people because our relationships are our core fabric, our mere existence. They give us an opportunity to express who we truly are or who we see ourselves to be.


Give Thanks!

Transformation

I knew I was transformed when I realized that there is nothing wrong with me, and there is nowhere that I need to be other than right here, right now.  When I realized that I don’t need to “find” myself because I’ve been here all along.  When I started to understand that the only thing I need to focus on is the present, this moment right now, and not the past nor the future. When I began to understand that language matters and it shapes our realities every second of our day.  When I started to take full responsibility for my reality.  When I began to breathe.  That was the moment I knew I was transformed.

I now stand before you as a transformed being, speaking from an empowered place, ready to assist in anyone’s transformation.