Own Your Own Power

What do you reach for to fill you, to refill you when you need a burst of energy, when life's challenges have hit a bump in the road or you just need to get re-charged. When you want to go beyond your current circumstances or even just make it from one day to another. Some thoughts on four simple substances that any of us can utilize to fill our minds and bodies, our life's cup, for the journey we're on. When you partake of these regularly, you will be nurtured with endurance for many of the challenges that come. Own your own power.

That sounds like an odd question but did you tell your heart to beat today? I didn't tell mine and I don't think you did either. If we do what is natural, what we have been gifted to do merely by having life, our heart will simply beat without being told to do so. Telling it to beat is a distraction just like thinking you have to tell the sun to rise. Taraji P Henson recently told graduates of Howard University to choose faith over fear, hope over cynicism, love over hate. She said fear makes you spin your wheels. We each have the capacity to worry about things or let them just flow as they would like the waters in a river. This episode of my podcast talks about how to do that.

Social media platforms are influencers forming our Digital Tribe that impact what we think, how we behave, what we do and what we don't do. It's happening consciously and sub-conciously. It's not just FB, IG, TikTok, Twitter but also Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, and HBO. How often are you leaving the Echo Chamber of your Digital Tribe so you're not living in George Orwell's 1984 of the Thought Police to be sure you know your own truth. Social media can suck you in. This podcast helps you consider how much their influencing your personal space and what you can do to step back.

There are times when you acting quickly on your feet can really be great. However, when it comes to our emotions and responding to other people or situations, pausing and giving yourself a chance to gain perspective is highly recommended. I had managers early in my career give me that advice, along with my parents. In my 35-year working career, that advice served me well. And a three question poll to myself also came in handy in deciding whether to proceed with what I was going to do or say about someone: is it kind, is it true, is it necessary? If I couldn't answer yes to all three, then I shouldn't proceed. Life might have less trauma if we give ourselves perspective and ask those three questions.

Rege-Jean Page, actor in Bridgerton, said one of the great things about life is that if we keep moving forward, we discover that we can define who we are, and how we want to live our lives ... basically how we choose what we want our future to look like. Future is an attitude. 

You may not always get the most ideal of every situation, but you can look at what comes and do your best with it, it's all a matter of attitude. Philosopher Henry David Thoreau said "it's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." This episode offers thoughts to encourage you to have an attitude that moves you forward.

History is a subject we think is fact based but do the victors write it or can you? Maybe it's time to own your own story as well as recognize the stories of the lesser-known pioneers. "To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true" - Bayard Rustin. Make your own footprints and handprints so the truth of history shapes a path forward for you and others.

Guiding yourself to the North Star of your best self, whether we use the inner child of what to be when we grow up or the passion of a young entrepenuer or a 60-something, let your internal compass steer you to a place of smooth terrain.