After the Devastation...The Purification of the Soul

I had a terrible day yesterday.  It left me doubting myself, my integrity and my ability to live out my dream.  I had a moment of losing hope and I wanted to give up.  I cried for a long time and tended to my wounds.  Now the devastation is over and I am looking at my dream.  I am not going to stop moving forward, the fire and desire in my belly still burns for success.  But the foggy presence of defeat has attached itself in my soul.  I can not be true to my vision with the marred corrosion of defeat attaching itself to my thoughts. 

I have to free my mind and get back to the place of clarity.  This is critical because I am nurturing and growing a vision. This vision needs to be feed healthy thoughts or the stench of foul dream destroyers will choke me out of my space.  After the devastation a purifying process must happen.  The sickness of defeat must leave my being or I will be crippled by its oppressive force. 

This is true for anyone looking to accomplish anything great.  Great success comes with major lows, the calm in between and extraordinary highs.  The important step that must happen after the devastation is purification!  If there is not a purifying the staleness of loss will linger and become interwoven in your work.  I do not know about you, but I want a pure work.  This is the type of foundation that is not easily broken.

My purification is going to a spiritual one.  Intense prayer, a healthy diet (leading to a possible fast), exercise and the speaking of life giving words.  Defeat will leave my presence and only life, a winner's attitude and a serious swagger will remain.  I am going to use this defeat to transcend my current existence and arrive in a fresh, clean, crisp and vibrant place.  I will not allow devastation to taint my dream. The devil and all of his evil dwell in the darkness of devastation.

If you want to take this journey with me I will post my daily activities on the Empowered Peace Facebook page.  I would like discussions to occur in the surroundings of the community forum.  This process will go on for me until I achieve a level of clarity and the freshness of a renewed mind, body and spirit.  You may stop, continue or just observe as your spirit guides. 

Here's to the trash going out and to the power of the spirit bursting through and taking us to new dimensions.  

If you are unable to view this video go to the website following this link. 

Are you ready to kick the $&!# out of your soul?

photo via: ehow.com, warmthofloveministies.blogspot.com via Google images

"Working on Moday" Part 4- Raw Determination!

"Working on Monday" is not just about finding a job, it is about living your dream.  It takes courage to pursue what seems impossible.  It takes a raw determination to reach above the expectations of others and be true to yourself.  This is the core concept of Empowered Peace.  Honoring the creation God crafted and made you.

A reminder from last week, we are not going to have any new action plans this week.  This will be a week to complete and refine the tasks of the last three weeks.  As you approach these steps pay attention to your thoughts.  Immediately replace thoughts of defeat with positive affirmations.  You will have enough opposition, so be your own best friend!

This week I am going to talk about one of the driving forces you need to pursue your dreams, Determination.  Many great lives have been built with determination. The following clip is of Chris Gardner.  His inspirational story was captured in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, intentionally spelled incorrectly.  Mr. Gardner states the 'y' is for you and your dreams.  Listen to the following clip.

This video tells me we are doing the right thing at the right time.  It does not matter how crazy people think you are, it does not matter who does or does not believe in you and it does not matter who tries to sabotage your plans.  What does matter is the dream.  It is the time to make your dreams a reality.  It took gritty, raw determination for Chris Gardner to get his brokerage license while being homeless.  He had an unstoppable attitude that shaped his pristine work ethic.  You do not have any excuses not to succeed, only excuses to hold you in a life of crumbled yesterdays. 

Chris Gardner has some other advice to help you reach your goals.

1. "The Calvary isn't coming!" (words of wisdom from his mother)
2. "Baby steps count too!" (Rev. Cecil Williams, Founder of Glide, the homeless shelter where Chris Gardner stayed with his son)

As you complete and refine your goals know that you are not alone.  Your dream is your purpose, your career and the key to "Working on Monday."
photo via google images 

"Working on Monday" Part 1- The Journey Begins

Welcome to "Working on Monday!"  This week I am going to focus on plotting our path to paid employment. I'm not just talking about a job, I'm talking about your life's purpose. The pathway to your destiny. I have worked since I was 15 years old. My experiences have been an unequal mix of tolerable and terrible workplaces. The weight of the scales rests on some pretty terrible work experiences. I am taking the bad, worst and awful and creating life lessons for "Working on Monday." I have come to the conclusion that business as usual is dead.

"Working on Monday" a Practical Perspective

Let's get right into it!  I have always been an idealistic person.  Since the age of twelve I had dreams of changing the world for good.  The problem with this statement is not the goodness I wanted to impregnate the world with, but the lack of clear planning.  A dream is important, but you have to plan to reach your dreams.

Where do you want to be in twenty-five years?  Yes, twenty-five years, successful businesses have long term strategic plans in place.  If we are going to be relevant and living our dreams in the future, the planning and action needs to take place today.  Everything we do in this series is going to be strategic! 

Action Plan 1:
Write out where you want to be in twenty-five years.  Don't spare any details.  Where do you want to live?  Where do you want to work?  What kinds of relationships do you have?  How much money do you want?  Dream!  Don't settle for less than your best in this twenty-five year vision. 

Since business as usual is not reaping the results I desire, I have to change.  I have always thought my job was to finish my work with excellence and go home.  If that was all that is required, I would be the CEO of Pepsi!  It takes more than quality work to make it in business.  You have to understand and participate in politics with skill.  I have always hated politics, I thought people that practiced them were suck ups and phonies.  They are just smart!  If you are not apart of politics, believe me, politics will be working you!

In the book The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli he discusses his analysis of the psychology of man. Machiavelli is known for his unethical approach to politics.  I am not suggesting you compromise your integrity, quite the contray.  Know your enemy.  The business world is dog eat dog, and if you are going to live your dream, you have to run with the big dogs!  Many people practice a Machiavellian approach to business called realpolitik.  The name of the game is POWER!  I never cared about power, only helping people and doing the right thing.  I have learned you can not make it on lofty ideals alone.

Machiavelli suggests there are two types of principalities, new or established.  Established principalities are inherited and ruled by families for generations.  A modern day example of an established principality is Ford Motor Company.  How does this relate to you?  Every company you work for has a culture.  You have to learn that culture and work within it to fulfill your dreams. 

Action Plan 2a:
Pick five companies you want to work for and learn their history and culture. 

Action Plan 2b:
Go back to your twenty-five year plan and learn about the history and culture of the life you want to live. 

Staying actively engaged with other business people will help you network, stay sharp and have fun.  Most companies want you to apply for a job online.  It is tough to get noticed.  Engaging in community events and organizations is crucial.

Action Plan 3:
Join an organization or club.  Pick something that has meaning to you and mirrors your values and life dreams.  Your religious organization does not count. 

"Working on Monday" a Spiritual Perspective

Genesis chapter 37 tells the story of a young Joseph.  He had big dreams that made his siblings turn from tolerating him, to hating him.  They plotted his death to kill his dreams (Genesis 37:20).  This is a story God uses to share the importance of your dreams.  Joseph's brothers didn't want to get rid of Joseph, they wanted to kill his dreams.  Don't let anyone steal your dreams, your dreams are more valuable than your life.  A man without a dream is spiritually dead.  One of Joseph's brothers suggested that they not kill him, a divine intervention designed by God.  He said let us just throw him in a pit.  Unemployment, under employment or working a job you hate is like being in the pit.  Can you imagine how Joseph felt?  He must have felt betrayed, hurt, afraid and worried about his future.  Can you relate?

Spiritual Lessons Learned from Genesis 37

1. You can not share your dreams with everyone.  Your big dreams will stir hatred in envious people, including envious family members. 
2. People will act upon their hate.  Don't be surprised when people attack you.
3. God always supplies help in a hopeless situation.
4. You can get thrown in the pit on your way to destiny.  It is not the end, only the beginning. 
5. Jealous people will lie to destroy you, even if it hurts their own family. 
6. God uses your trouble to shape and mold you for your destiny. 
7. Your dreams are a preview of your ultimate destiny.

Other Things to Consider

Make sure you file for unemployment.  I encourage you to explore your states website and learn about the possible benefits available to you.  We will discuss this in more detail as we continue our process to paid employment.

The next thing you should do is beef up your resume. Here are some good websites:  Resumes and Resume Writing Services, Purdue Online Writing Lab and monster.com

Until next "Working on Monday"...
photos via: detr.state.nv.net, virtualassist.net, benphoster.com, jesephkerski.com via google images

Hakuna Matata, It Means a LOT of Worries for the Rest of Your Life

As I feel asleep the other evening I prayed to God about a reoccurring situation in my life.  It has plagued me from childhood and has not given me rest for over 30 years!  I've prayed about this situation many times over the years and I have asked God to take away this horrible happening that comes over and over again.  I have had periods of rest and even joy and happiness, but they are always short lived.  I would always be waiting in the back of my mind for the trouble to come and steal my happiness.

You see I have always had  barriers to my successes.  I have not yet tasted the fullness of my destiny and as I went to sleep the other day, God showed me to myself.  He explained to me very clearly, through  different Disney characters the circle of my life.  It seems strange I know, but I have learned to trust God when He speaks to me, no matter how peculiar it seems.  God has not led me astray yet!

God showed me this happening in my life was fear.  The Lion King was particularly relevant to the unfolding of this epiphany.  I watched The Lion King again before writing this post and the reality of my error was clear. 

Simba, the main character in The Lion King, suffered a great trauma when he was a child.  His dad was violently murdered by his brother Scar and Scar then blamed Simba, his nephew, for the murder.  Scar encouraged Simba to run away as the solution to his problem.  When Simba ran away he was befriended by two outcasts named Timon and Pumbaa.  Their philosophy for life was of course, Hakuna Matata!

Hakuna Matata is a slogan that represents a problem free life.  Timon advised Simba "when the world turns its back on you, (you should) turn your back on the world."  There are many problems with this philosophy.  The first problem is your state of denial.  You are forced the believe your life is perfect and ignore an emptiness inside of you that cries out to be filled.  You can not turn your back on the world and expect to fulfill your dreams.  The world needs you to contribute your gifts in a constructive manner.  When you reject the world people in need of your contributions lack and suffer.  You put yourself in a position that forces you to throw away your dreams because your dreams are fulfilled by touching the world around you.

The second problem with this mentality are the limitations you place on your creative being.  The world needs you to be you!  Not Barack Obama or Mother Theresa, it needs you because God created you with a specific plan and purpose.  Hukuna Matata means you are selfish and self-centered because you choose not to care about the world around you.  You intentionally desire the world to feel the pain and rejection you have inside.  You also devalue your entire existence.  If you really knew how priceless you were, you would never think of yourself, only others.

Scar represents many aspects of a stagnant life.  For me he represents fear.  What does he represent to you?  The only way to live a life of Empowered Peace is to confront your "Scar."  The scenario that plays itself over and over in your life will continue to occur until you deal with your internal Scar. 

Confronting your inner demons can be intimidating to say the least.  But it is possible and more importantly it is freedom! 

photos via: unrealitymag.com and lionking.org via google images.

video via: The Dockeeping Channel on YouTube (great video's here)