Hello Everyone,
I have a serious question to ask. Do people really change? Notice I didn’t ask if people CAN change. I know it’s possible. But can you teach an old dog new tricks? Is it possible to recognize mistakes, faulty convictions, and unhealthy relationships in order to establish a new identity? In my youth, I had faith that when a person said they were going to change a particular behavior that they would do it. As I advance in years, I have become a little more skeptical.
If I was Santa Clause, I would give you your hearts desire. I really would. Unfortunately, life is not that easy. On the bright side, you can have whatever you want. The problem arises when you figure out what you have to do in order to get it. So you want more money in the bank. That’s easy. All you have to do is save more money than you spend. Of course that would require you to change your spending habits. I know it’s possible to change your spending habits but will you? In these desperate times, depression is on the rise. People are anxious and they’re worried about the future. However, feelings of distress can be overcome in an instant. All one would have to do is be happier more than sad. Being happy won’t cost you anything. It’s a decision you make. But will you? Changing your situation is as easy as changing your thinking. But I find that most people assume change takes years to achieve so they rarely get started. Granted, it can take years but it doesn’t have to take that long to alter your behavior. It only takes a second to quit a bad habit but the person has to want to change. As you already know, most people don’t want to change.
Change is difficult to achieve because it requires us to try something new. Whether it’s a new mindset or a new approach, change is rarely achieved because it requires courage to voyage into the unknown. When you change, you have to get rid of your old identity and establish a new one. However, you don’t know if everyone will like the “new” you. I’m here to tell you chances are they won’t. Your “old” friends will petition for the “old” you to return because the “new’ you brings out their insecurities. This is the main reason why people refuse to change. We get scared because when we change one thing, everything changes (the people you hang out with, the places you go for fun, etc). I will tell you this, though. Change is always worth it. You don’t realize how much you short change (no pun intended) yourself when you refuse to modify your life when needed. The ugly duckling didn’t realize its potential until it got around like-minded swans. You don’t realize how negative your old associates really are until you make new, positive ones. That’s the mystery of life. You’ll never know how *palmary change can be until you take a blind step forward and experience it.
“Nothing is easy to the unwilling.” - Thomas Fuller
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
http://www.rallostyles.com/
http://www.blestbabyproductions.com/
*Word you’ve never heard…
palmary /PAL-muh-ree/ adj. – outstanding; best
Friday, October 31, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Catalyst
Greetings All,
As you well know, we are witnessing history in American politics. Come January we will have either our first woman vice-president or our first black President. Many have asked that I comment on the current political climate. Granted my eyes stay glued to news, however politics, in general, bore me. But since a few of my avid readers asked me to weigh in, I’d hate to disappoint. It’s been said that one should shy away from expressing opinions on politics and religion. Ahh well…
Let’s start with John McCain. As far as politics goes, McCain has a lot of street cred. He was a POW during the Vietnam War. He’s a reformer so he *indagates corruption in government and makes the appropriate changes. His foreign policy game is tight. I’ve listened to his speeches and they all sound good; if you have a lot of money. When you’re rich, having a republican as President is like having Santa Claus for a father. Under a Republican regime, the rich normally tend to get richer. I can’t hate on that, personally. I’d probably vote for McCain if I was rich. Wait. No I wouldn’t. Because if his health fades, I’d hate to see his vice-president take office. I’m not saying that because she’s a woman. I’m saying that because she doesn’t seem qualified. I’m not going to say she’s dumb because I don’t know her like that. However, her interviewing skills leave me with questions concerning her credentials. She’s excellent at reciting prepared responses and speeches. But anyone who avoids answering simple questions like “What magazines do you read?” couldn’t buy my confidence with all the gold in Ft. Knox (Oh, wait. There isn’t any).
Now let’s talk about Barack Obama. Obama has the knowledge and degrees to prove that he could have been an awesome lawyer. He could have left the ‘hood and not looked back. But instead, he chose to give back. He chose to bring stability to his community. Sarah Palin often mocks Barack for being a community organizer. Although being governor of a state is tedious, it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to get a group of black people together without fighting, much less getting them to work together for a common purpose. I can’t front. I like Barack. He and I share similar traits. Sure we’re both black men. Sure, we’re both intelligent. But we also get criticized for the same things. Obama often gets criticized for lacking passion. I understand that knock because I often get labeled as unemotional myself. But it is self-defeating to get furious every time someone says something negative about you. Like a true professional, when mindless smearing takes place he keeps it moving. So do I (and so should you for that matter).
So what do you think about John McCain and Sarah Palin? What do you think of Barack Obama and Joe Biden? I believe they are intelligent human beings. I think they all have courage to stand up for what they believe. But it still remains that they’re ALL politicians. I’m a natural born cynic and I have a hard time believing any politicians. They’ll tell you anything to get elected. The speeches look and sound good. The debates show how aggressive and decisive our future president will be. But in the end, will our lives really be that different? Will McCain do what it takes to decrease the price of gas, food, and Rocawear Jeans? Can Obama find a positive female role model in hip-hop culture? I guess only time will tell. Here’s to hoping your candidate wins.
”Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.” - Author Unknown
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
www.zdream.org (ßOnly a few tickets left. Come check me out this Sunday!!)
*Word you’ve never heard…
indagate /IN-duh-gayt/ verb - to search into: investigate
As you well know, we are witnessing history in American politics. Come January we will have either our first woman vice-president or our first black President. Many have asked that I comment on the current political climate. Granted my eyes stay glued to news, however politics, in general, bore me. But since a few of my avid readers asked me to weigh in, I’d hate to disappoint. It’s been said that one should shy away from expressing opinions on politics and religion. Ahh well…
Let’s start with John McCain. As far as politics goes, McCain has a lot of street cred. He was a POW during the Vietnam War. He’s a reformer so he *indagates corruption in government and makes the appropriate changes. His foreign policy game is tight. I’ve listened to his speeches and they all sound good; if you have a lot of money. When you’re rich, having a republican as President is like having Santa Claus for a father. Under a Republican regime, the rich normally tend to get richer. I can’t hate on that, personally. I’d probably vote for McCain if I was rich. Wait. No I wouldn’t. Because if his health fades, I’d hate to see his vice-president take office. I’m not saying that because she’s a woman. I’m saying that because she doesn’t seem qualified. I’m not going to say she’s dumb because I don’t know her like that. However, her interviewing skills leave me with questions concerning her credentials. She’s excellent at reciting prepared responses and speeches. But anyone who avoids answering simple questions like “What magazines do you read?” couldn’t buy my confidence with all the gold in Ft. Knox (Oh, wait. There isn’t any).
Now let’s talk about Barack Obama. Obama has the knowledge and degrees to prove that he could have been an awesome lawyer. He could have left the ‘hood and not looked back. But instead, he chose to give back. He chose to bring stability to his community. Sarah Palin often mocks Barack for being a community organizer. Although being governor of a state is tedious, it takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to get a group of black people together without fighting, much less getting them to work together for a common purpose. I can’t front. I like Barack. He and I share similar traits. Sure we’re both black men. Sure, we’re both intelligent. But we also get criticized for the same things. Obama often gets criticized for lacking passion. I understand that knock because I often get labeled as unemotional myself. But it is self-defeating to get furious every time someone says something negative about you. Like a true professional, when mindless smearing takes place he keeps it moving. So do I (and so should you for that matter).
So what do you think about John McCain and Sarah Palin? What do you think of Barack Obama and Joe Biden? I believe they are intelligent human beings. I think they all have courage to stand up for what they believe. But it still remains that they’re ALL politicians. I’m a natural born cynic and I have a hard time believing any politicians. They’ll tell you anything to get elected. The speeches look and sound good. The debates show how aggressive and decisive our future president will be. But in the end, will our lives really be that different? Will McCain do what it takes to decrease the price of gas, food, and Rocawear Jeans? Can Obama find a positive female role model in hip-hop culture? I guess only time will tell. Here’s to hoping your candidate wins.
”Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.” - Author Unknown
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
www.zdream.org (ßOnly a few tickets left. Come check me out this Sunday!!)
*Word you’ve never heard…
indagate /IN-duh-gayt/ verb - to search into: investigate
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
The Catalyst
Hello All,
When one thinks about the word “addiction”, drugs or alcohol usually come to mind. It’s safe to say that we all know at least one person who has a physical and/or chemical dependency on drugs. If not, we can see them walking the streets, day or night, looking for their next fix. We give them money. We give them pity. On a bad day, we look down our noses at them. “At least, I’m not doing that bad” is what we sometimes say to our self with a slight sigh of relief. Little do we realize that we are not too different from the fiends we see on the street. Whether we admit it or not, we ALL have addictions. Don’t think so? Follow me.
You don’t have to be dependent on drugs or alcohol to be an addict. Some people are addicted to gambling. Gambling is not a drug. Some people are addicted to shopping. Clothes are not drugs. Some are addicted to pornography. However, DVDs and magazines are not drugs. In these situations, no chemicals are involved yet the addict can’t seem to get enough. Before we go any further, we have to make sure that we understand what an addiction is. This is the easiest definition for addiction: something you can’t stop. If you can’t stop smoking cigarettes, you’re addicted. If you can’t stop being in meaningless relationships, you’re addicted. I’ve given plenty of examples of different types of addictions. But there is one addiction that I want to focus on. That is your addiction to feelings.
You see, you can get addicted to your emotions just as easily as drugs. The hypothalamus is a part of your brain that produces a chemical for every emotion you feel. Happiness has a chemical. Anxiety has a completely different chemical. So does envy, anger, depression, etc. And like a junkie, you can get addicted to these chemicals (or emotions) if you expose yourself to them long enough. This is good news if you’re addicted to joy. Because the “happiness” chemical flows through your body making you feel exuberant. These chemicals make your skin radiate, it keeps your immune system strong, and it gives you that twinkle in your eye that brightens the day of everyone you come in contact with. The bad news is some of us are addicted to the wrong emotions. For example, take sadness. Some people have gotten so used to being unfulfilled that they are addicted to it. These people are so far gone that they aren’t happy unless they’re sad. If they go too long without getting the “sadness” chemical they crave, they will create a situation that will make them sad (or angry or resentful) thus getting their beloved fix. This may sound crazy but it not. It’s actually quite common. Think about it. How often do you feel overwhelmed by life? If you can’t stop feeling depressed, chances are you’re addicted. If your *bilious attitude causes you to lose friends, spouses, and/or jobs, you’re no different than a person addicted to meth or heroine.
Overcoming addictions takes work, I know more than I care to elaborate. But it’s not impossible. If you’ve ever seen someone struggle with an addiction, you know the first thing the addict has to do is admit they have a problem. Strangely enough, that’s the hardest step. Most people don’t think they have a problem. But if you have more bad days than good, you have an addiction and it’s only a matter of time before you OD. You need to seek a counselor like any other addict. Keep in mind, there is nothing wrong with admitting you have a problem. Nor is seeking help a sign of weakness. Keeping your emotions in check is pivotal to your health. And if anyone or anything tries to get you to feel bad, “Just say NO!”
“We may think there is will power involved, but more likely… change is due to want power. Wanting the new addiction more than the old one. Wanting the new me in preference to the person I am now.” – George Sheehan
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
*Word you’ve never heard…
bilious /BILL-yus/ adjective - sickeningly unpleasant
When one thinks about the word “addiction”, drugs or alcohol usually come to mind. It’s safe to say that we all know at least one person who has a physical and/or chemical dependency on drugs. If not, we can see them walking the streets, day or night, looking for their next fix. We give them money. We give them pity. On a bad day, we look down our noses at them. “At least, I’m not doing that bad” is what we sometimes say to our self with a slight sigh of relief. Little do we realize that we are not too different from the fiends we see on the street. Whether we admit it or not, we ALL have addictions. Don’t think so? Follow me.
You don’t have to be dependent on drugs or alcohol to be an addict. Some people are addicted to gambling. Gambling is not a drug. Some people are addicted to shopping. Clothes are not drugs. Some are addicted to pornography. However, DVDs and magazines are not drugs. In these situations, no chemicals are involved yet the addict can’t seem to get enough. Before we go any further, we have to make sure that we understand what an addiction is. This is the easiest definition for addiction: something you can’t stop. If you can’t stop smoking cigarettes, you’re addicted. If you can’t stop being in meaningless relationships, you’re addicted. I’ve given plenty of examples of different types of addictions. But there is one addiction that I want to focus on. That is your addiction to feelings.
You see, you can get addicted to your emotions just as easily as drugs. The hypothalamus is a part of your brain that produces a chemical for every emotion you feel. Happiness has a chemical. Anxiety has a completely different chemical. So does envy, anger, depression, etc. And like a junkie, you can get addicted to these chemicals (or emotions) if you expose yourself to them long enough. This is good news if you’re addicted to joy. Because the “happiness” chemical flows through your body making you feel exuberant. These chemicals make your skin radiate, it keeps your immune system strong, and it gives you that twinkle in your eye that brightens the day of everyone you come in contact with. The bad news is some of us are addicted to the wrong emotions. For example, take sadness. Some people have gotten so used to being unfulfilled that they are addicted to it. These people are so far gone that they aren’t happy unless they’re sad. If they go too long without getting the “sadness” chemical they crave, they will create a situation that will make them sad (or angry or resentful) thus getting their beloved fix. This may sound crazy but it not. It’s actually quite common. Think about it. How often do you feel overwhelmed by life? If you can’t stop feeling depressed, chances are you’re addicted. If your *bilious attitude causes you to lose friends, spouses, and/or jobs, you’re no different than a person addicted to meth or heroine.
Overcoming addictions takes work, I know more than I care to elaborate. But it’s not impossible. If you’ve ever seen someone struggle with an addiction, you know the first thing the addict has to do is admit they have a problem. Strangely enough, that’s the hardest step. Most people don’t think they have a problem. But if you have more bad days than good, you have an addiction and it’s only a matter of time before you OD. You need to seek a counselor like any other addict. Keep in mind, there is nothing wrong with admitting you have a problem. Nor is seeking help a sign of weakness. Keeping your emotions in check is pivotal to your health. And if anyone or anything tries to get you to feel bad, “Just say NO!”
“We may think there is will power involved, but more likely… change is due to want power. Wanting the new addiction more than the old one. Wanting the new me in preference to the person I am now.” – George Sheehan
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
*Word you’ve never heard…
bilious /BILL-yus/ adjective - sickeningly unpleasant
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