Salutations to all,
This may be a rhetorical question but did anyone happen to catch President Obama’s inaugural speech last week? If you did, I know you heard him talk about “putting away childish things”. I mentioned that in the Catalyst a couple of weeks ago when I was asking everyone (myself included) to grow up. What are the odds that Mr. President reads the Catalyst? I guess in the scheme of things it doesn’t really matter. But that lets you know that my thoughts can put you in the White House if you’d only listen. I’m just playing (…but a little serious). As you can tell by my light-hearted banter I was planning on taking it easy today. I know you’re ready for enlightening nuggets of wisdom that will help you throughout the week (and you still may get it). But before we get any further into the new year I wanted to give you a message from my soul to yours: STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF!
We all were young once. We were all innocent back then. We loved our bodies. We didn’t care what brand clothes we wore. When we are adolescent we were content. Actually, we were more than content. We relished in the fact that life was wonderful the way it was. So what happened? As we grew up, we established prerequisites before we could be happy. “All I need is that raise THEN everything will be fine”. “Screw this apartment. I’ll clean better WHEN I get my house”. I could continue but you see where I’m going. We all started out with the same blank slate. Over time that slate has been filled with pertinent and non-pertinent information. We were innocent until someone else told us that a particular behavior was “bad”. We loved our bodies until we looked in a magazine and saw what passed for beauty. Our clothes were fine until we found out how much they cost and that there were more expensive clothes that (fill in your own blank) wears. Suddenly, we established that we didn’t measure up. We didn’t meet the status quo and that was unacceptable. From that point on we let other people make our decisions for us. So much so that other people’s opinions seem like our own. How we dress to the foods we eat is based on someone else’s idea. Of course, none of us can help that because that is how we learn. But it gets to a certain point where you should begin to make decisions on your own. Not based on what other people tell you but your actions should be dictated by productivity. If you have an idea that doesn’t get you any closer to your goal(s) get rid of it. Everybody can’t/won’t be a millionaire. The only way a person can have a “perfect” body is to have some work done (plastic surgery). It’s a fact that Air Jordan shoes won’t improve your basketball skills. It doesn’t make you evil if you don’t have a god to worship. These are all barbicans* we build as we get older that limit our progress.
It’s Jericho time! The time has come to break down the barriers that have kept us away from our collective promise lands. The only way to do that is to develop a positive self-image. There is no success that can happen without confidence. Anything is possible until you let an “expert” tell you otherwise. What makes them so right and you so wrong? You should be the judge and jury in your life. Nothing happens in your life that you don’t allow. If you want different results you should try a different method. Transformation begins when you stop paying so much attention to suggestions and focus more on progression.
“There are no such things as failures, only results. How you classify those results is up to you.” - The All-American Rallo Styles
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
http://thecatalystexperience.blogspot.com/
*Word you’ve never heard…
barbican /BAR-bih-kun/ noun - an outer defensive work; especially : a tower at a gate or bridge
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Catalyst
Hello All,
There has been plenty of confabulation* concerning honesty. “Honesty is the best policy”. “The truth shall set you free”. “The truth hurts” and so on. I’ll give you a little truth. I’ve always had a difficult time being upfront with people. Not that I’m a pathological liar or anything. It’s just that a majority of the time when I lie, I’m normally sparing someone’s feelings. For instance, as a man I’ve been asked how I liked a particular hairstyle. Of course I don’t like it but what can I say? The truth? Which brings me to my favorite cliché about honesty: “You can’t handle the truth!”
The Buddha says that truth is neither good nor bad. The truth simply is. But if that’s the case, why do we feel so bad about telling the truth in certain circumstances? I have an idea why and tell me if you think I’m in the vicinity. As a nation, we are so politically correct and so intent on falling in line that we never want to rock the boat. We never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. When in actuality, if someone gets offended by something being said it’s technically their own fault. Why should you feel guilty for answering or speaking truthfully? Exactly, you shouldn’t. But unfortunately you do, don’t you? That’s why you stay on the phone for hours with your girl while she vents about her boyfriend (whom you told dump a long time ago). Or what about your friend who feels emasculated because his wife makes way more money than him. You want to tell him to man up and quit whining but you can’t talk to your boy like that because he’s so (fill in your own blank) sensitive. The facts are, whether you believe it or not, that if you can’t be TOTALLY honest you should question the stability of your friendship(s). You shouldn’t have to debate whether or not to tell someone they have a visitor (booger) in their nose. There shouldn’t be a conflict when it comes to telling mom you didn’t like the gift she gave you for Christmas. If you can’t keep it real you’re fake. And since the truth will be revealed anyway, you might as well be upfront.
Let me be the first to say I understand your pain. The truth can be ugly, disappointing, and sometimes a little embarrassing. But the mere fact that you love a person should give you the courage to be honest. Nobody wins when sincerity is in doubt. You shouldn’t have to lie to the ones you love. However on the flip side, never ask a question if you don’t want an honest answer. The next time someone asks you a question give them this response: “Do you want the answer or do you want the truth?” I know you’re confused so I’ll explain. Depending on the question, the proper response may be different. You may be asked, “Do these clothes make me look fat?” Now if you’re responding as a man, the correct answer is NO although the truth is a resounding YES. The truth is out there for everyone to see. But the question remains, can you handle it?
“I love you, and because I love you I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.” - Pietro Aretino
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
http://thecatalystexperience.blogspot.com/
*Word you’ve never heard…
confabulation /kun-fab-yuh-LAY-shun/ noun - familiar talk or conversation
There has been plenty of confabulation* concerning honesty. “Honesty is the best policy”. “The truth shall set you free”. “The truth hurts” and so on. I’ll give you a little truth. I’ve always had a difficult time being upfront with people. Not that I’m a pathological liar or anything. It’s just that a majority of the time when I lie, I’m normally sparing someone’s feelings. For instance, as a man I’ve been asked how I liked a particular hairstyle. Of course I don’t like it but what can I say? The truth? Which brings me to my favorite cliché about honesty: “You can’t handle the truth!”
The Buddha says that truth is neither good nor bad. The truth simply is. But if that’s the case, why do we feel so bad about telling the truth in certain circumstances? I have an idea why and tell me if you think I’m in the vicinity. As a nation, we are so politically correct and so intent on falling in line that we never want to rock the boat. We never want to hurt anyone’s feelings. When in actuality, if someone gets offended by something being said it’s technically their own fault. Why should you feel guilty for answering or speaking truthfully? Exactly, you shouldn’t. But unfortunately you do, don’t you? That’s why you stay on the phone for hours with your girl while she vents about her boyfriend (whom you told dump a long time ago). Or what about your friend who feels emasculated because his wife makes way more money than him. You want to tell him to man up and quit whining but you can’t talk to your boy like that because he’s so (fill in your own blank) sensitive. The facts are, whether you believe it or not, that if you can’t be TOTALLY honest you should question the stability of your friendship(s). You shouldn’t have to debate whether or not to tell someone they have a visitor (booger) in their nose. There shouldn’t be a conflict when it comes to telling mom you didn’t like the gift she gave you for Christmas. If you can’t keep it real you’re fake. And since the truth will be revealed anyway, you might as well be upfront.
Let me be the first to say I understand your pain. The truth can be ugly, disappointing, and sometimes a little embarrassing. But the mere fact that you love a person should give you the courage to be honest. Nobody wins when sincerity is in doubt. You shouldn’t have to lie to the ones you love. However on the flip side, never ask a question if you don’t want an honest answer. The next time someone asks you a question give them this response: “Do you want the answer or do you want the truth?” I know you’re confused so I’ll explain. Depending on the question, the proper response may be different. You may be asked, “Do these clothes make me look fat?” Now if you’re responding as a man, the correct answer is NO although the truth is a resounding YES. The truth is out there for everyone to see. But the question remains, can you handle it?
“I love you, and because I love you I would sooner have you hate me for telling you the truth than adore me for telling you lies.” - Pietro Aretino
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
http://thecatalystexperience.blogspot.com/
*Word you’ve never heard…
confabulation /kun-fab-yuh-LAY-shun/ noun - familiar talk or conversation
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Catalyst
Happy New Year,
It’s finally 2009, the year of change! I trust everyone has stuck to their resolutions thus far. A new year brings new aspirations and goals. It’s the best time to get affairs in order so that the current year won’t have as many setbacks as the previous year. As the Catalyst is getting close to its 3rd year I’ve decided that there will need to be some changes. Our subject matter is going to be more challenging. I have to be honest. I’ve been holding back a little. I’ve been doing some reading, research if you will. You wouldn’t believe some of my discoveries. Together we are going to question certain beliefs we hold dear. I’m determined to not only change my life but yours as well. Now this process may be a little painful. The truth can sometimes hurt but it’s necessary. The only way we can change our life for the better is to change our minds (for the better). As always, that may be easier said than done.
1 Corinthians 13:11 reads, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me (NIV).” The knowledge behind these statements reign true whether you have an affinity for Christianity or not. I love this particular passage because there are plenty of people, myself included, that need to put away their “childish ways” if they expect to have any type of success in life. You may ask, what exactly classifies as “childish ways”? The answer to this question varies according to the individual. What I think is childish behavior may not be childish to you. For instance, I don’t think a person can consider themselves an adult if they still watch cartoons. Watching Dora the Explorer with your son/daughter is fine. But if there are no kids around and you’re watching Spongebob Squarepants with a bowl of popcorn, you should ask yourself if there is a better way of using that time. The same thing goes for you 30+ year olds still watching 106 & Park. There is a reason nobody in the audience is your age. Another childish trait is not accepting responsibility for your own actions. Accountability is an important trait of maturity. When I hear someone playing the blame game, I know I’m not dealing with an adult. An adult realizes that EVERY action and decision has a consequence. And that consequence is only caused by one person and it’s not your parents, the President, or your teachers.
This is a new year, people. Let’s get excited! Let’s get motivated! And for goodness sake, let’s finally get rid of our “childish ways”! All of the adolescent tendencies need to cease. We can longer afford to postpone the inevitable. In order to have success we simply need to grow up. Don’t you get tired of being in your own way? If you don’t want to be your own worst enemy anymore I dare you, I double-dog dare you (ßspeaking of adolescent) to continue reading the Catalyst. Over the next year I’m going to be the *tocsin you need to implement change. The places where I’ll take you, mentally, will either give you a new lease on life or have you hating my guts. Either way, my life is still going to be awesome. And if you stay true to yourself, yours will be too.
“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” - Carlos Castaneda
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
*Word you’ve never heard…
tocsin /TOCK-sin/ noun - an alarm bell or the ringing of it: a warning signal
It’s finally 2009, the year of change! I trust everyone has stuck to their resolutions thus far. A new year brings new aspirations and goals. It’s the best time to get affairs in order so that the current year won’t have as many setbacks as the previous year. As the Catalyst is getting close to its 3rd year I’ve decided that there will need to be some changes. Our subject matter is going to be more challenging. I have to be honest. I’ve been holding back a little. I’ve been doing some reading, research if you will. You wouldn’t believe some of my discoveries. Together we are going to question certain beliefs we hold dear. I’m determined to not only change my life but yours as well. Now this process may be a little painful. The truth can sometimes hurt but it’s necessary. The only way we can change our life for the better is to change our minds (for the better). As always, that may be easier said than done.
1 Corinthians 13:11 reads, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me (NIV).” The knowledge behind these statements reign true whether you have an affinity for Christianity or not. I love this particular passage because there are plenty of people, myself included, that need to put away their “childish ways” if they expect to have any type of success in life. You may ask, what exactly classifies as “childish ways”? The answer to this question varies according to the individual. What I think is childish behavior may not be childish to you. For instance, I don’t think a person can consider themselves an adult if they still watch cartoons. Watching Dora the Explorer with your son/daughter is fine. But if there are no kids around and you’re watching Spongebob Squarepants with a bowl of popcorn, you should ask yourself if there is a better way of using that time. The same thing goes for you 30+ year olds still watching 106 & Park. There is a reason nobody in the audience is your age. Another childish trait is not accepting responsibility for your own actions. Accountability is an important trait of maturity. When I hear someone playing the blame game, I know I’m not dealing with an adult. An adult realizes that EVERY action and decision has a consequence. And that consequence is only caused by one person and it’s not your parents, the President, or your teachers.
This is a new year, people. Let’s get excited! Let’s get motivated! And for goodness sake, let’s finally get rid of our “childish ways”! All of the adolescent tendencies need to cease. We can longer afford to postpone the inevitable. In order to have success we simply need to grow up. Don’t you get tired of being in your own way? If you don’t want to be your own worst enemy anymore I dare you, I double-dog dare you (ßspeaking of adolescent) to continue reading the Catalyst. Over the next year I’m going to be the *tocsin you need to implement change. The places where I’ll take you, mentally, will either give you a new lease on life or have you hating my guts. Either way, my life is still going to be awesome. And if you stay true to yourself, yours will be too.
“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” - Carlos Castaneda
Dream Big. Live Bigger.
The All-American
www.rallostyles.com
www.blestbabyproductions.com
*Word you’ve never heard…
tocsin /TOCK-sin/ noun - an alarm bell or the ringing of it: a warning signal
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