Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Magic Carpet Ride
‘I can show you the world, shinning, shimmering, splendid…’, plays in my head as I write this. I can picture the magic carpet ride as Aladdin takes Jasmine on the excursion of her life. Funny, I thought to myself, ‘if cartoonists could create something so beautiful using less than 20% of their brain matter(as we’re told all humans do), what would happen in my life if I decide...
d to recreate my life picture and give myself a whole new world?
Interestingly, years later, after that resolve to recreate beauty, I’m excited to say ‘it paid off’! Writing this and being able to help with people’s image concerns is one plus (smile). I kept thinking about what kind of life I wanted, where and who I wanted to be and be with, and how I wanted people to perceive me. I thought it until it became a part of me; I was already living the life I wanted. It wasn’t an over-night transformation; I was still me, but a better me; and that is the crux of today’s article.
How badly do you want what you think you want? Are you really willing to work towards become the real ‘You’ and not a poor imitation of someone else? As humans, we want to be respected and admired. That is why one sometimes can’t help but notice a guy with an ego the height of Mt. Kilimanjaro, or why a lady finds it difficult to swallow seeing another lady wear the same outfit she has on, and probably rocking it better. After we’ve fulfilled our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, we start to look for fulfillment. Fulfillment stems from what we’re giving back to society. Truth though is that no matter how charitable one is, when respect and admiration is absent, giving back feels like a thankless chore. So how do we gain this much-needed new world of respect and admiration? That world that’s shinning, shimmering and splendid?
Well, you might not like this response; but it all begins with you!!! Yes! With you! You can only be that new ‘You’ that you’ve always wanted to be by changing how you see yourself. How would you change it? Would you need to go out and shop for a whole new wardrobe? Would you need a makeover or cosmetic surgery or a public speaking class? Maybe, maybe not! The most important thing you would probably need is a paradigm shift. That is a whole new way of thinking. Do you see yourself as a victim instead of a victor, a beggar, second fiddle, and a barely-able-to-feed, impoverished ugly human? Well, if these describe you, it’s no wonder then! It’s no wonder that people treat you the way they do; because like animals that smell fear, people smell negative emotions from a distance and unfortunately take advantage of them.
The bible says ‘as a man thinks in his heart, so is he’. Is it then any wonder that when you keep thinking that you’re not good enough, you end up attracting people who treat you like you’re not good enough? A favorite book of mine ‘The Secret’ captures this aptly. The more negative thoughts you have about yourself, others and things, the more negative things are introduced to your life. Cain kept up with negative thoughts and look where it landed him- murder! And that negative action led to a negative lifestyle-being a fugitive. ‘Our thoughts create our reality- where we put our focus is the direction we tend to go.’- Peter McWilliams (Culled from Dr. Cindy Trimm’s 40 Day Soul Fast Journal). I rest my case; nuff said! How have your thoughts made or marred your life? Do you think your life would be better if you stopped being so negative or would changing your thought pattern make little or no difference. Do let me know what you think.

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