The Stand

Monday Morning Musing #4

Happy Monday! I recently received a very pleasant (birthday) gift. Among the items included in the package was a cd entitled, The Floacist presents Floetic Soul, a recent release by Natalie Stewart, the other half of Grammy-nominated (and recently dissolved) duo, Floetry . The cd provides diverse musical musings on topics ranging from love to inspiration to achieve life's goals. 

Track number 12, The Stand,  has become the anthem for my morning pep rally. I feel inclined to share it with you. Perhaps it will motivate you this week...

The Stand

Lyrics

To life
Why are you afraid what you gonna do?
Scared that you may change, isn’t that the truth?
Who are you to say? You’re not gonna win
How’d you ever know if you just give in?
Tell me how will you know? How will you know?
If you just give in, tell me how you’ll grow?
Stand up, you better stand up, come on, every time you fall down
Stand up, stand up, even if you’re small
You can stand tall, come on, come on, yeah
Believe in yourself or who’s gonna?
If you never dream for yourself then who’s gonna?
How you gonna do for yourself, how you gonna … ? 
You know you have to prove it to yourself so you’re gotta
Gotta make a change rearrange if you wanna
Make it to the top is a short day you got it
Is a spotlight all for you but to bring it
Bring an A game 18 cause you want it, stand up
Stand up, come on

What you gonna do, what you gonna do?
You’ll just have to choose, choose, where you wanna go, where you wanna go?
What is there to loose, yeah
How you gonna move, how you gonna move?
If you won’t stay, stay, how you gonna flow? If you’re in your way

Tell me, why do you delay? Why do you delay?

And what you got to say? Say
It’s gonna be ok, stand up, you better stand up, come on now, every time you fall down
Stand up, stand up, even if you’re small, even if you’re small
You can stand tall, I’m feeling you

Believe in yourself or who’s gonna?
If you never dream for yourself then who’s gonna?
How you gonna do for yourself, how you gonna … ? 
You know you have to prove it to yourself so you’re gotta
Gotta make a change rearrange if you wanna
To the top is a short day you got it
Spotlight all for you gotta bring it
Bring your A game 18 if you want it, 
Believe in yourself or who’s gonna?
If you never dream for yourself then who’s gonna?
How you gonna do for yourself, how you gonna … ? 
You know you have to prove it to yourself so you’re gotta
Change rearrange if you want it
To the top is a short day if you got it
Spotlight all for you gotta bring it
A game 18 if you want it.
Stand up, come on, stand up.

Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart © FREE SUM Music Publishing/BMI

‘Til next time…être bien!

Specialization of Self

Monday Morning Musing #2

There’s only one you. There are no duplicates.  There is no other original. After you were created the mold was broken. No one can do what you do in the way that you do it. You are incredibly fantastic and uniquely created for a distinct purpose.  One should consider this exciting news!

In a world filled with copy-cats, imitators and insecurity, I consider it to be of great importance to honor the exclusivity of mankind.  We are phenomenal when we operate at our full potential. One of the greatest privileges of being human is that each day we have the opportunity to specialize in the science of self-improvement.  In my opinion, as Americans, we often miss the mark on this practice. Our focus is often thwarted by specializing in selfishness which is not the practice that I am referencing.   Instead, I am encouraging you to tap into the power of becoming your own competitor. 

When we learn to compete against ourselves, we learn a valuable and motivating practice that resides in every achiever.  Who else could adequately serve as your competition?  The truth is, competing against another uniquely created human being can only happen within improper context.  It is likening to the apples to oranges adage; both are fruit but their properties are uniquely distinct.  An apple can’t become a better orange, nor can you become a better Sharon, Hassan or Maria. Yet, when we become a fierce competitor against ourselves we learn to beat our personal best.  We begin to stretch our abilities outside of their comfort zone into greatness.  Though we will never fully arrive on this Earth (my opinion), we sure can move major mountains and affect real world change while we’re here. 

Specializing in you requires courage, perseverance and confidence.  It is a call to prioritization of matters of importance.  It is a call to embrace who you are and every drop of greatness that resides within in you.  So, this week choose to officially “do you”. Why? Because no one does it better!

‘Til next time…être bien!

The Cure for the Lackluster Life

Monday Morning Musings Series: Mondays are arguably the most dreaded day of the week. For many they represent the beginning of an ever-growing to-do list and reentry into the rat race of life. If the aforementioned describes you, Monday Morning Musings (MMMs) are written with you in mind. Over the next six weeks, I will post new installments into the MMM series. It is my hope that each post will inspire you and invigorate your week with a bit of love and inspiration. My only request....Pay it Forward by sharing MMMs with those you love. 


Monday Morning Musing 1: The Death of a Lackluster Life

Seed what you need. These four simple words, spoken by an internet-famed motivational speaker, resonated with me in a peculiar fashion. The concept is simple, yet life-changing. It reminds me of an African proverb that says, "Gbogbo nnkan l'o l'esan." Translated into English, it means, "Everything has its repayment."

If such is the case, perhaps the cure for the lackluster life is to willingly give to others what you need most. Are you seeking love? Love others unconditionally. Are you lonely? Extend companionship to someone else. Are you broke? Give! Such acts are not committed simply with the thought of receiving a reward in mind. The Law of Reciprocity and the Power of Reciprocity is not the same, as the latter suggest that one intentionally gifts another only to receive a favor in return. To the contrary, one gives openly, loves more and seeds great friendship with companionship, not only to simply receive but to impact the lives of others.

The Law of Reciprocity permeates every culture, ethnicity and religious doctrine. It confirms that there is indeed a consequence for every action. Our actions set forth energy on our behalf. What energy will you set forth this week? 


Til next time...être bien!


Up next: The Laws of Adulthood