Your World Revolves Around You

"The World doesn't revolve around you!"

I heard this statement plenty of times growing up in a household that was always had more values and love than income. Times were sometimes hard and the selfish things I would ask for (gas money, new clothes, shoes, phones etc.) weren't always feasible. I would then complain and beg until eventually the conversations ended with an exclamatory phrase similar to the one above (which only made me more mad). It was like this for most of my life until I realized the value of hard work and the reality of the struggle that most of us are in. Eventually it culminated to the harsh realization that from a financial perspective, the world truly doesn't revolve around me, or any of us, and everything I wanted couldn't be attained. There wasn't enough money to accomodate my every want and desire.

I, recently, have realized that we all live in two seperate worlds. One of them is the above mentioned one filled with physical things that can be seen and touched (family, money, computers, cars etc.). The other, however, is just the opposite. It is one that is totally intangible but just as present. Its the world of your mind, body, and spirit. The sanctuary of your thoughts, habits, and feelings. Though it might seem abstract at times, your intangible world has so much of an effect on your tangible one and vica versa.

The combination of these two worlds is your UNIVERSE. And its all yours. A place where you can be selfish and demand things that you want. A place where you can manifest your dreams into meshing with your actions to produce a desirable future. A place where theres always enough dreaming to go around even when money is short. A place where you have the choice to be whatever you want. Literally. It all starts, though, inside. It has to. This world is a marvelous place and it has its way of delivering the physical circumstances which you attract by obssesive thinking. This works for both good and bad circumstances (trust me, I know), and the combination of thoughts and actions make up your personal universe.

We all see different things, which are percieved in different ways, which are applied differently to our different lives. Everyday. This is why we're all different and have different perceptions of reality and separate personal universes. You are the sun of your universe. The power. The light. The fuel. The inertia. Whatever you want to happen can and will if you have the confidence to dream and the patience to believe.

It is YOUR universe, and it really does revolve around you.

- Troy "TeeL" Harris

Risk Taking

Risk

If you don't take risks, there will be no dramatic improvement in your life. You must embrace courage and risk–taking. What is important is outrageous thinking, thinking that is not of the normal nature. Don't follow the normal path, the path of mediocrity. Seek the adventure of life. Take the express elevator.

Risk-taking means living the moment. Every moment is new. Time is of the past and the future. Those who live in the present live in the NOW which is eternal freedom, a field of all possibilities. So it is important for you to examine yourself. Examine your path. How much risk have you taken? However you should not close your eyes and get involved in some risky action. You must first find out "What is out there for me if I take this risk?" It is always important to find out what the outcome is going to be. Depending on that answer, you take the risk or stay away from it.

NOW at every point you have a choice. The choice is to live in the NOW and then make important decisions. When you get into the NOW you move in a sphere that is beyond logic. So far we know a way of life based on logic. We do not want to enter into the sphere that is beyond logic. We are afraid because it is so terrifying. But once you get into the territory of the NOW, there are infinite possibilities. Remember, I am not telling you to disregard your appointments or your logical reality. You have to do that because you have not fully learned to live in the NOW. Until you make this transition, you will do what you have to do. And then for a time you will be in a state of awareness in which you will see the two worlds, the world of logic and the world that is beyond logic. And then there will be an integration of these two without conflict.

While you are still engaged in doing things which you have created, just float in the NOW. If you learn to float there are a lot of possibilities for you in this lifetime. Only when you feel you are stuck, things go wrong. If you are not stuck inside, you are not stuck outside.

Be prepared to undertake this journey of exploring and being adventurous through risk- taking.What makes you avoid risks are your old concepts of safety and security. In order to make significant changes you must take risks. Before you risk see the pros and cons. Do not take blind risk. This is the practical side. On the Mind Science side, first you need courage that comes from the Higher Intelligence. The Higher Intelligence, in order to help you, gives you courage. It encourages you by saying "Come on, do this."

Find more about the Author, Dr. Pillai:

http://www.pillaicenter.com/pillai.aspx

Perception of Riches

Written by: by Garett P. Williams

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”
- Camille Pissarro

Do you remember what you considered a lot of money when you were a child? More importantly do you remember what was important to you, what it took to make your day, when you were a toddler?
A few days ago I did my grocery shopping for the week. I wandered through aisle after aisle, head down, staring at a grocery list that was too long to match up with a budget that was too small. I went to ring up what I’d compiled in my shopping cart, items that were absolutely essential at the front of the conveyor belt and those that were least important at the end in case they needed to be put back. A few of the items had to be.
I walked out of the grocery store stressed about my bank account, discouraged about the modest days that would lie ahead. On cue I was blessed by a visitor with an important message. A lady, aged beyond her years, in tattered clothes and a desperate look on her face approached me at my car. With her head down and hands together she told me that she was homeless and asked me if I could spare any amount of money to help her feed her daughter. I’d just nearly cleared my bank account to buy groceries, but I did have some change the car. I scooped up what I had, a measly three dollars maybe and poured it into her cupped hands while apologizing for not having any cash to give.
In the past few months I have not seen a larger smile on anyone’s face than the one that she gave me for those three dollars in quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies. She thanked me endlessly, that smile never leaving her face. What could she do with that? Maybe get her daughter one of those $2.99 happy meals with a toy to keep her occupied. It was hard to understand how her outlook could have been altered so drastically by such a small amount of money. Then I realized how wrong I’d been prior to her arrival. Stressed and discouraged with a cart full of groceries, a car to put them in, and a shelter just for me.
This one lady, seemingly heaven sent, showed to me the error of my ways. I was embarrassed to be so ungrateful when the majority of the people in the world have much less than I do and ever since I’ve been so happy to be anywhere near as fortunate as I am.Now when you were a child what did you consider a lot of money? A childhood friend of mine, when she was four, got to ask her uncle for however much money she wanted she asked for $100. Best day of her life. I once watched my 14 month old cousin McKenzie laugh hysterically because she was running and being chased. When that constituted a game were we not much happier? I believe we were but the misconception is that life was better when we were younger. How were we so much richer in our early days when we had so much less? -Perception of riches-

If there is so much power in thought why are we not more protective of our minds. When a few moments of reflection can illuminate a situation for us, or bring us peace and happiness why do we not focus our thoughts on things that are truly important.

Riches are whatever you percieve them to be. Let us be grateful every single minute for the riches we posses.

The Sky Isn't The Limit ... The Limit Is Where You Set It

Recently, a group of friends and I went skydiving. Yes ... you read that sentence right. We went skydiving! Skydiving is an extreme and highly dangerous activity, but this did not phase us. We refused to let fear limit us, so we didn’t think twice. Had we given it extra thought our minds might’ve talked us out of doing it. Just like the many minds of our peers who called us crazy for doing it, and even worse, we were told that skydiving was not “acting Black.”

Hmmm ... “skydiving is not acting Black.” There’s something wrong with this statement. This statement says that there are limitations to being Black; it says that we shouldn’t delve into activities that aren’t dominated by us. American society has barricaded our minds. As a people, we don’t engage in certain things because we’re conditioned to believe that certain heights aren’t for us to reach.

Living in America alone is enough reason to believe that anything is possible. So much has been accomplished in this country by Black people, and so much has been given to the world by Black people. The world wouldn’t have the advancements it has today if it were not for Black people laying the foundation during Ancient times, yet we limit ourselves by saying that doing certain things aren’t “acting black.”

We need to do a better job of what we allow in our heads, and a better job of what we let manifest in our minds. Society is repeatedly sending messages to us that says you can’t do this and you can’t do that, but you can be a rapper, you can be a football player, you can be a comedian, you can be a basketball player, etc. Yes we can be those things and what’s better than this is that we could BE and DO MUCH MORE ... like skydiving. : )

Skydiving was a great experience, and I recommend it for everyone! I am a different person since my landing, and doing it was just another reminder that I and my people can do anything that we choose to do because life comes with infinite possibilities.

** Kemi Lotus

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.

Henry Ford

God Listens...Hope You Do Too

***Disclaimer, I believe in God; Now I understand not all of my readers do, however if you have a faith in something, someone, or any energy or power greater than you, working for you, that is who & what I am referring to when I say God; take it as a metaphor if you please.***

Let me cut to the chase....

God listens when you speak, and he delivers when you believe. Therefore when you ask for the most at your lowest moments, are you paying attention to yourself? I know it can be easy for people to say, "Things will get better..." but do you believe that? Because when you ask for things like happiness, love, courage, strength, etc., are you paying attention to the way you respond to those things when they come before you?

Please understand the power of prayer {which I truly believe prayers are poems that sing to the divine heart} because often times when we are down we ask to be picked back up immediately, selfishly ignoring and disrespecting the pace and time things works for us.

Believe you me no judgement is being passed around here though, because I, too, can be impatient for the things I want most. I also understand, however, the more I resist experiences manifesting at their own speed, rate, time, pace, etc., the more I am resistant to this limitless plan God has made for me.

Now on that ride back up, how does your ego feel? How does your spirit respond to others and their words? How do you respond back to what God places before you? One of my favorite things to often ask for is the courage to know the difference when it's placed before me. Here is a real life example: I was heavy into substance abuse{drinking excessively and smoking pot on more than regular basis} and I immediately felt like I had to be on defense. How could anyone say that I overly use anything when I don't believe and act as so? Like come on, do I really drink more than others?? Ignorant to my own truth, I felt righteous at a weak time in my life.

It took a lot of silent treatment from God and prayer for me to understand that by having others (i.e family and friends) say that I was abusing liquor and weed it was only their way of showing me what is truly UGLY. I had to recognize the damage I was doing to myself in order for me to want to change that aspect in my life. I had to recognize the damage I was doing to myself in order for me to know what self-esteem meant; to know what real love means when it comes out of to and it is charged back to you. The best love is SELF-love and I did not recognize that love until I was alone and vulnerable...

I believe whole heartedly that in order for you to feel your best you have know what is BEST. In order for you to LOVE at your best you must know who LOVES you at your best. You cannot go on through life without relationships, therefore cherish the people who support you, the people who keep it real with you, and the people who are always there even at their busiest moment.

Love is real. Love is God. If God listens, and you are too focused on the things and materialistic beings that have NO soul, you will miss out on the best parts of your life, & that is cheating!

Don't cheat yourself out of what you deserve and what you ASK for. Pay attention!

"If you feel like you are going to cheat, look up, look forward, & look within..." -Dr. Dennard

Laugh hard and often, God is great comedian.

By: HonduranQueeen

"Money Over Everything"

Written By: Sam Floyd

Search your iTunes for the number of songs that contain the word "money" in the title. Mine has 97. Today's hip-hop culture is all about getting more and more money (and wastefully throwing it up at the club, of course). But is money really the answer to all of our problems? Money comes, money goes... Ask MC Hammer.

"Money money money is my intuition, money over bitches such an easy decision..."

-Weezy F. Baby

Remember learning about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in psychology?

Well, to refresh your memory it's basically like a food pyramid that displays your needs instead of food. The most important/basic needs at the bottom, and the most unnecessary/advanced ones at the top.

The chart, in a nutshell, says that you can't worry about safety, love/belonging, esteem, or "self-actualization" respectively, until you first have your physiological situation (food, water, and shelter) under control. Pretty basic stuff.

You can see right away that money plays a pretty important role in our needs, seeing as food, water, and shelter are not free. If you're struggling to meet these most basic needs, then clearly money is gonna be of grand importance to you.

But...


At what point do you see money's ability to satisfy our needs stop? Safety. Leaving love/belonging, esteem, and most importantly, self-actualization up to be achieved through other means. A small percentage of people actually make it to the top of the pyramid because they spend way too much time worrying about MONEY. (Gotta get the dollas, baby!)

Now. Money is very important, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing that should be worried about. If you're worried about money, it should be because you don't have enough to put food on the table for your family, not because you're gonna have to settle for the Honda rather than the Beemer. In very basic terms, if one remains wrapped up in material things, one won't be able to reach his/her full potential as a human, according to Maslow. Put this on a large scale and there you have it: us (black people).

If your main focus is money (assuming you're already living comfortably), then you could potentially have pseudo-love, pseudo-esteem, and pseudo "self actualization" in your personal heiarchy of "needs". We all know that money can't buy you love. Any woman you get based on the things you buy her is not fit for a wife. Any friends who hang around you because of how much money you have are not friends at all. Any self-esteem you gain from having these "loved ones" has a foundation in relationships that are fostered by money, rather than genuine human emotion. Thus, any "self-actualization" that comes from this esteem is not "self-actualization" at all.

Don't get me wrong, money is definitely a must, and nothing is wrong with having plenty of it. But don't let your life revolve around getting money! When you get older and the opportunity presents itself, go to your little girl's ballet recital recital rather than working overtime if you can help it. The things in life that we value most are priceless. Money comes, money goes...

Some of the richest people in the world are also some of the most miserable. Realize money's importance, but at the same time realize it's unimportance...because money isn't everything. So why put it over everything?

...

Because we just wanna be "successful" of course. The money, cars, clothes, and hoes. You know the lyrics...

.::Fix Me. I'm Broken::.

I was on twitter today and I noticed someone say something interesting. She said, "You cannot fix a man. Only when a man looks to God when he's in need, can he be fixed." I grew up in a Christian, conservative, Southern Baptist home, so I know all too well how strong the shackles of Christianity can be. Yes, shackles--As in they bind you. They hold you back. They limit you. That is what religion does. It teaches you that you are incompetent and that without this all-knowing,

all-powerful and perfect being, you are helpless, hopeless, and irreparably flawed. You are taught to look to everything but yourself for answers and for all things. You are somehow not good enough and no matter how hard you try, you can never be good enough. The only thing that saves you is the so-called mercy of this mystery being. The only thing that governs your actions and keeps you from being a total savage who gives in to all sorts of vile things, again, is this mystery being. My response to this girl was simple:

"Only when a man stops looking to external forces and starts looking within himself can he be fixed."

Do you wait for this mystery to feed you? Or do you go to the store and buy food? Do you wait for this mystery to give you money? Or do you go to work to provide for yourself and your family (if you have one)?

You don't sit around and wait for God to provide your needs. So why sit around and wait for him to fix your flaws? Why not stand up, take responsibility and look within yourself to fix anything that you feel is wrong? Quit letting your religion and your god cripple you. It is within you to control your actions, control your thoughts and correct any flaws.

Quit looking outside of self, when all that you need is within. Get off your knees, open your eyes, and stand up on your own two feet. Throw the crutch of religion away and realize that you are both the one needing healing and the HEALER. Any prayers you have will only be answered by you.

Peace, Love and Elevation.

(Read my blog on "Filling The Void" here)

Written By: Queen Tiye/Genesis

Freedom vs. Liberty

Webster says:

freedom- exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.

liberty- freedom from external or foreign rule; independence.

Sounds pretty similar, right? Well I'm here to tell you that they're actually pretty different. Completely. In America, we are all free, which theoretically constitutes liberty; by definition. Unfortunately, though we all have our inalienable rights and the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, we're not all internally liberated. (and its nothing our precious forefathers can do about that.) In one of my earlier posts, I responded to a quote that stressed that the power of any given nation is directly dependent on the percentage of individuals in that given country who are personally liberated. I believe this to be true because when people follow their passions; success, happiness, and efficiency are sure to hop on for the ride. With this being said, it might be true that Blacks, the race suffering from the most oppression in America, are the least liberated (powerful) of all.

In our school systems, we aren't taught much about our own people. At all. A vast majority of us (including me for a long time) have some mental picture of savagery and stupidity in our heads when we envision Africa. In fact, a lot of people sometimes mistake Africa for being a country without thinking twice. (Africa is a continent with 54 countries) Think about literal African-Americans for a moment and they're journey from the slave trade to 2010......

In a nutshell, you probably saw half naked dumb people captured and starved on a ship, beaten while singing hymns, killed, freed, segregated, water hosed, integrated, and discriminated against. Throw MLK, Obama, and Oprah in there and you've got your portrait. Now, compare that to what we know about our European friends. With the great artwork of Da Vinci and powerful leading capabilities of Napoleon Bonaparte. Or the buts bravery of Columbus and the pioneering genius of George Washington. Don't get me wrong, these people were great, but something is missing... US. Most of what we learn is about US being LESS than our counterparts. After all, they didn't originate from America either yet their history is out there to dominate our thinking and most importantly, inspire and liberate theirs. If all we read about and see, from birth, is people that look like us being worse off for no apparent reason, it'll take some kind of toll on a group of people eventually. The problem is this: Our schools system is not conducive to liberating the minds of people outside of the Anglo-Saxon bubble and it forces people to think that they have to be Malcolm X or Marcus Garvey just to make a difference. And honestly, people like that aren't born everyday. So a lot of us don't even dare to try. It becomes perpetual to the point that apathy and under achievement isn't abnormal and when a Black person puts the "i-n-g" on the end of his action verbs, he gets his lunch money taken. We don't have any power (liberty) like this!

I say all of that to say this. Freedom is given, but Liberty is found, cultivated, and used. Thats the difference. In a convo not too long ago, a very close friend came to the conclusion that the main factor in the lack of liberation of a people isn't their circumstances in the past or the present, but its the thought that they can't be anybody important or do anything great, which affects the future. It hit me hard. Because its true. If you can't think it, then you can't be it. People who don't know that planes can fly don't go to pilot school. So, our mis-education from school combined with the suppressed thoughts that the same mis-education puts in our heads leads to what we have today. A constitutionally free and nominally liberated people. Just nominal. We can say have liberty, but do we really? As long as we shy away from our passions and ignore knowledge and cooperation with each other, we'll be weak.

"Forget what you've been taught. Its about what you will learn. We value, many times more, the knowledge we attain ourselves than that which is shoved down our throats."

Freedom is tangible. External. Its a strength. Liberty, however, is intangible, intrinsic, and an opportunity. Opportunity to succeed. Opportunity to grab some energy and multiply it for your benefit. Opportunity to envision a powerful future.Opportunity to GO. You can't cry over spilled milk, but you can cry over spoiled milk. Milk that just sat in the cup until it was useless and unhealthy. Freedom is our man-given entitlement to equality. Liberty is our GOD given ability to spark change in ourselves and others, and if we don't use it.... (I think you know the rest, just look around).

Spread this energy. Go inspire someone.

Troy L. Harris

Great Minds

RT: @HJayBee: "SMALL minds discuss people.

AVERAGE minds discuss events.

GREAT minds discuss ideas."

"Can't Trust No Nigga" - Queen Quisha

Black love is possible.

You can't trust no nigga no no you cant trust no nigga

You can't trust no nigga no no you cant trust no nigga

To most black women this phrase is golden so they stay holding on to it as if jesus

said it himself and King James gave us our own book in the bible

Sista's 23 verse 12 " Thou shalt put trust in that nigga"

Because most of us figure they're all they same and all to blame

for our decapitated heart worn apart torn and dropped

by man children who hold love like they're holding water.

so we don't bother not knowing what a good man feel like

Steadily blinding ourselves with past realationships.

So to the good ones I apologize for us women and our pre concived notions

conciving these notions that all brothers are able to do is decieve and cause

commotion and break what was already broken.

So here's our apology for still was on his.

Casue now I realize he'll never understand what he did

so i will let you love the pain away and take you for what you are a good man

with no loop holes, no gimmicks, or tricks not even hidden truths written in the fine print

just a good man

The kind that would rub shea butter on you scalp

then tell you to relax your insecurities instead of you hair,

no need for airs, lace your mind so there's no need for fronts

yes a good man love you so good you don't need for wants

you just need want he flaunts daily without knowing

shining like the sun his presence stay glowing

And we woman may write him off as a no good man without even knowing

that he's looking for a moon to turn Orange.

But Still some of us hold him accountable for the the last man we had

the one who hurt us something bad

and left chip on our shoulder so big it could be considered a crater

leaving us bitter like a hater

has us creating a list of what a man should be

what he can't be

what he needs to be

we critize them so much

we forget that they descend kings

descended from men who pushed pyramids of of their hands with ease

raised in the congo

tricked, caught and bought like cargo

Watched his Queen raped and beat like bongos

hung, heckled, disrespcted and still has the heart of Shango

Women we must let go and Take our place as they're Queens

instead of disreguarding and consantly guarding ourseleves

Sleeping alone saying niggas ain't shit but rubbing the otherside of the bed where his body could fit

touching ourselevs where his body could fit

he knows

he knows our tears rain like he once did

He knows how to love the hurt out of us black women

a Good man grows and is always in the making

they are here for the taking

Take a look around our kings are here.

-Queen Q