Tag: success

life, Spiritual, success

Remove the Veil

Dr. R. A.

 

remove the veil

Life has a way of veiling our vision so that we are unable to clearly see who we are and who we were designed to be. Our sight gets blurred by life’s experiences. The resounding voices declaring that “you are not good enough,” “you will never become anything,” “you are nobody,” “you will never be anybody,” “you are stupid,” etc., repeats perpetually in the recordings of the mind. These echoes of despair paralyze the slender nerve of effort to achieve. Leaving us laying on the sidelines begging for a handout. The menial contributions further break our spirit causing us to hesitantly plead with closed eyes. However, if we could look again and muster the courage to remove the veil, then we will astonishingly be able to see our worth and abilities.

Our worth without the shadow of a doubt far exceeds the problems that we face. And our abilities are far beyond the thundering sound of naysayers. We were created with innovative and creative abilities that we have not begin to tap into. However, it requires us removing the veils. Remove the veil of doubt. Remove the cloud of fear. Remove the veil of insecurities.Remove the veil of what your mother or father said. Remove the cover of labels that were placed on you. Remove the veil of stagnation. Remove the mask of procrastination. Remove the veil. Peel off one layer at a time until your vision is clear.  We need to remember that we were created in His image and in His likeness.  He took time out to carefully construct every intricate fiber of our being. After construction, He breathed into us. His breath is assurance that we possess His attributes and characteristics, albeit we are imperfect. This simply means that have the same innovative and creative abilities flowing through our veins. And since those abilities flow within us we need not sit back and beg for bread. We should get up and consistently work on our dream. Prodd away one step at a time until we see it manifest before our eyes.

Remember there is nothing to fear but fear itself. That which you hope to accomplish is waiting for you to put in the work. Dig if you must and do not quit. Never forget you have been commanded to be fruitful and multiply and subdue. Rise up and conquer that which is yours.

In my Captain Planet voice “THE POWER IS YOURS!!”

01/02/2018 Dr. R.A.

Daily Post, Spiritual

Stay Focused

Dr. R. A.

Image result for focused

At the onset of pursuing our dreams, we are usually very spunked. However, as time progress we tend to lose the initial level of enthusiasm as we may not have accurately calculated the cost of pursuit.  Less and less effort is exerted to accomplish something that once consumed every waking thought.  Nevertheless, to achieve the desired outcome then we need to get back on track. Our goals need to be realigned to the center of our focal point.

It is the plan and work of the enemy to prevent us from accomplishing our goals through various forms of distractions (loss of loved ones, ridicule, discomfort, shame, poverty, discouragement, sickness, challenges, obstacles, etc.). Nevertheless, I dare say, STAY FOCUSED! Stay focus on the prize and not the pain. Focus on the pleasure to gain not the injury. Shut out the negative voices that echo with cynical remarks as it pertains to your abilities. Remember no one knows your true potential except God. Let your dreams be anchored in Him. Do not get caught up in focusing on your current environmental conditions. Where you are now is not where you will be forever. Storms don’t last always. Seasons will change. Mornings will come after every night season. And in case you forget joy is a by-product of the mornings.

Pull up your bootstraps and press on. Put blinders on if you must, so that you can stay focused.

09/26/2017 Dr. R.A.

via Daily Prompt: Focused

life, Spiritual, success

Achieving Greatness

Dr. R. A.

 

Image result for greatness

People are often misguided into thinking that to achieve greatness then selfish desires must be on display.  From an early age, the passion for aspiring for more has been ingrained into our psyche. We want a higher salary, corner office, lofty titles, etc. as the perception of having these things will validate our identity. However, our source of identity is never found in the things that we own. Our source comes only from the One who formed and fashioned us when we were in our mother’s womb. Additionally, greatness we desire is not obtained by achieving these things.

Many books, articles, and speeches have been given on how to achieve greatness.  Most follow the concepts that have been outlined by Margret Thatcher namely:

  1. Working Hard
  2. Raise the bar higher
  3. Quitting is not an option
  4. Stand up for your ideals
  5. Take action

Although these principles if applied may enable one to reach their goal of obtaining material things. These actually does not indeed allow one to become great. Greatness in its truest form can only be achieved through selfless service. Now I know that with technology most individuals are trying to prove just how selfless they are by helping others and recording or live streaming their actions. Sometimes these things are done to get notoriety which does not please our Maker. True selflessness is not focused on gaining a platform but loving and serving others where they are even if there is no spotlight.

The Bible states that whoever wants to be a leader must be a servant. God’s ways are always different from the ways of men. To be great then one has to submit themselves to God’s leading. Our thoughts have to be transformed by God so that we can know His will for our lives and be pleasing unto Him.

Do you want to be great? Well, give yourself completely over to God and let Him lead. It is within reach, just ahead if we allow Him to direct our path.

Prayer: Lord help us to surrender our lives completely to You and Your leading. Let the spirit of obedience rest on us so that we will walk in the precepts and statutes that You have outlined. Help us to surrender our emotions to You so that anxiety does not subdue us. Remind us continually that Your ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Strengthen us to resist the values of the world and the pressure to conform to its ideologies. Empower us to pursue the kind of life that You have created us to obtain. Amen.

3/26/17 Dr. R.A.

life, Spiritual, success

Humble Beginnings

Dr. R. A.

Image result for humble beginnings

Everyone desires to be great. As a matter of fact, greatness is the undertone of every conversation. Various books, movies, and articles have been written about how to be successful. The definition of success for individuals is being skewed by that which society defines as success. Persons that are not yet at the pinnacle of society’s definition of success  are feeling the weight of the waves of pressure to perform. The heights of the waves have gushed over them leaving them sinking into the dark deep hoping not to drown in their own despair. Appreciation for humble beginnings is almost a thing of yesterday. Instead of praise, the slow, long and tedious process of humble beginnings is acknowledged with a curse.

Appreciation for humble beginnings is almost a thing of yesterday. Instead of praise, the slow, long and tedious process of humble beginnings is acknowledged with a curse. However, if we stop allowing society to define success for us, then the pressure to perform will lessen. We will be able to enjoy the journey knowing that success lies in the journey and not the destination as it has been depicted.

Image result for success is in the journey not a destination

We often tend to forget that in the process of small beginnings we learn how to have humility. That may not seem to be rewarding, but its value is priceless. I say this because pride always comes before destruction, however, with humility comes greatness. Humility  is like  fertilizer to  our heart which results in us having a right spirit no matter our current circumstance.

Image result for right spirit

Additionally, small beginnings teach us to have the proper work etiquette and how to be grateful.

Image result for despise not humble beginnings

When we are able to work with a cheerful spirit, knowing that doing the work is a blessing in and of itself. Then even God Himself will rejoice to see the work being done. This should cause us to rejoice knowing that if God is pleased He will reward with bountiful blessings.

Are you in a place of small beginnings? do you have the right attitude in this season of your life? Have you been grateful while putting in the work? Do you have a patient spirit or are you filled with anxiety of moving to the next big thing? Today ask God to examine your heart as it pertains to the “small beginnings” areas of your life so that you will be able to enjoy the journey and be rewarded greatly.

3.20.17 Dr.R.A.

life, Spiritual, success

Push Out from Land

Dr. R. A.

 

net breaking

After working for extended hours to accomplish a goal exhaustion can set it. Especially when we have not accomplished what we desired to achieve. We begin to feel like all of our efforts and time has been wasted. We find ourselves at the brink of giving up and throwing in the towel altogether. This feeling is not uncommon or unique to us as all persons who have obtained success had to cross this juncture. Noticed is said CROSSED. It simply means that they had to get beyond this point and continued to achieve their desire.

The Bible tells of a story where the disciples had toiled all night and had caught nothing. For those who may not know (although I believe that everyone does) were fishermen by trade. They had spent all night trying to get a catch of fish and was unable to accomplish their desired task. Weary and tired they decided to go back to shore and call it quits. Just then they were told by Jesus to push a little off from land. Regardless of how they felt they obeyed. That same moment the acquired a catch that was so great that their nets began to break. They had to call for surrounding boats to get some of the catch.

Pushing off from land means they had to leave the place when they were comfortable. Comfortable feeling sorry for themselves. Comfortable giving up. Comfortable living below their privileges. Comfortable not achieving their goals.

It is time for us to push off from land. There is a great catch is waiting to be obtained. Where you have to push to your feet may not be able to touch the ground, but the depth is necessary for the overflow. It is time to push off from the shore. Abundance is waiting!

 

3.9.17 Dr.R.A.

Spiritual

Keys to Inner Strength

Dr. R. A.

Image result for inner strength

16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Eph 3:16

As humans, we have a need for certainty as it produces a sense of security within our psyche. However, no matter how young or old we are, life teaches us that unpredictability and uncertainty are the components of its backbone. There are no guarantees in life and the only thing that we can be certain of is change. As such, knowing that life goes on is key to our development and success. This is important because we often think that we are about to die in our dilemma. But, as time rolls on it proves that life really does go on.

I know that when we encounter situations that break us and shatters the core of our being it ‘s hard to process the concept of life going on. It is even more difficult when we defined what was lost as the reason for our existence, as without that person , thing, etc. we grapple with the knowledge of who we really are. I have had many of those core-shattering experiences that forced me to examine who I am and to whom I belong. It is those moments, however, that I believe brings us back to our center – realigning us,  as life has a way of getting us off balance. In one of life’s teachable moments, I was told a story of a king who had asked a jeweler to give him a gift that would make him happy if he was sad, and sad if he was happy. This request weighed heavily on the jeweler as without producing this he would loose his life. For days he went sleepless until he prayed and asked God for a revelation as to what he should give the king. With God’s instructions, he made a ring for the king. Upon delivery, the king looked at it with a puzzled look, but when he read the inscription he understood clearly and knew it was the perfect gift. The inscriptions read “This too shall pass.” When I heard the story, it pierced me through like a very sharp two-edged dagger, because of the profundity of its  truth. I shared this because it is one of the keys to the developmental process of inner strength. Knowing that there will always be experiences reflecting the terrain of mountains and valleys. Your circumstances will change whether good or bad.

I also know that society and life teachs us to be guarded. However, if we are honest, we know that beneath our hard exterior that we sometimes portray is a soft interior filled with various vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities that if exposed gets damaged easily, resulting in us locking our true selves behind invisible bars of steel. I also know that the only way for healing to take place if for the wound to be exposed to a physician who can administer the necessary drug, ointment, bandage or surgery, etc. Therefore, the final and most important key to developing inner strength is looking to God. We look to Him through prayer. The Apostle Paul stated, “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.” God is the one who has an unlimited supply of whatever we could possibly have need of. If it is love that we need- the songwriter said: “His love has no limits.” If is is grace that we need it is also said: “His grace has no measure.”If we have need of power, it is also said: “His power has no boundary.” God is capable of empowering us with inner strength and supplying all of our needs. When we expose our vulnerabilities to God, He will administer the right care according to the need.

A brief recap of the Keys to Inner Strength:

  1. Look to God – Pray and expose your vulnerabilities
  2. Know “THIS too shall PASS” – circumstances will change
  3. Life goes on – you will not die in your dilemma

 

12/7/16  Dr. R.A.

Spiritual

Success -Mythical

Dr. R. A.

man-on-top-of-the-mountain

To achieve success seems mythical. To achieve it one must be a lion with a unicorn horn and eagle’s wings as the pathway to success is never straight and filled with various obstacles.

Nevertheless, to achieve it we cannot focus on the pathway but focus on the goal. It must be embedded within our core that success can only be determined by the obstacles that we overcome. Some obstacles may just be small pebbles that we can easily pick up and throw over our shoulders whereas, others may mighty boulders that cannot even be lifted as such we may have to walk around them or climb over…needless, to say neither option is going to be easy.

To achieve success everything within you has to be employed. Yes, you may get tired and feel like quitting but, you will have to get past feelings and keep the goal at the focal point of your view. You may have to sing the mantra continuously as you climb the slope “winners never quit and failure is not an option”. While singing, your thighs will be burning, your back will be hurting, sweat will be dripping and lungs seem to consumed with the most vehement flame as it is difficult to even breathe… but continue to PUSH. Emotionally, you will be exhausted… but PUSH (PRAY, UNTIL, SOMETHING HAPPENS). You may slip and fall… but PUSH. It’s okay to rest for a bit…but get back up and PUSH.

I say PUSH because the rewards will far exceed the excruciating pain.  Not only that, if you don’t push you will never achieve as it will NOT happen by chance.  However, when you get there, you will experience the mythical joy of success. You will be among the few who can proudly tell the story of its mythical path.

via Daily Prompt: Mythical