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LIVING LIFE OUT LOUDPosted
 Loving the Life You Have Right Where You Are I once heard a pastor mention that he had a Jewish rabbi friend who once told him: Any Day Above the Ground is a Good Day! I like that! Live Your Life Out Loud! Where does that come from and what does it mean? Well, I can't take the credit for it. I got it from Iyanla Vanzant's daily devotional entitled Until Today. I have worn this book out. It's hard to believe that I've had it for over five years. During my prayer and meditation this morning, I was so full of gratitude. Granted, life is not exactly as I would like it to be. But is it really ever? Yet, I am still full of joy. The reason this is a big deal is because I know what it is to be miserable - always waiting for that something big or that big break. Whether it's waiting for that money, that man, to buy that house, that job, that book deal, that movie deal; whatever it is, know that it's on the way and let it go. Worrying and waiting is not going to make your big break come any sooner. Therefore, I decided to live my life long ago as if I already had all that I wanted and needed. As a result, life is so much more awesome; much more peaceful and more fun! According to Iylanla: Living out loud means having the courage to be exactly who you are without apology...In order to live out loud you must have faith in yourself and in the process of life. You must have principles you live by and standards by which you can govern and gauge yourself. Making a conscious decision to live life this way takes courage. However, look at it this way. Life is hard anyway; why not let it be hard on your terms?  One of my favorite things to do is laugh. I love comedy, a good sitcom, a good comedian, a good comedic movie and anyone with a joyous spirit and a good sense of humor. On occasion, I can get into a good hearty laugh that can be loud. One day, at the church where I use to work, someone came up to me and told me that I was too loud and needed to learn how to laugh more softly - it wasn't lady- like. I remember feeling insecure, inadequate and embarrassed. Now that I am older, wiser and at peace, I realize that the person who told me that just couldn't stand to see anyone happy or enjoying themselves because she herself was so miserable and always walking around like she had a stick up her butt. She was jealous. Since then, I learned to not allow anyone to dictate to me how I ought to be. If they can't accept me as I am in my commitment to be authentic and live life to the fullest, then to hell with them. In a world full of pain and sorrow: You have Every Right to Experience Peace and Joy! ...however you can get it - of course just short of engaging in legal or illegal drugs. With two friends my age who had major illnesses - colon cancer and bleeding ovaries - which were in direct correlation to the stress in their lives - I have come to acknowledge the reality of just how short life is. Therefore, no spiritually toxic people or situations are allowed in my life. Period.  So, no matter what you may be going through, make a commitment right here, right now to be happy. Your stuff may be deep. I get it. I have been through my share of deep stuff. However, be honest with yourself about what you have control over and whatever is contributing to your unhappiness. Know you have the power to get rid of it. Now, this will not necessarily be easy and only you know your real threshold for pain.For me, I had come to a point in my life where I truly accepted that God was far more powerful than the worse thing that was going on in my life. Ever since then, I've been rollin' with that and overall things have been working for me just fine. Remember...you are made in the image and likeness of God. With that, it means you have all you need right where you are to create the life you want and you're entitled to. So go on and get busy livin'! Be Free...Know Peace
I feel like the preacher who says, "It may appear that I have come with a message for you, but know that today, I am also preaching to myself." Insanity is doing the same thing continually, expecting a different outcome. Please note that this is in no way a slight on anyone who is compelled to have church as part of one's life. You do you. However, I have resigned to the fact that there is more than one way to God. What may work for one, may not work for another. I have found peace in this reality. There is too much evidence of people who have been in church all of their lives who are hurt, sick - physically and emotionally - miserable, in pain, in turmoil and in the midst of perpetual drama and stress. I have resigned to the fact - that for my life - if my soul does not know peace; nothing else in my life knows peace and everything outside of me can easily reflect any internal chaos - hence, the value of personal spiritual worship. When I decided to take a break from the act of corporate worship I had known for years since birth, the first thing I did was set up an altar in my bedroom. I laid down a green bath towel on the floor and placed upon it all things I had come to know as symbols of spiritual value in my life - candles, an oversize bamboo plant given to me by my father, a small rock I brought back with me from my journey to Egypt, and other knickknacks that hold spiritual significance for me. Initially, with this new shift in my spiritual focus, I prayed a lot. It's not that I didn't pray before. It's just that I subconsciously believed I didn't have to do it as much because of my life-long involvement and association with church. However, by this point in my life, I felt so spiritually malnourished. Church was not enough. What do you do when Jesus is not enough? Although a bold, but necessary question, I was starving for spiritual authenticity . I was sick and tired of going to church and watching people behave like they didn't attend church or know God at all. This witness to ongoing spiritual hypocrisy was killing my spirit. My soul needed saving beyond what traditional church had to offer. With this acknowledgment, a new phase in my spiritual journey began. Prior to my indefinite sabbatical from church, it was very difficult to pray. My mind was always racing with the thoughts of what felt like millions of other things. I felt mentally and emotionally backed-up as though I was spiritually constipated. I was spiritually toxic. Once I "got into my prayer closet" and made the decision to "sanctify" - set-apart - me from all things that did not sit right with my soul. The spiritual detox plan was in full effect. This focus on my individual, personal spiritual growth and development - along with what became almost an obsession to know spiritual truths - led to my reading, studying and attracting everything in my life that began to unravel some of life's puzzles concerning the mysteries of the true and living God. I found how much I really enjoyed worship ; expressing my appreciation for all that I did have in the midst of all my wants. I felt a freedom and a weight lifted I had never experienced in my life. I was eventually free from judgment, guilt and the need to try to be this perfect Christian, this perfect person. For me, it became real that there is no such thing to this highly subjective concept. In order for me to accept that God loved me where I was in my life, I had to start loving and accepting me where I was in my life. This made it easier to love and accept others where they were in their lives. This led to a spiritual growth. I was free to experience all the joys and pleasures of life that did not compromise my spirit. It was exhilarating and almost effortless to not fall into "temptation" or "sin." The spiritual battle that had been known to rage on within my soul had come to a cease fire. The need for approval from others had dissipated. I had approval of myself from both God and me. That was more than enough. From that point forward, not only was I becoming more comfortable with my newfound spiritual authenticity, but I also found new authenticity in my self-confidence. My motivations for pursuing my life's goals were also more pure. The beauty of my new reality was that I was under no obligation to convince anyone of this new brand of spiritual freedom. I had been led to create for myself. There are few things more liberating than becoming free from what others think of or about you. All past powers I had surrendered to others as a result of being overlly concerned about their opinions of me had been regained and then some. As a result, the authenticity for my primary gift emerged - my gift as a writer. I have found a church that I do attend every now and then. However, I no longer feel guilty if I am led not to go on a particular Sunday. I do want to grow stronger in my motivation and efforts to engage in morning prayer more regularly. Yet, I don't feel guilty when I don't engage in formal prayer every morning either. I struggle with formal prayer sometimes - altar and all. I struggle with the idea that if I pray and my prayer is not answered in the time frame or way I would like that I would feel frustrated. I accept that I am growing in this area of spirituality. On the other hand, I see the value when I do start my day off in prayer, worship and meditation . It sets the tone for my day. I begrudgingly have come to terms with that to start the day without prayer, worship and meditation is like jumping into a car and driving without a seatbelt. I may get to my destination despite the risk, however, if I do get into a wreck, I could be seriously injured because I failed to properly protect myself. Today, consider making a commitment to discovering what is spiritually authentic for you. The search for a spiritually authentic life is indeed a journey, not a destination. Imagine a life free from the burden of pre-judgment of and from others who do not worship or pray like you. We all are of God's creation. Therefore, if God makes no mistakes; if we are good, kind, loving and peaceful people looking to be an authentic reflection of the God of us all, how can we not find beauty and peace in our individual and collective lives right where we are? Be blessed and know that all is right within the Lord.
Big love and a huge "thank you" to EbonyJet.com for naming Why Black Women Are Angry as having one of the top 10 Most Important Blog Posts of 2007. #9. Why Black Women Are Angry followed closely the train wreck that was the Juanita Bynum incident in a series of observant posts that showed clearly all was not what it seemed. We truly appreciate the love. BTW, I still go to the liquor store every week to buy my Jet! Peace.
Happy New Year! |
