Pre-Trauma Growth

The hard-won growth that can come after struggle and trauma is a cause for celebration. But when I heard Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg refer to pre-trauma growth in an interview, I immediately realized she was talking about my favorite way to grow … NO trauma to ME.

When I can see the danger signs and find an alternate route to reach my destination… now that’s when I’m really celebrating.

“Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.” ~ Proverbs 18:15

Inhale Teachable, Exhale Hard-Headed…
Inhale Receptivity, Exhale Rejection…
Inhale Growth, Exhale Trauma…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Development

Whole and Hopeful

A recent episode of Iyanla, Fix My Life left me awestruck by the amazing awareness evident in young men who had been abandoned by their parents and abused in the foster care system. They had no business being so articulate about their traumatic upbringing yet there they were, communicating their pain and becoming more conscious, more hopeful … more themselves right before my eyes.

It was a powerful demonstration of the resilience of the human spirit.

“Each experience we live through and grow through is a vitally important aspect of spiritual growth.” ~ Iyanla Vanzant

Inhale Wholeness, Exhale Hopeless…
Inhale Articulate, Exhale Confused…
Inhale Consciousness, Exhale Dysfunction…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Unwitting Entanglement

When I was a freshman at the University of Alabama, I did some advertising for a friend from high school who was running for SGA president. I didn’t know he was the candidate of The Machine, the not so secret, secret society of white sororities and fraternities that has controlled politics at the school for over a century.

I was the unwitting, token black supporter.

I wonder if rapper, activist Killer Mike feels as used as I did…

My interview with said organization [NRA], who we all don’t agree with, was supposed to be something that continued a conversation … about African-American gun ownership…I’m sorry that an interview I did about a minority…and gun rights was used as a weapon against you guys [March For Our Lives Organizers].” ~ Killer Mike

Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregard…
Inhale Perception, Exhale Propaganda…
Inhale Wariness, Exhale Carelessness…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Stealth Grind

There’s been agitating, protests and boycotts in front of the camera and then there’s been Byron Allen, stealthily and steadily creating the platform to become the largest independent producer of first-run syndicated programming. He just bought The Weather Channel and has laid out a strategic plan that has reinvigorated employees.

And whether or not black people feel empowered by this transaction, he has represented what is possible.

“The move by Allen goes to show the power and importance of learning how to invest and run our own businesses.” ~ Dr. Boyce Watkins

Inhale Buy-In, Exhale Sell-Out…
Inhale Stealth Mode, Exhale Social Media Famous…
Inhale Strategic, Exhale Superficial…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

My Reality vs. Your Reality

I discovered the conflict during a contentious conversation with a colleague, stemmed from our real but different realities. When I realized we were using the same expression for experiences that were NOT the same, I was able to explain the differences, which allowed us to pursue our vision.

It was a lot of extra effort on a relatively small issue. But it kept us moving forward.

“What each of us believes to be true simply reflects our views about reality… when we ignore competing realities … we may fail.” ~ Susan Scott, Fierce Conversations

Inhale Converse, Exhale Clam Up…
Inhale Conflict, Exhale Fear of Confrontation…
Inhale Competing Realities, Exhale Fake Compliance…
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Reality

Life Lessons

I try to be conscious of all the lessons life offers, those experienced by others and those I’ve personally experienced. My goal in this phase of life is to avoid wasting the time I have left repeating the lessons I’ve already learned.

“Leave no lesson unlearned.” ~ Reggie Southard

Inhale Receive, Exhale Reject…
Inhale Reflect, Exhale Release…
Inhale Retain, Exhale Repeat…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Where Will We Live?

I sometimes wonder if the wealthy elites intent on destroying the planet, have a plan to escape to another planet or maybe like the movie, Elysium, some kind of space habitat, leaving the rest of us to deal with the consequences of their greed and neglect.

We now have the technology to destroy the planet on which we live, but have not yet developed the ability to escape it.” ~ Stephen Hawking

Inhale Abundance, Exhale Greed…
Inhale Investment, Exhale Neglect…
Inhale Consequences, Exhale Destruction…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Abundance

Revolution

Whether you advocate a revolution or incremental repair to a broken model of leadership really depends on how much you are suffering. Those suffering the least are less likely to relate to those enduring the most…and less likely to want a radical change.

“You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it’s evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out …” Revolution, The Beatles

Inhale Empathy, Exhale Apathy…
Inhale Relatability, Exhale Exclusivity…
Inhale Connection, Exhale Separation…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Laws of Motion

The inability of the leader to see beyond the immediately satisfying but negative action to the long-term consequences could create chaos for the organization, to include the leader.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Isaac Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion

Inhale Vision, Exhale Delusion…
Inhale Action, Exhale Reaction…
Inhale Consequences, Exhale Chaos…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Vision

Incompetent Criminals

As disturbing as the shenanigans by #45 and his minions are, what I find at least as disturbing is the sheer incompetence revealed by their criminal actions.

“A close look at the record suggests that The Trump Organization arguably behaved a great deal like the organized crime syndicates, which have been targeted as criminal conspiracies in the past.” ~ John Norris and Carolyn Kenney

Inhale Capable, Exhale Inept…
Inhale Correct, Exhale Illegal…
Inhale Competent, Exhale Incompetent
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe