The Coveted Commandment

Wayne Lewis discusses strategies and perspectives to revise the 10th Commandment. He looks to have released from the Biblical Vaults, the one and only, Coveted Commandment: Thou Shalt Build Wealth, in an effort to open wide the doors to prosperity for all. Consult your clergy, legal, or financial expert for relevant information before making investment decisions. Information revealed within this blog while deemed to be from reliable sources, is not guaranteed.

Monday, March 10, 2014

MENTAL ILLNESS[1]-WHERE IS THE LOVE? © 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

INTRODUCTION

This is a grassroots discussion on mental illness. Why? Because in many cases, the discussion is often reserved for those of the medical profession. For the most part, everyone must have letters behind their names or in front of their names. In this discussion, while several references will be made to those with their respective letters, we are going to try to have a plain discussion about mental illness and those whom we love.

The timeliness of this discussion is related to the most recent incident of a pregnant mother, who allegedly drove into the ocean off of Daytona Beach with her three children, reportedly, in an effort to kill them.[2] The jury is still out on this accusation, but it still opens the door to incidents of this nature which are not as isolated as the media accounts may suggest. Do we have an abundance of proof? I grant you that we don’t have an abundance of proof, and that there may be a reason that we do not have that proof.

My guess as to why we don’t have sufficient proof can be compared to the recent story of the young Missouri All-American, Michael Sam,[3] who reported to the national media, that he was coming out of the closet, or that he was gay. The benefit to Michael could be that it raised his stock on in the NFL draft. The other benefit to him may have been that for personal reasons, he no longer has to worry about his past being thrown in his face at an inopportune moment. Whatever Mr. Sam’s reason, the benefit is not the same for those who necessarily face mental illness. Very few of those who suffer from mental illness can afford to come out and announce to the world, “Hey, I have mental illness!” Why?

We live in a society that is quick to judge, and is bias to a sinful degree that causes many of our family members to remain quiet, as much as possible, about their condition. Thank God for confidentiality laws. But, even with confidentiality laws, many of those who are victims of mental illness have to eventually reveal to some small, but compromising degree, that they are suffering from a case of mental illness. And to that end, much is on the line, especially when it comes to employment. What are the options for the mentally ill?

WHY THIS DISCUSSION?

In a lead up to this discussion, we mentioned Andrea Yates,[4] Susan Smith,[5] Miriam Carey,[6] and most recently accused, Ebony Wilkerson.[7] (In error, previously referred to as Ebony Williams. Please accept apologies for the misspelling or misreference). Each of these women could very easily be the poster child for mothers with mental illness. But unfortunately, mental illness is not a mother’s illness, nor a father’s illness. It is a disease that affects every family, at every level of the economic spectrum. It is a disease that affects all of us, regardless of race, creed or nationality. And while it is not a fair comparison to being gay, lesbian or transgendered, the consequences of revealing oneself in these genre’s could be far more devastating.

This discussion needs to happen not just because of the mothers who suffer from their various problems, but because of the fathers, brothers, sisters, and other members of our society who sit in silence and torment, trying to survive day to day, fighting for some level of decency. From the medications that many receive to the counselling and treatment that exists only as much as insurance companies will allow, or as much as governmental budgets will exist.

This discussion needs to occur with the intent of helping not only our families, but many of the professionals whose jobs exist to the extent, that should a police officer, a fireman, a doctor, or a military vet needs to express their anquish, they will not be punished, or publicly humiliated or embarrassed because they spoke up and spoke out, because they need help, not to be ostracized.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO

Unfortunately, the mothers mentioned above need not be distinguished or categorized to themselves. Our country and our world have witnessed all too often men and women who have taken out their frustration in schools, movie theatres, malls, work places and too many other places to mention, perceivably because of mental health treatment or possibly, the lack thereof. How unfortunate (a phrase I may use too much in this piece), that those who resorted to these alleged acts or threats of violence became the face of mental health. Because for many of us, the face of mental health is not those who go to these extremes to seek help. While many of those who suffer from mental illness required more assistance than their medical provider may provide due to various limitations, they aren’t all prepared to go the extremes that have become front page news. These are the cases that have become the worst-case scenarios. These are the cases that have unfairly tainted the issues relating to mental health as being in extreme need of assistance. If anything, the kind of acts that violence, or threats of violence, are radically extreme. For those who still need our help, they can’t possibly be at this level, they can’t allowed to be, nor believed to be, at the level of worst-case scenario.

TO WHAT DEGREE DO WE OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS?

If this discussion ever leads to someone with mental illness standing up and announcing their condition, what will be the next course of action? For us? For them? Will we call them courageous? Will we be as accepting of them prior to their revealing their condition? Will we call them names behind their backs, or make fun of them? Will we make the familiar circular motion with our fingers to our heads (suggesting crazy, loony, or not all there)? And how will we go back to our daily routines? Will we treat them the same as always, or will be sensitive about everything that we say or do? And what about them, having revealed their status? Will those, who maybe our co-workers continue their treatments? Will they continue to go to their counseling? Will they begin to change in how they respond to us? To what degree does anything changes?

In essence, nothing needs to change. I am going out on a limb here, and you may want to consult a professional on this, but I believe that those who suffer with mental illness, just want someone to understand what they go through. They don’t need to share everything; they don’t need to share every day, or with everyone. They may only want to share with one special person, not necessarily a medical professional, not necessarily counselor. The real issue is to what degree do we, as family, as friends, or as a community, open up to those with mental illness who are willing to stand before the world and declare their condition?

There is no real measuring stick, but there has to be a better way of making it easier for those with mental illness able to reach out as a whole. Granted, there are doctors, psychiatrists, and other professionals who play a vital role in trying to help those with mental illness. But their reach is not as extensive or as far-reaching as the individuals that patients interact with on a daily basis. What doctors, psychiatrists and other medical professionals know can’t help those who interact often with patients who are family, friends and co-workers. The confidentiality aspect protects our loved-ones and friends as patients, as it should. But for those us who are not in the know, who need to be in the know, on behalf of that loved-one or that friend, the dynamics would otherwise seem to be counter-productive.

LET’S BE TOTALLY CLEAR

Not all of the mentally ill are subject to act such as the mothers referenced here are accused. That reference is extreme, and is not intended to suggest that those who suffer from mental illness may remotely resort to the instances that inspire this piece. As a matter of fact, it maybe this kind of piece that causes those with mental illness to not come forth. And if it is that kind of piece, let me the first to apologize if anyone is offended. But whether or not this piece gives the wrong impression, it is perhaps an opportunity for those who suffer from mental illness, as well as their families, to set the record straight. Maybe, it’s time to come forth. Put the world on notice, that whatever your condition, you are coming out! That whatever your condition, you are going to be brave, and that you are going to fight this thing, with or without the community’s support. Because if nothing else, we have to believe that if no one else supports our mentally ill, it is their families who stand by them, and stand with them to overcome many of the challenges that many of us take for granted.

DON’T’T CALL THE POLICE, CALL FOR HELP

In Louisiana, the signal code for Law Enforcement officers is 103M (Mental Patient)- For many police officers it is a signal that suggests that there is a disturbance in the community, and it involves a possible mentally ill patient. It is an unenviable position that our law enforcement officers are all too often placed in when responding, and for those who are the subject of such calls, help is not coming- the police are. What is the difference? From a grassroots perspective, for the patient, men and women who are responding are coming with handcuffs, tasers, guns, maybe a stick of some kind. Whoever is coming, they are not coming to discuss, persuade or put the patient back to bed. Their power, and particularly their training, as police officers dictates that they take a tactical approach to bringing things under control. Theoretically, that is great, but for the patient, it suggests that the deck is already stacked against them. Police officers are as much a contributing factor to an escalation of behavior by patients as a deterrent or encouragement for a patient to be compliant. How so?

Police officers training, by and large, is pretty straight-forward. When they arrive—Scratch that! When they are called to a scene of a disturbance, it should already be understood that our Police Officers’ presence is not to babysit, nor hold the hand of a patient who refuses to take their meds, or who refuses to get back inside and stop screaming at the moon. Police officers’ response is typically five-fold:

Show your hands
Stand against the wall
Turn around and put your hands behind you
“Do you have anything on you that could harm me?”
“The suspect refused to comply, so we shot him!”

To our men and women of our various law enforcement agencies, if you are offended by this characterization, you should be. If you are responding to mentally ill patients who, unless armed, or threatening to harm someone, is not complying with a family member, your presence becomes an antagonistic problem for the mentally ill. It is almost a foregone conclusion that if a police officer responds to a mentally ill patient out of control, the training that police officers receive prepares them more to shoot a patient rather than try to capture or at worst-case scenario, incapacitate them to the point where they no longer pose a threat or harm to themselves or their family members. How? The net used to be used to apprehend a mentally ill patient. And what about hypo-dermic needles? We used them on bears and return them to the wild. We capture alligators and bring them to sanctuaries. But call the police and the ultimate response could be that someone is going to die. That is not help, and that is not resolving the problem. If those who are mentally ill, who have no intention of killing themselves or anyone else, find themselves dead, then help did not come. The police did.

The police need to be taken out of the equation. We are doing the same thing with respect to mental illness and expecting a different result. Taking the police out of the equation with respect to those who are mentally ill forces us to look at what we can do better. But, let us not just take the police out of the equation and then shuffle the problem over to the firemen or even EMS. The call for help should be a call for help, and our family members in need should feel that whomever responds is going to come in and help their family member transition, if necessary, within the home, or from the home to a treatment facility. Our families need to feel as though help is coming, not an execution squad, in the form of police officers.

GOING FORWARD

As always, the intent is to seek a solution to how we address and improve the circumstances and conditions not only for our family member suffering from mental illness, but also, and this is key, for our families who live with and provide invaluable care. Unfortunately, as we speak, budgets are cut by governmental forces, insurance coverage is limited and shrinking, and the costs to families, not only financially, but emotionally, are in many cases, overwhelming. The need for families themselves to receive support in their effort to be the cheerleaders and in the corners for their loved ones is an on-going challenge. Going forward, the cure may lie in what those who suffer from mental illness are able to do, or are willing to do, with their medical professional’s advice. Going forward, if it is possible, and beneficial, those who suffer from mental illness, may need an opportunity to express or share their condition with the greater community. As fewer dollars are committed to their treatment and medication, or housing, then those who suffer, should have an opportunity to take their condition to a greater level, to the streets, if you will. For those who suffer not only from their disease of mental illness, but also from the economic shortfall that will eventually force them to seek other alternatives, allow one of those alternatives to be to speak out, to be heard, and to be known by their condition(s), so that we can see them for how courageous they are, and what they are going through. And, wherever possible, we must be willing to provide them with the kind of love and support deserving of anyone who suffers from a condition that they did not choose for themselves. This is that time for those among us who suffer from mental illness to come out and be heard. This is that time for us, as family and community, to show those who face a need for mental health assistance, empathy, not sympathy, and above all else, love and happiness.

Disclaimer: No information here should be considered medical or legal advice. If you or someone you know need medical assistance, or have an medical emergency, call your medical provider or 911. Information provided here is deemed to be from reliable sources, but not guaranteed.

[1] Mental Illness- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mental-illness/basics/definition/con-20033813

[2] Woman drives car into ocean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siUrSL_AUns

[3] Michael Sam- http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/sports/michael-sam-college-football-star-says-he-is-gay-ahead-of-nfl-draft.html?_r=0

[4] Andrea Yates- http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69789-4/fulltext

[5] Susan Smith- http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/smith/confess_8.html

[6] Miriam Carey- http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/miriam-carey-believed-to-be-driver-shot-near-us-capitol-lived-with-daughter-in-conn/2013/10/04/2794cc24-2ce7-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html

[7] Ebony Wilkerson- http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2014/03/07/pregnant-sc-woman-drives-minivan-carrying-3-children-into-ocean-in-fl/

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

POLICE BRUTALITY-A CAVEAT OF JUSTICE (c) 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr.

America’s Black Eye on Civil Rights

AMERICA FOUGHT FOR ITS CIVIL RIGHTS-For many citizens of America, whenever the term Civil Rights is referenced, it may bring images of Black people stirring up trouble in America. It appears that any reference to Civil Rights causes many other American citizens to run the other way, irrespective of the fact that the rights that Blacks fought for, and continue to fight for, and are gradually loosing, are just as important to the greater population as it is to People of Color. In the commemoration of Black History, we often want to speak to the achievements of those who have contributed to the greatness that is America, who, but for the fact that they were of color, were strategically overlooked, or disregarded for their contributions.

When we speak of Civil Rights and Black History, it would appear as though Blacks were/are the only class of people who fought/fight for Civil Rights. How soon America forgets when this country was reportedly founded on the basis of Civil Rights in its breaking away from Great Britain. So, when People of Color fought for their Civil Rights, after the first violation of their initial Civil Rights through slavery, the idea that former slaves would be benefiting from America’s hard-fought achievement in the breaking away from Great Britain, would seem to have been a no-brainer, in theory, per the Constitution of the United States, where all people, are created equal, regardless of race, creed or color, and are entitled to their Civil Rights. Well, not so fast! Send in the police!

BLACKS STILL FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS-In this annual recognition of Black History, 2014BHR, it would seem that we would be re-missed if we did not discuss, in brief, the role that our police agencies have played, and continue to play regarding the importance of Civil Rights for all Americans. America’s history, with respect to People of Color’s fight for Civil Rights, will no doubt, be gradually altered, and will hardly reflect on the role that police officers played in the denial of Civil Rights, based on race. Through the years, as America’s remaining history may show, police officers were used by governmental entities to ensure that People of Color could not have access to the most basic of needs (water from a fountain, bathrooms, sitting on a bus, or eating in restaurants). Thank God, those days are no longer in play, theoretically. But there is still a problem, and here it is: Police Brutality.

PROCEDURAL INJUSTICE-Police departments have for so long been practically given complete autonomy in the role of suppressing People of Color’s intent to secure Civil Rights, that now it appears to be procedural policies, throughout our nation. In furtherance of that autonomy, Police Officers act as their own justice system to investigate, and to hold accountable, where applicable, those officers who are accused of misbehavior as law enforcement officers. It appears to be so procedural, that District Attorneys are slow to press charges against our police officers, necessitating, where financially possible, for citizens to seek justice outside of their communities. Police Brutality appears to be so procedural, that practically any exchange between police officers and People of Color could result in an unintended consequence of up to and including, what would have been just an arrest on any given day, deadly force for many of People of Color’s sons. And more often than not, it is deemed to be justified. Where possible, and often immediately available, the victim’s police record, however slight (stopped for speeding, disturbing the peace), or great (juvenile detention 20 years prior, burglary conviction, 10 years prior) becomes the first justification of dismissiveness towards the value of their lives. Whether by intent or design, it appears that the constant loss of lives of at the hands of police officers throughout America is procedural, and seemingly, insignificant when it comes to young men of color.

“I FEARED FOR MY LIFE”-Police Brutality has taken a new low in Black History, and while many of us will sit idly by while it continues to weave itself in and out of the Criminal Justice System or the Federal Justice System, we can take solace in the fact that all previous efforts to acquire full Civil Rights are like Elvis (Presley), and that is, those rights have just about left the building. To all of our Political leaders, whomever you are, please, remain quiet, as many of our police officers appear to be more armed than ever with full malice, and will hereby be justified in their course of action when the life of an unarmed Black male is taken. Vis-a-vie: “I feared for my life!”

“I feared for my life”, will continue to be the rallying cry for many of our police officers, whether the suspect is armed, thought to be armed, or thinking about being armed. “I feared for my life” will be the measure of justice more often than not, for young black male victims, shot to death more frequently as a result of lawfully approved actions of “stop and frisk”, that all too often, go wrong. Many of our Black males are shot to death, irrespective of their GPA or their volunteer status. Black males, all too often are shot to death, irrespective of their fatherly status, their collegiate status, their financial status, or better yet, their innocent status. This measure of justice, even when reasonably justified, will eventually be the measure of the entire law enforcement community. Where potentially for all of our police officers, anything, or anyone that moves, maybe cause to shoot to kill, and the defining defense will be from this day forth: “I feared for my life”.

LET’S NOT BE CONFUSED-Let us not confuse Crime fighting with the suppression of Civil Rights. The two are distinctly different, and here is how: Crime fighting activities place many of our police officers at risk of their lives, everyday, from the moment they wear the uniform. At any minute, they could be put into a life or death situation, and when their training kicks in, they will be trusted to act according to that training, regardless of the perpetrator’s background, race, creed or color.

Conversely, the suppression or denial of anyone’s Civil Rights, is a violation of the United States Constitution. When a police officer or any member of the Criminal Justice Division of our country, uses its office to exercise hatred by denying any reasonable action in the name of the law, we have a violation of Civil Rights. When an officer suspends the vital training that they are believed to be fortified from their departments, and acts above the law for their own agenda, crime fighting is no longer an issue.

ALTERNATIVES TO POLICE BRUTALITY- There are alternatives to Police Brutality and the reputation that it imposes on the police agencies and many of the great and honorable police officers who swore to protect and to serve their communities. But our cities and our governments are content to allow a select few officers to bust their budgets, investigating “bad shoots”, and/or civil lawsuits against accusations of Police Brutality, rather than doing more to fully screen for police officers whose agendas seek to satisfy hatred, instead of building positive community relations within all communities. But to take that approach by our local, state and federal governments would suggest that Civil Rights is too valuable a commodity to allow for all of their citizens to enjoy, so let those who best exemplify the underlying intent to suppress Civil Rights, roam free, and do so as they will, armed with their rallying cry: “I feared for my life!”

TO PROTECT TO SERVE-To the many fine officers who so nobly wear the badge throughout our various communities, continue to stand down, while those among you take aim, not just at the bodies that are of color, but subsequently, at the Civil Rights of all Americans. Many of those Americans are your families, interracially, by blood, by marriage, by religion, by communities, by fraternities or sororities, and if by nothing else, by God. To those of you who are police officers, who are above the dishonoring of your Sworn Oaths, you have as much of an obligation to stand toe-to-toe with the injustices from within your departments, as quickly as you are to take down the criminals on the street who just stole that little old-lady’s purse. Otherwise, it will be you, their fellow officers, who will suffer at the hands of rogue officers who will tarnish not only the badges that you wear so proudly, but the honor that you share in being men and women who swore “To Protect and Serve”.

CAVEATS OF JUSTICE ©[i]- The only problem with the oath of office of many of our police officers today and going forward, is that those sworn oaths now come with a caveat. That caveat is “To Protect and Serve”, a select few. That caveat is “To Protect and Serve”, those whom we deem are worthy United States citizens. That caveat is “To Protect and Serve”, to the highest bidder. And because of these caveats, whether procedural or intentional, our communities will continue to be divided along racial lines, religious lines, sexual orientation lines, party lines, class lines and whatever lines can be drawn with respect to Civil Rights, with our Police Departments serving loyally as defenders against crime, and vanguards for violations of Civil Rights. The only difference between those lines now is that Police Brutality poses as an acknowledged and acceptable way of life for many of our police officers who would otherwise sought to wear their uniforms with pride and honor. But now, for those hard working officers, who put themselves in harm’s way on any given day, this caveat gives the impression that our police officers are just doing a job, and are just getting a paycheck. That with this caveat of justice, many of our police officers and police departments, are wearing a black-eye, all across America.

As long as our political and police leaders turn a blind eye to the suppression of Civil Rights of People of Color or anyone for that matter, the badges that so many of our men and women wear so proudly, will be the least of which to tarnish. For those of our officers who are within the ranks of our local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, you, with your various years of outstanding service, if your service has any real value, you will take this time to remove this caveat of justice. For our political leaders, many of whom your children are just as likely to fall prey to this new found rallying cry: “I feared for my life”, this is your opportunity to live up to your sworn oath as leaders, by standing up for those who rely on police officers to not only protect them from crime, but to protect them from the injustices of those who swore before God, to uphold the law.

If this is too much to ask of our leaders, then allow Police Brutality to remain the caveat of justice within the Black Community. Allow it to continue to fester, and to swell. Allow this caveat of justice to become infected, and to continue to grow from within the ranks of our local, state and federal agencies. If this is too much to ask of our city, state and federal leaders to remove this caveat of justice, then allow this black-eye to remain within law enforcement agencies from arrests to deadly force; through its recruitment programs; from cadets to patrolmen; from the training that our officers receive to internal affairs and their self-investigations; from the desk sergeants to watch commanders, as well as each rank within our agencies to our police chiefs, sheriffs, Commanders and Directors of every law enforcement agency throughout America, allow this caveat of justice to remain well placed, well developed, and a real shiner on those who are truly committed “To Protect and Serve”. And if it this is too much to ask to remove Police Brutality as a caveat of justice here in America, then it is essentially allowing the bullies of (in)justice to operate peacefully, under the color of law.

Friday, January 3, 2014

SURRENDER YOUR WEAPONS (c) 2014 by Wayne Dan Lewis, Sr

Happy New Year to all of you as we all embrace a very exciting new year in 2014. I personally anticipate that we will see a tremendous number of outstanding developments in the upcoming year. From the world of politics, to economics, to the environment, to Wall St., we are all going to see some fantastic set of developments unfold right before our very eyes. And, guess what? We have the opportunity to have a say in how those things evolve. Right here, in America, we have a great chance to be apart of some great changes for the future. We have that power, if we are willing to embrace all of the great things that 2014 means for us. Whatever the outcome for 2014, I can only wish that we will all strive to reach our greatest potential possible, allowing for nothing, or no one to deprive us from achieving our various goals and dreams that we would like to see come true in our lives.

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi [1]

But even as 2014 is here, for several of us, myself included, that as we briefly reflect on 2013, we found ourselves falling far short of reaching many of our most valued goals. Here is where we need to be very careful in this transition from 2013 to 2014. Even for those of us who achieved many of our 2013 goals, we need to be extremely careful that we don’t allow one of two things to happen:

We don’t get too comfortable in our achievements that we become complacent, and think that we have got it made;
We don’t become too upset with our shortfalls that we allow negativitism to work to destroy whatever achievements we have accomplished so far.

That’s my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck’s back. If it’s not positive, I didn’t here it. If you can overcome that, fights are easy.

George Foreman [2]

Weaponizing Negativity

Negativity in our thoughts and actions are important to identify so that we recognize what they are, and how, if we are not careful, we may allow those actions and thoughts to prevent us from achieving our next level of success. In recognizing how potential negativity is to our goals, dreams and aspirations, it shouldn’t be beyond reason that we maybe weaponizing our negativity. What does this mean? It means essentially, that we understand the empowerment that negativity takes on when we hold at the ready, the slightest response to a failure, or shortfall, that can keep us from achieving our goals. While can I give some of our own personal examples, let us look at how history has developed because negative wasn’t allowed to be weaponized. Here are a few examples:

© If Scientist Alexander Fleming, had weaponized his negativity who knows how long it would have been before people would have ways to stop infections because penicillin may not have been discovered[4];

© If Barack Obama had weaponized his negativity every time he was told that he could not be president of the United States, his pursuit of becoming the first African American President would have been long destroyed.

These and many other examples like them are indicators of how easy it could have been for many of the greats of our times to have thrown in the towel, or to have given up in their lives on many of their greatest ambitions. Understanding just how important a positive attitude is, is just as important as understanding how powerful a negative attitude is because, a negative action equals a negative and destructive result. That destructive result is essentially fatal to not only our dreams, but to the detriment of others as well. We cannot afford to be so discouraged from our failures, or shortfalls, that we are blinded to what our dreams mean to not just us personally, but to others as well. We must be encouraged enough to know that our dreams aren’t just our dreams, but that our dreams belong to the world.

2013 for any number of us, may have resulted in our starting our own businesses. But unfortunately, we may have fallen short in reaching our goals, for any number of reasons. We may have missed our mark of success because of: unrealistic sales goals, market changes, failure to market, shortage of personnel, customer service, or maybe, the weather. The bottom line is, 2013 is gone. What failed, failed. Embrace the good times, learn from the short falls, but let us know hold on to what might have been. Let us put into place everything necessary to move forward into 2014. The only thing that can really stop us from this point forward, is any negative attitude that we packed up and brought with us from 2013. And if we are packing those negative attitudes, 2014, is already rittled with disaster. In short, those negative thoughts and actions have been weaponized.

Implementing weaponization

Here is what we have to watch out for when it comes to weaponizing our negative thoughts and actions:

Acknowledging that there is sort of a weaponry-like approach to negativity thoughts and actions; What this means is that, we must understand that our words and actions are extremely powerful when it comes to how we feel about the goals, dreams and aspirations that we are seeking to make happen in our lives. If our goals, dreams and aspirations are that important to us, we cannot afford to say anything, or do anything that could affect not only how we feel about we about to accomplish, but also how others perceive what it is we are trying to accomplish as well;
Realizing that those weaponry-like approaches are easily acquirable, and unfortunately, sustainable when times get rough; It is easiest to say something very destructive when we are frustrated, especially when something goes against what we have planned in our pursuit of excellence. Because we are human, and because of the fact that what we want to accomplish so many great things in our lives, it is of the utmost importance to us, when something goes wrong, at the worst possible time, we have to be careful that we don’t fire off words and deeds that reflect the greatest level of anger and humiliation when so often we put so much into what we do. It is almost without forethought that we may, without intent, damn our projects, damn those who are involved, or damn anything and everything that has just as much to be upset or affected by the outcome, that if we aren’t careful, the project is virtually doomed.
Our destructive actions could be as dismissive as daggers, if we are not careful, we could destroy what little effort we may have made towards either one of our goals, dreams or aspirations, or worse yet, destroyed a very valuable set of relations with others; As achievers, nothing is worse than realizing the negative impact of our thoughts and actions after we have said something to someone, or about someone who has played a tremendous role in our growth. And in that instance of weakness, we forget all the contributions that others have played to help us to a progressive point in our lives. The destruction, or damage caused by failing to recognize the value of not only our own work, but that of others becomes the epitome of dropping a bomb on our dreams.

Surrender your weapons

The danger that we need to be careful of, is not to get so wrapped up in what went wrong in 2013, or at any point in our lives that we go into self-destructive mode. We need to be careful going forward, because the extreme danger that is possible can be very well due to our failure to stand down and return to the inspiration that first motivated us to pursue our dreams and goals. If we don’t want to continue to weaponize our negative thoughts, then it is time for us to surrender every negative thought and action that we have. It is time to put those negative attitudes down, step away the negative actions that we have weaponized, and take a more proactive stance for the goals, dreams and aspirations that are ours to have.

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, Make me feel important. Never forget this message when working with people.
Mary Kay Ash[8]

If 2014 is going to be an improvement over 2013 for those of us who fell short in reaching our goals, we will need to be on guard against discharging negativity that prevents us from moving forward. If 2014 is going to be our best year yet, we must be ready to surrender any urgency to curse our failures. If we are going to be on guard from this point forward, we must be confident that nothing we do, or fail to do, will cause us to take action that could seem remotely close to a self-destructive response. We are better than that!

"Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It's quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn't at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success."
- Thomas J. Watson[9]

Going into 2014, we must be sure to divest ourselves from concealing any attempt to exercise negative thoughts or actions that will stand in our way of achieving our goals, dreams or aspirations. We must surrender any mindset that places our goals and dreams in harms’ way. This must be our pledge, that from this moment forward, we can no longer be so easily distracted by any failure, that the failure becomes bigger than the dream. From this point forward, we must put aside any influence that seeks to overshadow the value of any of our dreams to:

Embrace our goals, dreams and aspirations

If I dwell on how unproductive 2013 was for me, then I’ll be reaching for one of those negative weapons that some of us tend to keep stored somewhere in our lives. I’ll be guilty of weaponizing my negativity. I don’t want to dwell on what didn’t happen for me any more than I want either of us to dwell on what failed to happen in our lives. It’s time to learn from our mistakes and move on. It’s time for us to embrace our original goals, dreams and aspirations. It’s time for each of us to use our positive minds, our God-given talents, and our richly, inspired souls to envelope all that is important to achieving our best.

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it.
Kevyn Aucoin [10]

Embrace 2014! This is our year. Let each of us put forth our very best effort in everything that we do. Let each of us look forward to each and everyday’s opportunities to bring forward the very best of who we are. Let us all embrace 2014, knowing that no trip, stumble or fall will be sufficient enough to cause us to curse one error, or damn one mistake, because we are destined to achieve our greatest ever.

Finally, let us embrace one another, on each of our respective journeys, not as enemies or adversaries, but as respected comrades, as partners, as cooperates, or as investors in this great world of ours. Let us each work together, passionately to make great things happen not only for ourselves, but for our families and friends, for our communities and for the world at large. Surely, if the telephone, the airplane, penicillin and the ability to become President of the United States can have a profound world effect, whose to say that our dreams are not next in line to make the same type of impact on the world, and the universe as a whole, beginning in 2014?

For you see, we have evidence that all around us that anything is possible, don’t you give up!

For you see, we have evidence that dreams do come true, for those who persevere, don’t you dare give in!

Last, but not least, we are just as capable as anyone else to achieve that which is ours to have, all we need to do is simply this: Prepare for Your Next Move![11]

Here is wishing for all of us the very best that life has to offer, and a tremendously, Happy New Year in 2014.

Disclaimer: Information deemed to be from reliable sources but not guaranteed. Please consult with your respective professional in those areas in which you need consultation or direction.