Walk Into the Future

Category: Self Awareness

  • Irie

    The easiest definition for the Jamaican word Irie is total peace with your current state of being or the way you feel when you have no worries (Urban Dictionary).

    Spend anytime with or around Jamaicans and you will hear someone respond to a greeting with Irie ‘mon.  This laid back and carefree way of life can be infectious and inspiring if you let it.

    So, how can you get to the Irie level in your daily life?  Positive self-talk!

    Positive self-talk and thinking can transform your daily interactions.  The benefits to your psyche are visible as soon as you start the process.  How many people say they are not a morning person?  This is a negative self-talk concept.  You have just ruined your day by putting yourself in a negative state of mind.  Why not welcome the morning with open arms?  Change the negative thoughts of the morning with positive thoughts.  State today will be a great day and watch how your actual day matches up with your positive thoughts.

    Positive self-talk can be applied in multiple areas of your life.  Apply for a new job with confidence and know you have put your best efforts into the process.  Don’t openly doubt yourself and take on the negative side of a situation.  Positive self-talk will allow you to enjoy the prospects of going to the gym, meeting new people, finding a hobby.  I could go on and on with this concept but hopefully you can see ways to incorporate positive self-talk into your daily routines.

    Make a few declarations:

    • Today will be a great day
    • I’m a fantastic student
    • I’m feeling great
    • Looking forward to my run
    • Nothing can stop me today

    How can you add positive self-talk into your personal conversations?  Curious!

    Let’s get Irie!

    Irie

  • What’s your Why?

    Had a fascinating text message conversation with one of my favorite people and friend.  She identifies on her LinkedIn profile as a ‘Destiny Activator’.  This means she is very adept helping people discover their true calling in life or more specifically their ‘Why’.

    She was working on a keynote speech for a large conference and decided to include a little about me in her speech.  She was the first person I mentioned the concept ‘Walk into the Future’ to and she wanted to gauge my progress on the project.

    She asked me the following questions:

    • What is your why? The purpose why you show up every day for what you do
    • How does your purpose keep you going during the difficult seasons?

    It took me a little time to fully understand her questions and then formulate a response she could use in her keynote address.

    My ‘why’ is to impact people in a positive way to leave them better than when I found them.  This includes normal conversations, consulting sessions, mentoring opportunities or just when they have questions or concerns.  Making a positive difference has always been my mantra and now I can say this is my purpose why I show up every day for what I do.

    I review who I have helped in the past and see them giving back to someone else.  This is how my purpose keeps me moving forward during the difficult seasons.  I view people I have helped as ‘roots or branches’ to my tree of life.

    Don’t think I would have formulated this concept without my friend asking me these pointed questions.  I am happy she asked me, and very excited she wanted to highlight me during her keynote address.  Looks like my ‘why’ is still going strong!

    What is your why?  How does your purpose keep you going during the difficult seasons?

    Keynote Speech 2018 FloridaACE (2)