Regardless of whether you were a fan of his music or had just been introduced to him via the countless memorial posts on our timelines, the death of Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom was felt around the world. His mindset and philanthropic efforts challenged all of us to push the envelope; to embody the greatest versions of ourselves because the universe deserves just that. The marathon continues! And to pass the torch, we’re going to use a few of Nipsey’s lyrics as inspiration for thinking big in the face of stereotypes, personal obstacles, and the naysayers.
Visualize the Ideal Self Out the garage is how you end up in charge/It's how you end up in penthouses, end up in cars/It's how you start off a curb server, end up a boss/it's how you win the whole thing and lift up a cigar/With sweat drippin' down your face 'cause the mission was hard. – (Last Time I Checc’d ft. YG)
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I know this is a question that has constantly been posed throughout childhood but seriously, now as an adult, what do you want to be five, 10, or maybe even 15 years from now? As I continued to experience the ups and downs of life, this question became more of an existential self-inventory rather than a general inquiry. Although life happens on life’s terms, I had to hold myself accountable for allowing the distance between who I currently am and my “ideal self” to grow by leaps and bounds.
So, what is the ideal self, you ask? I know that this may come off as some therapist Jedi mind trick but truth be told, it can only be defined by you. Picturing the ideal self can be inspiring yet challenging at the same time. The mere act requires us to think bigger than our current circumstances while dissecting character defects and self-sabotaging beliefs that cause us to stand in our own way. This is not some touristic postcard of an exotic destination that we can only wish to someday experience. Nor is it a rural location that we find ourselves stumbling upon by happenstance. It is who we have always been meant to be. It is the excellence that we have the potential of manifesting in real time once what we believe to be true about ourselves comes into alignment with our actions.
Take Action Life is what you make it, I hope you make a movement. - (Bigger Than Life ft. June Summers)
The difference between a dream and a goal is that the latter requires forward movement and a huge component of this is learning to kill the noise by adopting a solution-focused mindset. When developing a realistic and time-oriented strategy, start off by identifying what’s in your control and finding ways to use that to your advantage. When you make the intentional decision to act, you are acknowledging that change is indeed possible regardless of the unknown.
The mind, by default, is wired to hone in on negativity – this includes pessimistic perceptions about ourselves and how situations are presented to us. By identifying our strengths and doubling down on them, this helps to reduce the tendency to lean into our negative biases. Stop sleeping on yourself and start tapping into those intrinsic qualities that tend to be overlooked. It may be difficult at first but remember this: you have survived on this planet for [X] amount of years not off of pure luck, but because of your will and desire to see it through to the finish line.
Implement Consistency Dedication, hard work plus patience. - (Dedication ft. Kendrick Lamar)
Contrary to our need for instant gratification, it takes 21 days to form a new habit and 90 days for it to become a lifestyle. The truth of the matter is, there will be challenges and obstacles along this journey. Nevertheless, pairing action with an affirming belief system helps with building endurance and resiliency. Circumventing the process can actually be more of a detriment in the long run. There is nothing more embarrassing than achieving a new level of success and losing it within a matter of seconds due to the lack of preparation.
Ask yourself, “What have I done today that has allowed me to zero in on the person who I am trying to become?” I have found that mindfulness creates much needed opportunities for assessing whether or not the steps that were taken are actually in alignment with my goals. Consistency does not rule out flexibility; it challenges our work ethic to evolve.
I’m not going to lie – it took a while to write this piece. Although I am grateful to share Legacy Speaks with thousands of individuals, I always find myself in awe when having the opportunity to highlight our generation’s thought leaders and influencers. Ermias Asghedom was the Slauson Boy who went on to become a change agent with lyrics that personified putting wisdom into action. And for that – we honor him by continuing to finish our own personal marathon while lighting the torches of others along the way.
“one person at a time - that’s how I’m changing the world. I want to influence the culture by empowering others to live their lives with passion and purpose. This is not a goal, this is how I live my life.
By Sierra H. | @LEGACYspks
SIERRA HILLSMAN, M.ED., APC, NCC
FOUNDER OF LEGACY SPEAKS
website: legacyspks.com
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