Leadership – Life Lessons

Allow Yourself To Be Yourself

What exactly is an exceptional human being? Is it one who’s perfect or does everything right? Or is it one with the perfect public demeanor but an evil spirit? Society puts too many expectations on us to be perfect. Truth is, none of us is.

Think about the grading scale for starters. You’re not an exceptional student unless you make straight A’s. You’re not a scholar unless you go to college. You’re not the exceptional college student unless you graduate with honors!

Then there’s Black, White, and Brown. Even though black fortifies all colors, you’re not an exceptional negro unless you can entertain. Then once you become famous, you get stripped of your voice, choices, and natural being. Your contract compromises your loyalty. Your dating partner perpetuates the stereotype that comes with status. You might become exceptional, but your realness becomes rare.

So where does the typical, every day working-class citizen fit on the spectrum of exceptional? No where because you’re rare. You don’t try to meet anyone else’s standards and requirements because you set your own. You don’t care about appealing to the public’s eyes because you’re a private person. You don’t care about anyone else’s perception because it might change your direction. And you don’t let society shape your opinion about things because you have your own mind.

Can you be rare and exceptional?

Absolutely! But it’s by default not pressure. What I mean is that your natural knack for something can earn you credit. It doesn’t always have to be competitive. The quiet, reserved kid often gains popularity for gaining a title he didn’t have to fight for. However, he gets crowned exceptional for being highly intelligent. In my opinion, an exceptional person is one who wins a race without trying hard.

Why I choose to be rare over exceptional?

Because I answer to no one. If I don’t agree with a societal norm, no one can tell me I can’t. I don’t conform to the norm. If I make a mistake because I’m not having a good day, no one can reduce my credibility. I’ve already taken ownership and apologized for it. If I change my mind about something, no one can call me inconsiderate because I have a strong track record for honoring requests.

I get to be myself in public because nothing about the real me is private. I don’t care that some people think I’m mean because I must be careful of who I’m nice to. I actually like not being approachable because it can send the wrong message to people with evil intentions.

Quit letting society define who you are. You don’t need to be liked by everyone. People will chew you up and spit you out the moment you fail to keep up your facade. If you had to compete to get where you are, then you’ll have to fight to stay there.

“Every one of us is exceptional in God’s eyes, but only the rare ones keep his commandments.”

-Bianca McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

Block Evil Before You Become The Next Victim

Why is it okay for people we love to hurt others, as long as we are not the victims? Did you know it could be just a matter of time before they hurt you?

Some stuff really isn’t our business and should not become our problem, but that does not make it okay either. For instance, if your friend is cheating on her husband, you shouldn’t get involved. But you can encourage your friend to seek other ways of dealing with her marital problems before the situation turns out bad.

Nevertheless, if your friend openly admits to being a scammer and you say nothing about it, then you’re a part of the problem. As long as she’s not scamming you (yet), that does not make her behavior okay. You should tell your friend she is wrong and needs to stop immediately. Go a step further and disassociate yourself with her if she doesn’t stop. Otherwise, when she does it to you, you cannot say she didn’t show you who she was.

A relationship is only healthy when positive energy flows in both directions. Associating with a person who has negative energy or evil intentions is no different from listening to bad music. Whether you realize it or not, you are being negatively influenced, and no relationship is worth the risk.

If you happen to hit a rough patch, you just might think about how your friend got away with her last scam and consider it. You may not act on it, if you’re strong-willed and have morals. However, the thought probably would not have crossed your mind had you not been entertaining your scamming friend.

Evil is not limited to friendships. Some people are sleeping with the enemy; hopefully, not you. That influence is more dangerous than the friendship. It’s easier to pick up on bad habits of one you sleep with every day. More so, you are likely to become the next victim. Leave that relationship before it’s too late. If you’re married to that person, you should seek spiritual intervention.

Good always wins. It may not seem like it in some instances, but you will gain peace of mind and sleep better at night. And that’s what counts.

“You’re only as good as the company you keep. Be the change you want to see in your circle.”

-Bianca A. McCormick-Johnson ✍🏽

Spread Cheer All Year

‘Tis the season to be jolly…fa la la la la la la la la. I’m sure you all are familiar with that famous line. It brings warmth and cheer during the Christmas season, doesn’t it? Well why is it that we don’t strive to spread warmth and cheer all throughout the year? It saddens me to see how cruel people can be towards one another all throughout the year, then turn around and act like angels and saints during the Christmas season. Something’s wrong with that picture.

If during the Christmas season is the only time you are giving and showing love and care for others, you are a hypocrite. Doing good deeds only during the Christmas holidays and major world crises do not make you a virtuous person. It makes you a pretentious person. If no one else was giving during the holidays, you probably wouldn’t either. I’m not saying you are malign either, but you’re definitely not a saint.

People need love, care, and attention all throughout the year, not just at Christmas. I believe if people exercised their due diligence all year long, less people would suffer and succumb to the evils of the world. People should not have to wait until the end of the year or some major catastrophe to happen just to get help. We love to offer our prayers as support, but prayer with no action is not substantial. God puts people in place on Earth to do His works. If you didn’t believe so, then you would let God himself deliver gifts at Christmas time.

Every day, people need food. Every day, people need money. Every day, people need support. Every day, people need love, care, attention, prayers, etc. You needed it when you lost your loved one. You needed it when you lost your job. You needed it when you were destitute. You needed it when you were trying something new. You needed it when you were lonely. You needed it after your divorce. You needed it when you had moments of despair, anxiety, and pity. Because you know what it feels like to have a need, you should always be prepared to be a blessing.

I see many people’s requests and outcries get ignored all the time. When a person loses a loved one, many offer prayers and condolences. Some want to know how did so and so die? But how many offer their money, time, or services? Why must one be a celebrity or other iconic figure to gain support? Why must it capture the world’s attention to create a sense of urgency? Why must people die to get the attention they needed when they were alive? You can promote the welfare of others with your own good works. You can bring out the best in people by doing something good for them. Many people who do good works all throughout the year either have empathy, a zeal for helping people, and/or they are simply paying it forward.

If ever someone has to tell you to do a good deed, you should reflect on your own life, count your blessings, and rethink your morality.

And remember…
“Make sense of what you do, and make every cent count.”

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