As I reflected back on my experience as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in The Philippines and a very insightful trip to The Botanical Garden in La Union I realized that as we awaken spiritually we must change our scenery from time to time. I remember the day I ventured to the Botanical Garden it was extremely hot and the walk from the center of San Fernando was about 6 KM( 4 miles). I was alone but along the way I was able to stop and engage with some of the local Filipinos and they all said the same thing it is a long walk here is some tubig (water). I took the water and drank it and as I walked I realized just how lucky I was to have the opportunity to do something that showed that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations. I arrived at The Botanical Garden and as I walked the garden grounds and saw some great sites I sat on the bench pictured here and really began to understand that if I want to things to change I had to change. As I rode in the jeepney down the mountain all I could think of was how a change of scenery can positively affect your attitude. It was at that point that I realized that sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to change the way things are going in your life. I finished my service with the Peace Corps in February 2003 and here it is 13 1/2 years later that I find myself using this lesson to enhance my personal, professional, and spiritual life.
Where I live now we have a big lake and in some areas around the lake there are benches to sit and just enjoy being out in nature. On days when it is clear and I get off work early or have a day off I will find myself walking around the lake and then sitting on a bench and sitting in quiet reflection or talking with GOD. Sometimes I find myself speaking with my mom who was called home to GOD on July 5, 2012. When reflecting or communicating with GOD, my mom, and other angels I find myself getting a new way of looking at things. I have found that when doing this I am able to release the negative feelings that create blockages and hold me back from evolving and creating the life I want.
Spiritual Awakening: I Got Your Limits Right Here!!!
As many of my regular readers know I have a bit of a New York Edge about me as I spent 4 1/2 years at Hofstra University in Long Island NY, and I developed an attitude of I can do anything and you will not get in my way. I would often answers people I got your limits right here you gotta a problem with that. One of the things that I learned was that those who said it can’y be done were coming from a position of fear instead of abundance. I have often done things differently than others and many don’t understand. I was recently called on the carpet by The American Cancer Society for actions that I took to raise money for The Sunrise Relay For Life. I have done well so far with my methods and raised $768 toward a goal of $1000. My Donation Page is http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg4. I was told that a few patrons at Legends complained about me going table to table to collect donations. I had obtained permission from The GM and in a matter of a 1/2 hour collected $34 and was able to share Relay For Life literature with many people. I had one lady give me a hug and thank me for giving her the 1-800-acs-2345 number. Of course the executive director didn’t bring this up and focused on the patron that complained. I simply took a deep breath and realized that she didn’t understand that when you go table to table with the permission of a GM you will have some people who complain heck there are some people who will complain about anything. She said you should have arranged to set up a table and allowed people to come to you. As I have been doing fundraising for over 35 years I have found that having a table is not the most effective way to fundraise. I have found the most effective way is to go person to person with literature and make the ask. Some will complain and some will give that is simply the nature of what goes with fundraising. It was at this point that I thought I GOT YOUR LIMITS RIGHT HERE!!! I didn’t verbalize this as I realized that taking the conversation any further would be like wrestling a pig in the mud you both would get dirty but the pig would enjoy it. I have learned that when working with organizations there will be people who come from a position of lack and those who come from a position of abundance. I have also come to understand that many people have limiting beliefs and tell you why you can’t do something and focus on why it can not be done instead of finding a way to do it. I have come to learn that if someone is going to get upset because I asked them for a donation it is about them and has nothing to with me. When you take action and declare I got your limits right here you will encounter those who will doubt you, try to block you, and limit you. When you encounter these people all you can do is listen, take a deep breath, and then pray that one day they will go from limiting beliefs to limitless beliefs. I have learned that when you have limitless beliefs nothing can stop you.
When you find others who are willing to tell the world I got your limits right here embrace them and become a lifter so as to build dreams together. The key is to find the people who share in your vision and understand that we are all limitless and that we have talents that when used for the betterment of the world the world is improved as well as our personal, professional, and spiritual lives. When you believe that nothing is going to stop you you will become limitless. When we are determined to move forward in a positive direction of our dreams nothing is going to stop you and nothing will break your stride.
We have all heard someone exclaim I made a big score be it after closing a big sale, making a clutch basket, scoring the winning touchdown, kicking a winning field goal, receiving a great care package, or releasing weight. Sometimes we get so caught up in making the big score that we forget the steps needed to take to make the big score. The first step is to get centered, focused, and grounded understanding why we desire to make the big score. I remember about a year ago I wanted to make a big score with The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca Raton but first I had to define the reason why. Once I realized that my why was to honor the memory of my mother, Judith Miller, who God called home on July 5, 2012, things began to flow easily and GOD started to send me messages on how I could make the big score. It was when I listened and acted upon those messages that I started to make a big score. One Day GOD and The Angels told me to write to Doreen Virtue. I did and I told Doreen why I was doing Relay For Life and her reply was favorable and she put me in touch with her publicist at HAY HOUSE. I spoke to the publicist and a few weeks later what many would consider a big score as a care package arrived at my condo containing over $800 worth of Doreen Virtue items to use in my fundraising efforts. Well not only did I raise over $2700 for The West Boca Relay I was able to spread the wealth by sharing the items with other Relays. In knowing why you are doing something you can make a big score.
Spiritual Awakening: Tools To Help You Make The Big Score!!!
I have found that in adopting songs like Matthew Wilder’s, Nothing Going Break My Stride to be a great tool to stay focused and thus enabling us to score big while making a mind, body, and soul connection. Gratitude is a fantastic tool that will propel you to making the big score.
Each time I watch this video I keep thinking about a lesson learned in the spiritual awakening process and that is to keep on moving and to gain mental clarity so that you can be of service and value while enhancing your personal, professional, and spiritual life. each day we will face challenges and we will see that the best laid plans of mice and men will go astray however we have choices to dwell on the detour or to accept the detour and get back on to our path. It is when we commit to being an action taker and accepting the fact that we can only control what our actions are and that what others do is out of control that we are able to move forward in our journey. One of my anthems is Matthew Wilder’s Nothings Going To Break My Stride.
Each time I get upset about someone not honoring a commitment I remember the lyrics of this song and I realize that getting upset and angry does not serve me and only hinders my progress be it in raising money for The American Cancer Society Relay For Life Of West Boca Raton, http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jdogg2, booking guest for my TV Show, The Anything Bucket, which airs on www.wrpbitv.com on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. representing The South Florida Gold of The American Basketball Association, The Miami Fury of The Women’s Football Alliance, securing emcee work, voice over work, or pubic address announcing, and doing marketing and media relations consultations. I have come to realize that all I can do is be impeccable with my work, don’t make assumptions, don’t take anything personally, and always do my best and everything will be as planned as everything is in divine order just the way it is meant to be. In not allowing the naysayers and haters to break my stride I have been able to achieve much success in my life. In not allowing cancelled appointments to upset me I have been able to move forward and achieve goals that I have set for myself thus creating a peaceful existence that allows me to remain connected to GOD.
As I was out collecting donations and promoting The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of West Boca Raton I ran across many great people with excellent energy, however there were a few who had bad energy. I fed off the good energy. I decided to move forward when I encountered the negative energy. A few encounters stuck out as a few people stated that they were broke. When I heard this I took it as a teaching moment and explained that they should never state I am broke but should state not at this time as my finances improve I will be able to donate. I told them that GOD and The Universal Powers want them to prosper. I used Ken Esrig’s Dollar Bill Sandwich and explained that money flows to them and from them and they are a conduit for money. They asked what religion I was I said I am a spiritualist who walks with Jesus(one of the ascended masters). They thanked me. It felt good to be able to share my light with others. The positive encounters far outweighed the negative encounters. The lesson I learned is that the enemy will put up roadblocks and challenges but if you embrace your inner divinity and walk with GOD you will end up going forward. We all have the power to move forward and combat any negativity that may enter our day. One of my spiritual teachers, Lourdes Mota, taught me to just breathe and embrace my I AM and let the negative go. I have learned what we focus on expands so if we focus on being loving and caring in all we do we expand the love that we will receive. Our vibration and the energy we bring to a task will often determine the outcome of that task. Look at what you are emanating and how it is helping you to go forward and keep using that positive energy and look at what is holding you back and eliminate that behavior.
In the spiritual awakening process and making the commitment to go forward I have come to understand that life is a highway and how we ride it determines our destination. We can focus on what lies behind us or what lies before us that decision is up to us. If we are determined to go forward we must commit to removing the blockages of what lies behind us as focus our attention on what is in front of us. This is the reason our windshield is much larger than our rear view mirror. If we make what is perceived to be a mistake it is up to us to look for the learning lesson and then use this lesson to go forward.
In the spiritual awakening process it is important to understand that you are limitless. In becoming limitless we begin to see that we can reach new heights. In being awake and aware we realize that anything is possible and nothing can stop us but ourselves with our limiting beliefs. It is when we take action to erase the limiting beliefs that we are able to do the things that we once thought were nearly impossible. With the right amount of grit and determination and a positive mindset we can do amazing things. So many times we want to reach new heights but we make an excuse or find a reason that blocks us from taking the action to experience an awakening that will enhance our personal and professional life. What is it that may be creating blockages for you to reach new heights?
As I was searching for material for today’s (7/23/14) entry I came across this speech made by Maya Angelou in honor of Andrew Young. It is her poem Still I Rise which reminds us to face challenges and overcome and to use the obstacles that are put in our life as stepping stones to reach new heights. In making a commitment to rise and put our limiting beliefs aside we begin to create a better life for ourselves and others. It is when we make the conscious decision to shine our light that we brighten up the world with our positive actions. Sometimes it is in getting real with ourselves that we rise to heights that we only once we imagined.
Spiritual Awakening: Steeping Back To Step Forward!!!
In basketball as in the spiritual awakening process many times you have to take a step back in order to move forward. In my years of announcing basketball I have seen many a team take a step back and then adjust to either keep the game close of to go on to win the game. This is very similar to the spiritual awakening process as the bad influences that are trying to take us down are playing touch defense and we feel they aren’t allowing us to move forward. In basketball it is the job of the defender to prevent us from making the shot, it is our job to find ways to make the shot. In our spiritual awakening the enemy will give us distractions and challenges and it is our job to defeat the enemy by staying on our path that leads to spiritual enlightenment. It is our job to stay so committed to our awakening that nothing the enemy throws at us will defeat us. With the small steps backwards to look things from a different perspective we are able to adjust and take a few steps forward and thus stay on our path.
The small steps backward serve as lessons to propel us forward. We have all had disappointments or felt less than until we realized we are enough and if we are following our heart everything works out the way the universe intended it to. In life we have to lose sometimes so that we are put in a position to win. In the losing we learn and thus we grow personally and professionally. In following the messages that tell us to step back and regroup we create an opportunity to move forward. In realizing that we may not resonate with everyone and that those intended to support our mission or follow our message will come to us when the timing is right.
It is in learning for the past and stepping back for a moment that we are able to live in the present and look toward the future. I have learned over time that you can not change what happened but you can change how you reacted to it so that in the present moment you are aware and awake and as a result you begin to find the proper perspective that will allow you to stay focused, grounded, and centered on your mission. In stepping back and looking introspectively at ourselves we begin to find what our divine purpose is and what we are being directed to do to embrace this calling.
As I sat down to write this entry at 5:30 PM today (10/21/13) I kept getting this message stand in your power. As I have been on my spiritual path of awakening that will lead to enlightenment I have learned that the power we need to succeed is found within us. It is our spirit, our vibration, our energy that affects the energy flow. It is our actions and reactions that determine how far along this path to self actualization that we get. There are guides and tools available to us but it is we who must commit to stand in our power and not waver on walking in our truth. As I searched for Standing In Your Power I came across the book that is highlighted here. Many times for us to stand in our power we need to connect with someone who is standing in there power. When you begin to surround yourself with those who are standing in their power you begin to stand in your power and your awakening strengthens and then you realize there is nothing outside of yourself that can hold you back for you have the power to create the life you want. It is in the standing of your power and understanding you have a purpose and saying I am a powerful, strong person who has awakened spiritually and will make a positive impact on this world that you truly become that enlightened self actualized person that no one can stop.
I have found that this bible verse has become a very powerful tool to help me and other to stand in our power. I have also found that when you stand in your power and shine your light you make a mind, body, soul connection that will propel you to new heights. You have a divine power tat has been given to you that when you embrace it and stand in your power you will find that you are positively impacting your life and the lives of those around you. Sometimes you will find that there will be doubters who do not understand that you are transforming. To them I say Thank you and have a nice day. You have a calling and the day you discover that calling and stand in your power is the day that your life changes.
As I turned the calendar to represent the beginning of a new month I looked back to the time when I had my first spiritual awakening and I begin to understand that each day we have a chance to turn the page. We have the opportunity to become an action taker and release all that no longer serves us as we awaken spiritually. In the spiritual awakening process turning the page is essential as it allows for personal and professional growth. A coach of mine Shantel Smith has taught me through my own spiritual awakening to go to places where I am appreciated not tolerated. In turning the page I have severed a few ties that do not serve me in my quest to expand personally, professionally, or spiritually. In desiring to make a mi, body, soul connection I have learned that each day is a chance to have a spiritual awakening and to turn the page. In turning the page and being honest with yourself you begin to awaken spiritually and thus step into your power. In turning the page and making a conscious decision to live for the day you begin to find the inner joy and inner peace that you have been seeking. In turning the page and putting the past behind you you find a freedom to move forward. As you move forward and let the past go you begin to come alive and understand that it is your life to live and that you are guided by GOD thus you begin to experience goodness.
Today I was reflecting on the time I met and interviewed Irene Cara. In 1980 at age 15 I watched her in The Movie Fame and said I am going to meet her one day and guess what in 2005 during The 25th Anniversary Party for The Movie Fame at The Fort Lauderdale Film Festival I met and interviewed her for The Happy Herald. As I reflected on this experience the topic for today’s entry came, Follow Your Passion. How many times have people not done so and have regrets because they didn’t take action. If you are truly passionate about something take action to follow that passion because Passion + Action = Success. Do not let people tell you that you are not good enough. There are so many examples of people who have followed their passion despite being told they weren’t good enough. Imagine what the gentleman who told The Beatles they weren’t ready for a record deal must be thinking today. If you are passionate about something take the steps to follow that passion and you will find success.
When I told people that I was going to meet Irene Cara one day they thought I was a bit off, but then again I have never really fit into anyone’s box. This photo hangs on my wall in my house signed by Irene to remind me that dreams do come true and if you put the proper energy into your passion more dreams will come true. What is your passion? What action are you taking to follow your passion?
It is in learning for the past and stepping back for a moment that we are able to live in the present and look toward the future. I have learned over time that you can not change what happened but you can change how you reacted to it so that in the present moment you are aware and awake and as a result you begin to find the proper perspective that will allow you to stay focused, grounded, and centered on your mission. In stepping back and looking introspectively at ourselves we begin to find what our divine purpose is and what we are being directed to do to embrace this calling. 