Author: SharRon Jamison

I hope you are well and find the silver linings amid the craziness in the world.

I usually do not do this, but I had to share a conversation that I had with a friend yesterday.

Friend: What are you doing?

Me: I am studying. I have to speak tomorrow, and I want to say something that reminds people that they can make a difference in the world.

Friend: The world is never going to change. You need to accept that.

Me: Huh? I don’t believe that. I believe we all have gifts, skills, and a purpose. We all can do something to make the world a better place.

Friend: You think too highly of yourself.

Me: No, I think honestly about myself. I realize that we all have gifts, and we all have the responsibility to create the world that we desire. Even though I don’t have the same privilege and power of others, I have something special, and I going to use what I have.

The rest of the conversation did not go well because I don’t “do” powerless. I refuse to accept that I am impotent and ill-equipped to affect change. I hope you don’t either.

The truth: WE ARE NOT POWERLESS! We are strong! We are masterful and equipped! We are armed with goodness, gifts, and grit. And most of all, GOD sustains us!

I am not naïve; I realize the world is not fair. There are issues, ideologies, and practices that advantage some and hurt others.

But I refuse to stand by and do nothing. You and I, we, can GRAB our gifts and influence culture, dismantle oppression, and change the ethos of the world.

What does G.R.A.B. mean?

• GROW your innate gifts, knowledge, and networks.
• REACH out to assist others and also get help for yourself.
• ADVANCE forward while accepting occasional failure, acknowledging risk, and overcoming occasional disappointment.
• BUILD your resilience, your strengths, and your community to push beyond the soul-sucking status quo.

This week GRAB hold to what you desire and GO for it!

Of course, REST, too!

But don’t succumb to despair when the answers to the world’s problems are in your head, hands, and heart!

Let’s Dare To Soar Higher!

Let’s claim our stake in the world.

And if you need a reminder of your power, value, and worth, please head over to Amazon and get my new book, Deciding To Soar 2. Click here.

Our elders faced tough times too, and they were still able to affect change.

If our elders were able to survive with less support and resources, WE CAN TOO!

Imagination!

Imagination is so important!

When I young, my elders would say, “sometimes you see better with your eyes closed.”

If I was tired, sad, or frustrated, they would remind me to close my eyes so I could SEE visions and dreams. They knew I would feel better, happier, safer, and more powerful if I could SEE beyond my reality.

Imagination!

So, what’s imagination. According to the dictionary, “the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images, or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.”

Family, right now, our world needs to use its imagination. We need to see something different because what we are seeing is hurting our souls.

Mass killings, violence, vitriol.

Domination, aggression, anger.

Death, rising COVID numbers, and reluctance to follow safety measures.

Toxic masculinity, white supremacy, plots of revenge.

Unemployment, underemployment, divisive work cultures.

Voter disenfranchisement, degrading social media posts, selfishness.

Whitewashed narratives, spiritual bypassing, racial gaslighting.

Fear-mongering, police brutality, civil unrest.

Loneliness, despair, physical abuse.

Our world is living in fear, and our collective anxiety is swallowing us up into an abyss of madness, misery, and mayhem.

We are being strangled by our collective grief, and we are becoming numb to pain. We are living fragmented lives, and many of us struggling. The increase in mental illness and abuse proves we are living in perilous times – times which we are not psychologically equipped to endure.

Though emotionally exhausted and spiritually depleted, we are doing our best to survive in a harmful environment that toxic individualism, systemic oppression, and unbridled greed created.

Yes, our harmful culture was man-made and perpetuated by laws, policies, and practices designed by the powerful, reinforced by the greedy, and co-signed by the silent and apathetic.

My friend, we need to imagine something different if we are to heal our past, thrive in the future, and live together in peace. 

My elders were wise; imagination is the beginning of new possibilities and healing. And I believe that there are 4 types of imagination that can help us SEE bigger and better. All 4 types challenge us to reflect on critical questions that affect humanity.

Prophetic Imagination – What you can predict, hope or SEE for yourself and others to help the community weather the storm and build a better future?

Spiritual Imagination – What can you imagine your Creator doing for you and to you? And most of all, what can you imagine your Creator doing THROUGH you and AS you so you can contribute to the world?

Liberatory Imagination – What can you imagine doing and being if you were fully liberated from oppressive systems, white supremacy, social conditioning, need to please, old trauma, toxic traditions, the fear of rejection, the status quo, or any other factor that limits how you and others live?

Collaborative Imagination – What could you do if you could work, live and share with people who lived, loved, prayed, spoke, believed, voted, and talked differently than you do? How could you join hearts and hands to uplift those in need, speak for those who didn’t have a voice, or share with the poor? How could you work with others to dismantle systems that devalue others?

What I know for you sure: When you can imagine something better than your current reality, you can hope, dream, and work for a better life. You can reclaim your hope, reignite your courage, and mobilize for change.

Click here to listen to the IG Live.  Click here to listen on YouTube.

As we continue to face many complex problems and challenging times, please close your eyes and imagine something safer, better, bolder, and fairer.

And then determine how you can support yourself and others to transform the ethos and the policies of the world.

I am praying and thinking of you.

Please share this message with those who need hope.

After 30 years of working with people, one thing I know for sure is that most people really know the truth.

They may deny it, dilute it, denounce it, devalue it, distance themselves for it, but they KNOW.

And it is the KNOWING that creates the crisis.

It is the KNOWING that something no longer serves their highest good that causes the dis-ease, the disruption, and the disconnection in their families, careers, and their relationships.

It is the KNOWING that their current circumstance or their current choice contradicts their calling or their character.

It is the KNOWING that causes anxiety and misalignment.

The truth: Living in that “I know but I don’t want to know place” is acutally dangerous to the soul and psyche.

In fact, if you decide to live in this toxic place for too long, you suffer; your health, happiness, and wholeness are comprised. Most of all, you sacrifice living a life that supports, sustains, and satisfies you.

So, what do you really know that you are trying NOT to know? Take a few minutes and answer these questions.

• Do you know what relationships contradict your values?
• Do you know how your chosen career is preventing you from pursuing your divine calling?
• Do you know why you are investing your time and money in everything except your own development?
• Do you know why you keep walking into dead-end jobs and joining toxic organizations?
• Do you know why you are blaming others for your unhappiness instead of cultivating a life that inspires you?
• Do you know why you are conflating your income with your identity?

What do you know that you are trying NOT to know?

Once you answer those questions, you will be free to create a life that honors you and the God in you!

As I stated in Deciding to Soar 1….”Living a lie will make you die,” and the death will be slow, subtle, and painful.

You don’t want that!

You deserve better!

You deserve to live a life of peace and joy!

We all do.

Let’s Dare To Soar Higher Together!

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Are you ready to create, grow, or do what you were born to do?

A few days ago, I asked a powerful group of courageous, brilliant, truth-seeking women 10 important questions to help them prepare for the second quarter of 2021.

Though very self-aware, their answers to my questions revealed they were not living their highest, most truthful expressions of themselves. (That was their assessments, not mine.)

Why were the self-assessments so critical?

Because they were all embarking on new paths – new jobs, new relationships, new faith beliefs, and new businesses. And because they were entering new phases of their lives, they desired clarity. These women wanted to understand what kept them small and dissatisfied.

Their willingness to accept feedback blew me away. They were not invested in keeping secrets, hiding their weaknesses, or accepting their blind spots. They yearned for insight and illumination, and they opened their heart to hear critiques from other women without fearing judgment. It was amazing to witness such transparency and vulnerability.

Their mental break-throughs, aha moments, and deep revelations made me reflect on the questions, too. I also wanted to ensure that I was not overlooking or ignoring some truths about myself. And after deep reflections, I wept. As I peeled back layers from old wounds that I thought were healed, I cried because the questions challenged my “wokeness,” and invited me to look deeper at how I had been conditioned, colonized, and confused about my talent, skills, and God-given mission. The experience was painful, yet purposeful.

The experience was so powerful that I wanted to share the questions with you, and I hope the questions pierce through your emotional armor too. The more you delve deeper into your own soul, the easier it is to create a life that aligns with your needs.

The truth: so much is happening in the world, but if we are clear about who we are, we can make better choices that support our desires. We can be more anchored in who we are, more intentional about who we are becoming, and more committed to being a light in the world. We can be more alive, aware, and awake to our intuition and to the Spirit. We can grow, heal, and serve at the highest level of our ability and calling.

Here are the questions:

•  When did you stop being curious about who you are and what you were created to be?
• When did you decide to settle for less than you desire?
• When did you start feeling disqualified for more?
• Why do you keep believing that you don’t need others?
•  What is constantly conforming costing you, and how long can your soul pay the price?
•  Why do you fear losing people who don’t really celebrate, love, and support you anyway?
• What will you do to regain and reclaim who you are?
• What do you need to mourn so you can move on?
• Who are you if your degrees, accomplishments, and social personas are stripped away?
• How do you represent your values when you are surrounded by people who believe differently?

Hard questions. Yes!

Important and life-changing questions. Yes!

But these are the questions that will galvanize and guide you to be who you were created to be.

Remember, you don’t have to forfeit YOU to fit with THEM – whatever and whoever “them” may be

Take a few minutes and answer the questions.

Then, dare to be different and by daring to be YOU!

It’s time to SOAR HIGHER!

P.S. I will be sending out all these questions and more in my newsletter. Click here to sign up.

The world is shifting, and all of the shifts are encouraging me to think about my life.

How about you?

Do you find yourself thinking about a different life, a better life for you, and your loved ones?

I mean… when you are all alone and just reflecting on the changes in the world, do you sometimes wish for …

More meaning, less noise.

More integrity, less people-pleasing.

More purpose, less procrastination.

More wisdom, less mindless chatter.

More justice, less greed.

More truth, less posturing.

More doing, less promising.

Do you wish for more?

My friend, the life that you want is possible, it’s doable, and it’s “have-able”. And that’s why you may be a bit restless.

Why?

The part of you that was taught to follow rules and go with the flow is now being challenged because the real you has awakened and has been activated. You have been stimulated, expanded, and liberated to bigger, bolder, and braver.

Now, your truth beckons you. That part of you that you suppressed to fit into society, fit into a job, and fit into culture is NOW demanding to be seen, heard, and known.

Deep down, you know already know it’s time for a change. I am not saying anything that you don’t already feel deep down in your soul. What I am saying is real, but it’s not a new revelation.

But when you think about making changes in the direction of your dreams, you keep stalling. You stop trusting yourself. Or, you feel guilty for making decisions that honor your own heart. Am I right?

So, how do you move forward?

How do you change and transform your life so that it aligns with who you are NOW or who you are becoming?

All good questions.

How do you know that it is time to change? When staying the same becomes increasingly unbearable.

When you know that your big dreams can’t stay in small relationships, or be confined to small perspectives, or be developed in small settings, it’s time to go and grow.

When you feel fed up and trapped by the status quo, societal expectations, or cultural conditioning, it’s time to shift and create a new path.

When you are tired of settling for what you like instead of doing what you love, that’s a sign that you are being squashed, smothered, and sidelined.

When you feel that you are at a tipping point and a sacred opportunity is calling you to live out loud and to be free, you are on the precipice of change.

How do I know?

Because I am in THAT same place; I am right with you. I am making changes and I am scared too, but I refuse to let fear and doubt dictate my life. I refuse to miss out on opportunities to experience more joy, more peace, and more wealth.

How about you?

If you are reading this message, I know your heart wants more, your soul wants more and your mind wants more!

My friend, if you are ready to change your life and you are looking for direction, you can start now, TODAY! 

If this message speaks to your heart, I have something coming up that may support you. Click here to learn more.

If you are really to DARE to be who you were born to be, and if you refuse to be who society has conditioned you to be, you don’t want to miss this opportunity to stake your claim in the world.

Stay tuned!

Blessings to you!

Let’s Dare To Soar Higher Together!

Do you know many people miss out on major opportunities, love, and happiness because they fear rejection?

I don’t want to admit it, but over the years, I gave up a lot because I wanted to be liked and accepted.

For example, when I was a little girl, I scored high on standardized tests and was assigned to advanced placement classes.

I had access to better books, speakers, teachers, and other educational events, but I almost gave it up because I wanted to be accepted by my peers and my so-called “friends.”

You see, I wanted to be with the in-crowd and wanted to be popular. I knew that academic success would make me more of an outcast, and I didn’t want that. I already existed on the fringes of social acceptability because I was a black girl in a predominately white school.

Needless to say, I almost let my fear of rejection rob me of a good education. Have you ever done that?

The same thing happened early in my corporate career when I was promoted to a sales manager. Instead of my “friends” cheering for me and being happy about my promotion, they rejected me and bitterly gossiped about me. I became a pariah and was no longer invited to the dances or parties. I was crushed.

And guess what? Because I was so needy for acceptance, I almost gave up my promotion. Can you believe that? After 4 years of college and years of sacrifice, I almost derailed my career because I could not deal with rejection. 

The same thing happened in 1992 when I started my first personal training business. I wanted to teach aerobics to market myself and my budding business. Unfortunately, I was rejected by fitness studios and health clubs. According to the owners, I was too fat, white students would not attend aerobic classes taught by black women, and my music was not appropriate for “their” students. Of course, they said it nicer, but the message was clear. You are NOT teaching here.

Again, I almost let rejection stop me again from doing something that I enjoyed doing – teaching aerobics. Thankfully, I kept pushing forward and my resilience paid off. I built a clientele, won aerobic awards, and built a business called Fitness F’ness that provided fitness services for under-served markets.

The moral of the story: rejection may sting you, but it does not have to stop you. 

So, ground yourself in your truth. Surround yourself with people who support you and support your divine assignment. And most of all, trust God –  the God who made you, sustains you, and protects you as you navigate through this amazing journey called life.

You got this!

Soar!

Something or someone will always try to catch you, confine you, and control you. The more you live your truth and pull away from society’s claws, the more you will be pulled, pressured, and punished to conform.

Despite your resolve to forge ahead and resist the gravitational pull of conformity, sometimes you will get stuck or trapped. Though not physically trapped, the emotional bullying, spiritual bypassing, and the mental gaslighting will create formidable barriers that are sometimes hard to overcome. And even when you try to overcome the forces that try to squash you, it’s hard to fight back.

The truth is…it takes true grit to amplify your voice, listen to your inner wisdom, walk with hope, think your own thoughts, and honor your heart. It takes incredible perseverance to forge ahead when everything around you tries to keep you sidelined, silenced, and shamed into staying in places that don’t celebrate or affirm who YOU KNOW YOU are.

But here’s the truth: Despite the opposition, you must work hard to free yourself from the status quo, and getting free won’t be easy.

Why?

There are many people invested in your subjugation, subordination, and stagnation. Remember, the status quo thrives when you are predictable, not purposeful. The status quo succeeds when you blindly comply, not boldly and bravely critique its right to exist. The status quo prevails until it’s disrupted and destroyed AND exposed and eradicated.

My friend, despite the cost, resist the status quo and get free! And know that getting free – self-liberation – will cost you something and maybe someone. Freedom isn’t and has NEVER been free; you will pay a price for freeing yourself from systems, structures, beliefs, ideologies, old wounds, and addictions.

So, how do you get free?

• You must recognize and celebrate how amazing you are; you are human and divine.
• You must understand, accept, and honor how incredibly talented you are; you are a one-of-kind creation with a combination of one-of-a-kind skills.
• You must acknowledge that you have a divine calling, a sacred contract, or a spiritual assignment; you have a purpose that only you can fulfill.
• You must believe that your birth was not happenstance; you were created to do something, be something, help something, say something, correct something, create something, untangle something, and contribute something to the world. You were born on purpose AND for a purpose; God had something special in mind when God created you.

When you can SEE yourself fully, appreciate your gifts humbly, and honor yourself deeply, you will take action that supports and aligns with your very essence. You will change, grow up, and grow into who you were created to be. Most of all, you will become invincible; nothing and no one will be able to stop you from answering your divine call.

The world needs your magic, medicine, mind, and message and you MUST do what you were created to do! You must not get trapped in the web the society wove for you.

Please hear me today: the status quo is NOT your place; it’s not worthy of you.

Leave so you can fully live!

And SOAR Higher than you have ever soared before.

Blessings!

*** I share more about the tyranny of the status quo in Deciding To Soar 2. You can get it here.

So often we downgrade our skills and we belittle our potential because we perceive others as having greater authority or seniority than we have.

Just for the record: Title and Time have nothing to do with TALENT!

Don’t minimize what you bring to the table because you are not the boss, owner, or because you are new.

Every great leader knows the value of “rookie” wisdom. Sometimes the people who have not been developed or inculcated in a system are usually the first to see pitfalls, potential, and possibilities.

Share what you know. You have a different perspective that is valuable and refreshing. You will see some advantages that others may overlook and/or minimize because you are looking through fresh eyes.

Bottom line: When it comes to success, new thoughts and ideas are always needed. Without new insight, antiquated routines will ruin you, bad habits will hurt you, and ” we have always done it this way” familiarity will prove fatal to your development and refinement.

You KNOW enough to contribute. Don’t sell yourself short!

Let’s Dare to Soar Higher!

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