That Person in the Mirror

Hey Party People,

When you wake up each morning, who do you see looking back at you? How do you feel about that person and what words do you say to yourself? Are you loving on yourself and see someone who is strong, resilient, and worthy? Or are you a hater and focusing on your flaws and perceived shortcomings.

The words we say or think about ourselves matter. Whether this is out loud or in our head what we think is powerful. DYK we think approximately 90,000 thoughts a day, 90,000! Further, of those 90,000 thoughts, approximately 90% of those thoughts are repeats from the day before. Our minds are on repeat, so what are you thinking, saying, and feeing about that person in the mirror everyday.

I strive to be positive and to be the best version of myself. But right now I would not say I am my best version but I’m making progress. In complete honesty one of the first things I’ve been saying to myself when I look in the mirror is… “why can’t I freaking sleep, these bags under my eyes are awful.” It’s a double whammy shaming myself that I’m not sleeping well, like its my fault, and then bashing my appearance as a result of this troubled rest. This is pretty much on the daily which leads me to another stat. Almost 80% of our recuring daily thoughts are negative thoughts. 80%! Every person is different of course, but its incredible how much space we give to the negative.

It’s also incredible how much more power negative thoughts have in our live. They have 10x more power on our beliefs and actions than positive ones. It can actually take 10 positive thoughts to counter one negative. I wondered why that is, but it makes sense. We are quick to believe our shortcomings and embrace that as truth but have to be convinced of our worthiness and strengths. Think about it – when someone gives you a compliment do you accept it with grace and receive that love? Or do you respond and diminish.

Ex. You did a really great job on that speech/report/song/pitch. Oh thanks I really had no idea what I was talking about.

Let’s receive this positivity party people! And let’s start giving it to ourselves.

If you truly don’t like who you see looking back at you, ask who is it that you want to be. If you don’t know what you want you can’t become it, go get it or change it. Start there and do your best and then... 

Strive to be Better than Yesterday.

Pump yourself up and Celebrate your wins!

Celebrate that person looking back at you in the Mirror!

Change those repetitive negative thoughts to Supportive ones!

You got this. I believe in you, even if you don’t just yet.

Now let’s get movin! Here’s a couple party jams from Black artists!! 

Kenya artist Jarimba Cassanova just dropped his album Millenial Fever. My fav is This Kind of Love.

Check out some other fire YYC and YEG artists! Big shout out to the @10.at10 Insta account for showcasing this talent!

@justinetyrell Check out her Youtube channel and Spotify 

@kuzi.cee Check out his YouTube channel or Spotify

With Gratitude,

-S

P.S. Here is your dose of learning for Black History Month. I want to send you over to the Sankofa Arts and Music Foundation insta page @SankofaYYC. Their youth are putting up daily posts of Black historical facts and challenges to learn. Sankofa Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to informing and empowering youth to be agents of change in their communities through various art forms. Not on IG, check out their website.

One thing I learned from the Sankofa Youth this week was the Black National Anthem, also called, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” It’s a truly beautiful song. And for those of you who watched the Superbowl, and watched Alicia Keys as part of the pre-game show - You heard this song! Lift Every Voice and Sing was originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) in 1900 and performed for the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1905.