(TOT) Thought on Thursday: Smoke

As I was meditating the other day, I looked up and saw the incense for the first time:

The smoke is so much like our lives.

They burn quickly for a moment

Begin to take form

Then in an instant the thing just beginning to take form, disappears.

Hopefully your life is beginning to take form.

Thought for Thursday: One of Tim Ferris's favorite authors - Dr Dennis Kimbro - talks about Millionaires, black Millionaires and the path toward wealth.

Before the 4-hour workweek, Tim Ferris read this author's landmark book. Think & Grow Rich a Black Choice. Today, Instead of opining myself - I decided I'd share the thoughts and opinions of one of my living heroes - Dr. Dennis Kimbro.

I had the unique opportunity to interview him during the Black Enterprise Entrepreneur's Conference. 



  You can order Dr. Kimbro's landmark book here:




 You can order "The Wealth Choice" here




What do you think? Does Dr. Kimbro have some valid points? 

Let me know in the comments below: 

Thought for Thursday - My momma the bibliophile

Studies have shown that reading to your child on a regular basis increases their ability to read in the future. That's why I'm so glad and blessed that my mother was and still is an avid reader.

My mother is a retired elementary school teacher and she has always had books around.One thing my mother taught me and my younger brother early on was the love of books and reading. She used to always make the trip to the library sound like a trip to Cedar Point when we're growing up.

"Guess where we're going today?"she'd ask in a sing song voice.

We'd look up to her in anticipation and say

"Where?!" bubbling over with anticipation.

"The Library!"

"Yay!" we'd shout out in anticipation.

I may be exaggerating a little, but not by much. Both me and my younger brother have tons of books around at all times. We're constantly reading and learning. Hopefully someday I can pass that enthusiasm on to my own son.

If you have children and want to increase their vocabulary skills - I highly recommend reading to them. Just like my momma the bibliophile did for me and my brother growing up.

Thought for Thursday -Does this moment matter?

Does this Day matter?

Will you be going through the same motions? Taking the same way to work? Lamenting about the same problems without taking action?

Does this hour matter?

Is this a temporary break from the monotony? When you look back back at this moment 59 minutes from now will you have made progress towards a yearly, quarterly or monthly goal?

Does this minute matter?

Has it been wasted? Will you take the next 59 seconds pointing yourself in the right direction?

Until one theory on the afterlife is either proved or disproved we only have these few precious moments left on earth.

Use them wisely

Make the most of this moment.

There goes another....and another...and another.

Thought for Thursday - What is your Mantra?

What is your Mantra? 

from bartsblackboard.com

 What do you repeat in your mind (or aloud) day in and day out? 
 
According to the Mayo Clinic what your "mantra" - or your daily "self-talk" has a definite impact on your health.

Does it sound like this:

"I'm so dumb"

"I'm so fat"

"Everybody's against me"

"What's the use?"

"Who's John Galt?"

Or does it sound like this:

"I'm so thankful for..."

"I'm so blessed because..."

"Life is great because..."

"I'll try again a different way"

"I've been through tougher tests than this"

It's easy to be convinced that nothing is working. It's difficult these days to see things in a positive light. 

However, if you take the time to acknowledge your thoughts and nudge them in the positive direction the benefits are overwhelming.  Those benefits include lower rates of depression, stress and you're even less likely to catch a cold. 

Take a moment and put your inner monologue in check. If that "voice in your head" is encouraging and tells you that you can achieve great things - let it continue. But, if it continues to downplay your achievements, discourages your ambition or even worst - insults you! Then decide today to change the monologue to something more positive.

What do you think? Do you have an inner monologue that pushes you forward or holds you back? Do you have a great inner mantra that you use on a regular basis? If so, share it in the comments below.