You Live What You Allow
We were black in a predominantly white community in the late 70’s, in the UK, where racism was prevalent. We hadn’t personally experienced it but we knew friends who had.
Although racism was a reality, I noticed that many of my friends used their colour as an excuse for not moving forward in life. I’d watch them in the classroom playing pranks on the substitute teachers. But come the end of term exam reports, when they’d reap the rewards of their actions; they’d swing the tables so you’d hear the famous words, “It’s because I’m black”. This statement used to infuriate my father. Not because racism wasn’t a reality but because he hated when people made excuses for not being the best they could be. Needless to say that those words were taboo in our home.
My father instilled in us the value that no one can take your freedom or keep you back in life unless you allow them to. He spoke these words as one who grew up in a very underprivileged area in Jamaica. He lived a very challenging life but was able to overcome the obstacles and become who destiny dictated him to be. How? By not becoming a victim of his environment but transcending it.
Today I thank my father for this great lesson because it’s taught me that nothing can hold me back in life, unless I allow it. I’ve learned the ‘Key to True Freedom’ and that is, to take responsibility for my own life. This is one of the most liberating truths I’ve ever learned.
As I sat a few years ago picking up the pieces of a redundancy, two roads were paved before me. One was the road of blaming the people who I felt were integral in getting me fired, the other was the road designed for me to dig deep into my heart and unmask all of the potential that was dormant inside of me.
At that moment, I realised that I’d stepped into a defining moment and that blaming others or circumstances would cripple me, instead of giving me the energy I needed to soar to the next level. The words of my father flashed before me and I began to get excited about starting my own business and helping others to move past blaming into their God given purpose. I later joined the John Maxwell Team which has dramatically revolutionised my thinking toward reaching for my goals and helping others to reach theirs.
John’s latest book Sometimes You Win, Sometimes you Learn has taught me that life’s challenges either break us or define us. The good news is that we have so much power to make our choices define us toward success.
So the next time you want to blame someone for something you think you’re not achieving. Remind yourself that absolutely no one can stop you from moving forward unless you allow them to!
About the Author
Charmaine Sealey is a dedicated wife and mother of 2 and has over 16 years experience in the Travel & Tourism Industry. Charmaine travels across the Caribbean Coaching, Training and advising Hoteliers and Accommodation Suppliers on improving their Customer Service Delivery through growing their leadership and empowering their teams.
Her business Global Travel Solutions is a vehicle to offer her clients practical life tools needed to move from where they are, to where they really dream to be.