Quarterly Challenge: January – March 2023

Focus: Prioritize, Enable, Be Accountable, and Adjust.  2023 will be a much more transformational year for me. I have stepped up with intensity to not only fulfill a new role on the City Council, but to be of better health (physical, mental, social, fiscal, and spiritual), to uplift my family and fraternity, to mentor more young men at the collegiate level, and to engage in more scholarship endeavors. To achieve some of my basic goals, I have refined my matrix to assess benchmarks and touch points. This matrix correlates with my 2023 Vision Board. I take the words of Confucius with me. “The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential…. These are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” One of the constant factors that contribute to achievement may be our ability to generate the right effort, be it individual or collaborative. The Dalai Lama said it best; “In order to carry a positive action, we must develop a positive vision.” For me, my action is my use of time. Make it personal:  Certain things are personal and are tied directly to this crave of a passion to reach a particular peak of performance. These things are internal to my spirit and my love of living, giving, and caring for others. Life as it will, can remind us that small flames are just as important as the stories that accompany them. With this in mind, 2023 will be a year of more small fires, savory friendship, elevated collaboration, and simplicity. Furthermore, my community endeavors will be more impactful. I will remain project oriented. I will focus on higher forms of achievement, reaching peaks, resetting, and being relentless along the way. I challenge myself to lock in my sights, be more accountability, and be unremitting in my drive to attainment! The notable poet Rumi said, “Wherever you stand, be the soul of that place.” Create a Win:  Whatever the undertaking, I’m all in! However, before the first step, I must be able to envision the win! That’s my 2023 approach and I’m confident I will enjoy each day of good health and opportunity I’m blessed to see. Mindset, expectations, realism, and a content heart has already enabled me to win. An inward connection may be just what is required to make the desired shift. In the humble words of Hafez-e Shirazi; “You yourself are your own obstacle, rise above yourself.”   The Benefits:  I’ve learned to establish benefits for each particular end state, including tangible and intangible. Personally, my benefits for all I aspire to do in 2023 is a sense of mental growth. Therefore, this walk will not be of stress or doubt, but one of inner peace. The positivity of my being belongs to me. I often thing about the wisdom of the past and today, I share this nourishing thought by Marcus Aurelius; “The soul becomes dyed with the color of our thoughts.” Growth Resources:   Here’s How to Make a Vision Board Manifestation Strategic Management. Turn your goal into a “crafter noon”  How to Make a Vision Board That Actually Works (oprahdaily.com)  Positive Thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress. Positive thinking: Reduce stress by eliminating negative self-talk – Mayo Clinic  Quote:    Make the time to enjoy the family, adore the beauty of nature, and partake in opportunities of goodwill. Immerse in positive energy. Eliminate all excuses and embrace life’s blessings. ~ Joe Shakeenab