Maya Angelou: The Miracle of Recreating Yourself

"I am" are two of the most powerful words we can use. They declare to the universe who we are as a person, as a soul, and determine the effect we will have as we interact with others. More than a simple adjective, the words that follow define how we see are selves and thereby sets the pattern for how others will both see and treat us.

I am beautiful as opposed to I am fat ignites the beauty within and allows it to shine. True beauty doesn't come from what we look like, the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or any of our other possessions. It comes from within. Marilyn Monroe is still considered one of the sexist and most beautiful women in the world, yet she frequently wore a size 14. She could turn her "sexist" on and off by just changing her perception of herself. When she wanted alone time, she became Barbara Jean and she was anonymous in a crowd. However, when she became Marilyn she could turn on pilots flying at ten thousand feet. It was all a matter of attitude and perception. Other people did not have the power to create the change. Marilyn was the only one who could defined herself. It was this definition that others saw.

In my own life, there was a schism between what I believed and what I thought. I couldn't understand why there was such a difference between the image I saw in the mirror and the one that manifested in photographs. The woman I saw in the mirror was beautiful and happy. In pictures, I looked like an old sourpuss. The mirror reflected who I am. The pictures revealed what I thought of myself. Like so many I could Photoshop and change the picture. But it would not change how I saw myself. I'm the only one who can make the image in the mirror truly real by believing that I am beautiful--which I am.

Beauty is only the most obvious manifestation of the power we have within us. No one else can give or take away our ability to define ourselves. It is something we do every moment of every day whether not we believe we have the power to do so. Other people merely a reflect back the image we ourselves have created.

In reality, we create what we believe. The only question is how we will use this ability. That is the difference between successful people and those who see themselves as victims. Those who flourish firmly know life is full of challenges that they are more than capable of successfully meeting. They have the confidence to believe that they control their destiny. They've grown their roots deep into that knowledge. When challenges blow through their lives like the mighty oak they have the power to stand fast and tall, because they have well rooted their lives in their own positive support system.

Victims, on the other hand, believe that life is something that happens to them. They see themselves as powerless. Instead of a tree they see themselves as leaves in the wind being blown about by the whims of others, fate, or the Divine. Like leaves on a tree, when they are attached to others they appear alive, strong, and vibrant. But as with breaking the connection between the leaf and the tree causes the leaf to wither and dry, those people, whose confidence comes from others loose their vitality and power.

They become fearful, angry, and resentful when they are separated from what they thought was their support system. They fight to reestablish the connection with the original or with a new support system. Until they reconnect they will be fearful, angry, and resentful, because they feel powerless. If however, they changed their perspective from the leaf to an acorn, they could grow their own roots and become a tree instead of being just a leaf. In doing so, they recreate their lives and manifest more positive end results.

This does not mean that we must stand alone. A grove of oaks with their roots intertwined is more powerful than solitary tree. But a support system is only as powerful as its weakest member. It is this reason that strong and confident people reach out to one another. They know that by working together and sharing their resources they are more able to successfully achieve their goals. It's not what you have that is important; it is what you believe about yourself that will attract like minds. Whether an acorn or a tall tree, it is your positive energy--your confidence, your surety, your innovation, your belief in yourself that will attract who and what you need to be successful.

A leaf is not a tree, no matter how many times it claims to be so. The next breeze proves who we are. A tree will trust in it's roots. An acorn will dig them deeper. A leaf will allow itself to be blown away. Just like no one else can define us, we cannot define others. This power cannot be taught or given. It is grown from within. It is the light that only shines from the inside out. It is the passion that ignites when we change the core beliefs about ourselves. Every moment of every day we decide to be an acorn or a leaf. It is never too late to become an acorn. It is never to late to believe in yourself. All it takes is saying, "I am ready".

  " Instant Karma is going to get you."
                                       John Lennon
Have you ever met someone and suddenly  felt love or hate? Yet you couldn't remember  them.  Would you want to  remember? Would you want to know if it could save  your life?

Never Can Say Good-bye is a paranormal thriller  feature film--If you were given a second chance, would you choose love...or revenge?

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Courage isn't the lack of fear, but the ability to set it aside and  focus on what is truly important