As we start to see some light in the job market and in the unemployment world, as the greatest recession in the history of America starts to come to an end, the dust is starting to clear and shows us that we as a people can once again make it through anything!
In my book, “The Art Form of P.A.S.S.I.O.N., one of the key concepts that I try to portray is the concept of “O-O-O”. The concept of “O-O-O” entails a person having an OBSTACLE that needs to be OVERCOME which then becomes an OPPORTUNITY for that individual to be successful in other ways.
The obstacles or struggles as African-Americans, no matter what anyone says, are much more different from the struggles of any other group of people in the United States. Thus, one thing we have learned as a people from many struggles slavery, voting rights, the integration of schools and Civil Rights is that we will fight for what we believe in and turn into something positive for our lives.
The obstacles that we had to deal with as a people claimed the lives of so many African-Americans. We should never take for granted where we came from and what we went through to get to where we are today.
When we look at the obstacles in our everyday lives we have to truly see a way out of it, no matter what the obstacle may be. We have to know as a people that we can take the craziest mess and turn it into something beautiful in our lives.
It’s The Flower Concept: A SEED has to develop through MANURE and once it comes through the MESS, it turns into a beautiful flower. That’s how we have to see our obstacles in our lives. When the obstacles come our way, we have to know from the beginning that no matter how big or difficult it may look we can overcome it!
Once we get over the fact that we are facing the obstacle and once we get into an optimistic mindset that we can overcome this obstacle, we start to get our creative juices flowing on how we can turn this into an opportunity for ourselves.
During the recession of these last four years, many people who were either laid off or demoted in their jobs took their lumps and searched for other opportunities besides working for THE MAN! A lot of people took the recession as an opportunity to return to school and obtain better education to make themselves more marketable.
Others put their Passion Into Action and started their own businesses, living and doing the things they always dreamed about wanting to do. As people we have to realize that we can get past anything! No matter if it’s a divorce, death, downsizing/layoff, we have to believe that we can make it through the roughest and toughest situations. It is just how we were built as a people.
The same land we were forced to live and labor on a few centuries ago, now is the same land that we own and pass down to our grandchildren. Now, we are going to schools and higher education institutions. At one point and time we could not even walk those hallways, use the same bathrooms, or drink out of the same water fountains as our white counterparts.
It’s time to dig deep within ourselves and know that tomorrow is not promised. It’s time for us to “Carpe Diem” (seize the day) and make something positive out of all the negativity that comes our way. Let us find a way to get over our obstacles, have faith that we can overcome anything and use that situation as an opportunity to turn our Passion Into Action!
© 2012 – 2013, John C. Turner. All rights reserved.
John is an author, speaker, higher education professor and adviser that works to encourage people to live towards their greatest dreams and successes.
