Upload
norlita-brown
View
216
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Stages is a self-motivational book filled with inspirational words of wisdom. It is the place where life breaks down. To understand that statement is to know that life never breaks down, only the people in it. Therefore the only way to break life down is to break down its meaning. The authors believe that Stages is a great place to start.
Citation preview
2
B r o w n
E s s e n c e
P O B o x 8 2 4 6 2
C o n y e r s , G A
3 0 0 1 3
Norlita Brown &
Cortez Cheeks Stages is the place where life breaks
down. To understand that statement is
to know that life never breaks down, only
the people in it. Therefore the only way
to break life down is to break down its
meaning. Find out more between the
pages of Stages!
Stages
3
Stages
Copyright © 2010 by Brown Essence Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without written
permission from the author.
ISBN 978-0-9826745-1-2
Printed in USA
4
Table of Contents
Preface .................................................................... 5
Introduction ............................................................ 6
Words of
Wisdom ............................................................. 8
Love for Self .................................................. 11
Love for Others .............................................. 14
Relationships .................................................. 16
Self Control .................................................... 18
Life ................................................................. 20
Enemies .......................................................... 22
Respect ............................................................ 23
Wealth ............................................................ 24
Emotions ........................................................ 25
Truth, Honesty and Lies ................................. 26
Revelations ..................................................... 27
Meaning Matters ....................................................28
Wisdom ........................................................... 29
Love for Self .................................................. 36
Love for Others .............................................. 43
Relationships .................................................. 50
Self Control .................................................... 54
5
Life ................................................................. 57
Enemies .......................................................... 58
Respect ............................................................ 59
Wealth ............................................................ 63
Emotions ........................................................ 65
Lessons Learned.....................................................66
Wisdom ........................................................... 67
Love for Self .................................................. 75
Love for Others .............................................. 83
Relationships .................................................. 90
Self Control .................................................... 97
Life ............................................................... 104
Enemies ........................................................ 112
Respect .......................................................... 114
Wealth .......................................................... 117
Emotions ...................................................... 120
Truth, Honesty and Lies ............................... 122
Revelations ................................................... 126
6
Introduction
Stages is filled with statements of wisdom made to
exercise the mind. Therefore the first part of the book is just
that, the statements. However, we understand that some
thought processes come easier when someone expounds on
an issue and so we have added a section in the back of the
book with comments and viewpoints. The asterisk will indicate
which ones we have selected for further discussion. Finally we
have added a section that gives you the opportunity to write
your thoughts about the statements.
Wisdom and advice stem from the intellectual minds of our
ancestors. Many of the statements here have already been
heard in some form or fashion. Our goal was to provide a
compilation of this wisdom for you to gather your thoughts
and prayerfully allow each of us to gain an understanding of
who we are. We find that the best way to do that is to look in
the mirror. This book offers insight to help you do just that.
Remembering that these observations reflect from the lives of
some rather than the lives of all and are not written into law,
you should always take each statement and apply them as they
are relative to your own experience. It is our hope that you will
relate to one, some or all which will give room for thought and
ultimately lead to room for change. We are fully aware that
change doesn’t happen overnight as we are also aware that
7
this may be too much to take in one sitting, so all that we ask is
that you take it in Stages.
Enjoy…
8
Wisdom
True leaders do not need followers.*
One is only lonely when you depend too much on others. *
Awkward situations are put in place to make you feel
uncomfortable, use your poker face. *
Don’t just meet expectations, exceed them.
Refrain from making comparisons to experiences you can’t
relate to. *
You give breath to the temporary and the permanent phases
of your life. *
Your awakening begins when your revelation ends.
Understanding the difference between obligations and
options provides a better appreciation when the option works
in your favor.
You can’t pay back something you never borrowed so use the
change toward your advancement.*
9
Love for Self
Realizing your self-worth changes the way you allow people to
treat you. *
Love yourself in your current circumstance, but love yourself
enough to change your circumstance.*
Your presence should be so powerful it changes the
atmosphere. *
Why put thought to how others have failed you, when you
consistently fail yourself? *
Others should know who you are by your actions not your
words.*
In your search for a mentor look in the mirror, for you should
always be your best example. *
Excuse yourself from excuses, you will love the results. *
10
Love for Others
Be careful in your quest to expose someone else, you may
find you’ve taken the covers off of yourself. *
No tool has been designed to chisel someone into perfection.
Determine what you’ll do for someone by how it will benefit
them, versus how it will benefit you. *
One of the hardest tasks in life is also the one that gives the
most pleasure: learning to love unconditionally.
How does a person become unworthy of your greeting? *
Sin was not created for your acceptance or your forgiveness.*
11
Meaning Matters
This section affords you the opportunity to
understand on a deeper level what was meant by
the words we said.
Keep in mind that many of our statements
have many levels and we have not expounded on
every one, we just wanted to get your thinking
process going but if you feel that we have
touched on something that you want to discuss,
please visit us at
Brownessence.com
12
Wisdom
True leaders do not need followers. True leaders are those who take pride in knowing other
leaders. Their leadership is contingent upon making
those around them leaders as well. They do not become
dependent on someone following behind them doing as
they do, but rather molding others to be uniquely
different and becoming a trendsetter themselves. It is
okay for you to admire others and the way they do
things, but when choosing to wear the clothes they wear,
style your hair like theirs or follow in any of their paths,
take it and make it your own, so that you are careful not
to become a copycat or a follower but a leader in your
own right.
Thoughts that are lost empty the mind for higher levels of
thinking. When your mind is at a total stand still and you feel you
cannot think anymore do not feel defeated. It is at this
point where your mind forces you to think at higher
levels. The outcome will be much more satisfying if you
give your mind a chance to enter this state. Nothing will
almost inevitably lead to something.
Thinking motivates a person to higher standards of living. The more you think, the more you realize that God has
something more for you. The moment you stop
thinking, you begin to settle and become comfortable in
the situation you are in. We have all heard it before, “an
idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, now it’s up to you to
not leave room for him to work. Any person that can
come to your mind who is living at a higher standard are
more likely than not still thinking of ways to make better
use of their time. This may not necessarily mean trying
13
to find ways to make more money, even though that is
nice as well, but it can also mean trying to find ways
where you can be beneficial to society or to someone
other than yourself. Get to thinking; you’ll love the
things you come up with it.
You become the weakest link when you change another’s
name for your own amusement. It is amazing how some people believe they have the
God given right to degrade and disrespect another
person. It is time out for this type of hatred. Our young
children are killing themselves and others all over being
called out of their birth names. If your self-esteem is so
low that you feel the only way to make yourself feel
better is to call someone else names then maybe you
should refocus your energy on YOU and instead of
belittling someone else concentrate on lifting yourself.
In order to change your outlook on life, you first have to
change your mind. Looking at life the same way everyday doesn’t leave
much room for growth. Each day is another opportunity
to try something new. Everything you do is not perfect
therefore the best way to make that change is to take
advantage of the opportunity. The first step in that is to
change the way you think about things. Put a new
perspective on it, it just may work for you.
Your present can never be your past until you let go of it. It is time to let go of whatever reasoning or excuse you
are giving yourself to hold on to yesterday. Walking
around wondering how long you are going to be in your
present situation is not going to help the matter; you are
the only one who can control the answer to that. Let go,
move on!