Falsely Imprisoned:
#NelsonMandela
The first time I saw the word #Apartheid was in a
monologue from an English play I learned for an acting audition. In college at
twenty years old, I didn’t even know it meant segregation in South Africa. When
I researched the word, I realized, even though I had never used the term, I had
certainly felt the underwhelming
resolve of apartheid in America and also in my own life as a gay man in a
straight world.
Nelson Mandela fought a good fight and stayed in prison for
a large majority of his adult life because of how committed he was to his core
beliefs. When the South African government released Mandela, he almost
immediately arose to power for four years. People of South Africa cried in the
streets when the segregation had met its match, and anti-apartheid support won
the battle for equality. Mandela’s life remains something to celebrate and to
continue to use as a template where lives are downtrodden and prejudiced.
My first instance of hearing about Nelson Mandela came about
as a result of a misquote I read in church. Many people thought Marianne
Williamson, the famous spiritual writer and leader, quoted Nelson Mandela as
saying: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is
that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that
most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world…” When, actually, Marianne
wrote the famous quote. I’m not sure how all this misdirection about the quote
came about. But, alas, this was my pathway to understanding the man, Nelson
Mandela.
As I discovered his truths and his fight, my own heart rose
up to reach the heights of power I needed to take on the demons in my life and with
those who had less power around me, fighting the good fight of anti-apartheid
for gay rights. I believe the resolve is similar. Who deserves to be separate
but equal? Who deserves to pay the same taxes, but not receive the same
benefits? Who can claim to be compassionate and not see or understand the pains
of the GLBT community in the world, especially in America, Russia, India, and
countries led by dictators and cruel laws against women and gays?
We all must rise up and speak our truth as Mandela did, even
if it means imprisonment. Can any of us stand up for our rights, even if it
means defying authorities? I wonder if I would have the strength to go to jail
for my truth.
I once didn’t sign a recording contract with a Christian
label because in the contract it politely asked if I be gay. At that time, I
realized I would accept nothing more than truth for myself and my life, despite
giving up what I had dreamed about most of my adult life. So, I could say that
I had put my own recording career in prison for the past 30 years. Recently, though,
I realized this and decided that I would quit teaching voice lessons and
finally try to understand the premise on which God and Spirit would have me use
my own singing voice.
Sometimes, I feel like standing on a mountain and singing at
the top of my lungs, like I did in the shower this morning. A cry deep in my
soul needs to be released, like the imprisoned souls met with prejudice and
tyranny. I want nothing more than to express my soul without judgment and not
to deny my true self, just as Mandela fought for. Let’s use the memory of his
powerful battle against apartheid to muster strength to fight for our own
truths today and every day!
______________________________________________
New Challenge: Go to Week 6 of the “Year
to CLEAR Challenge” at www.Bosebastian.com
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Website in the Webstore. Thanks!
Below is information that I will be sharing for about a
month, as not every person on my list reads the blog every day. If you have
already read it, just skip over it. Thanks for understanding.
A
Year to CLEAR Challenge:
(Please Know: You Can Join Us At Any Point in the Year
Challenge.)
The masses search outward for things that qualify them as a
person, but I always go inward for that which quantifies me for greatness. At
twenty-five I preached on street corners in NYC as an in-the-closet Pentecostal
minister. One day I heard a still small voice say, ‘God cannot be contained in a
book or a law or even in a religion. Dig deeper, reach further to find me, and
you will find your authentic Self.’”
A Year to CLEAR Challenge!
The acronym CLEAR
stands for (Compassionate, Loving,
Enthusiastic, And Relationship-Ready). The goal of this project is to
engulf readers in a weekly study that will transform them by removing blocks,
promote self-growth, and give them wings to fly freely into daily life. Each
week, by going to BoSebastian.com and choosing the Year to CLEAR Challenge tab,
a new challenge or thought to provoke conversation, growth, and group
functionality.
My vision is to make Finding Authentic You the book to
have in your Kindle or on your computer. The book is a comprehensive look at
growth—spiritually, mentally, and physically.
As a yoga teacher and student of the Ayurvedic tradition, I bring
to the table understanding of physical challenges, the ability to overcome
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The combination of all three in one book with an interactive
connection to like-minded readers, for one year, is what makes this Year to
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The One-Year Approach to Change
No one believes he or she can change overnight. But success in
change comes from the metaphors of nature. Seasonally, life changes all around
us in nature. Finding Authentic You offers a gradual change perspective,
looking at the triune aspects of change as in yoga: Body, Mind and Spirit.
Accessing the
ability to change and finding
yourself actually pursuing change must be a daily search, which I call
getting to the “observer mind.”
In this frontal cortex of the brain we find the anatomy of
change and the power to counter every negative trigger of the human process.
The workings of Hypnosis, NLP (Neuro-linguistic Programming) and EMDR (Eye
Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) are all positive actions to help the
mind and body flow to a positive space for change.
Every aspect of FINDING AUTHENTIC YOU fulfills this
constant need for diffusing the negative past and dreaming of a fulfilling
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Step 1: Recognize That Change is Inevitable
Step 2: Release from Resistance
to Change
Step 3: Understanding Change and Allow Spirit to Define It
Step 4: A History Lesson—About You
Step 5: Look at Your Past with Compassion
Step 6: Making a Strong Commitment to Change
Step 7: Dream Your Fabulous Future
TOOLS FOR CHANGE:
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Also, look for MY LATEST BOOK: “Finding Authentic You, 7 Steps to
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R-elationship-Ready) on my Website in the Webstore. Thanks!
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