Guard Your Gates

Y’all!   When I tell you it is so easy to get off post, and start frolicking about in the palace, and before you know it, your whole territory is under siege, I am telling you the God’s honest truth! You have to stand guard of your gates! You have to know who is coming in and going out. You have to protect that which is near and dear, and of value to you.   If you think of your mind and spirit as your castle, or palace, this means being mindful of the stimulus you allow into your psyche. The images, the sounds, the ideas, the thoughts. More specifically, the television you watch, the music you listen to, the people you engage in frequent conversation with and the people you confide in and seek counsel from.   Because once a contaminated piece of stimuli gains entry to your gates, it has the potential to grow exponentially and disrupt your entire inner court, eroding your faith, discipline, and focus, and eventually corrupting your good habits. Unfortunately, this is another lesson I find myself continuously having to learn! Smh.

I struggle with this when it comes to watching news media and listening to music.  I first recognized this a couple of months ago when I found myself overwhelmed with despair after overindulging in one of my favorite YouTube shows, The Yvette Carnell Show.  If you’re not familiar, Yvette Carnell is a political analyst and co-creator of the ADOS movement. On her show she talks about politics and current events. I love it! It’s very data heavy and conversational.  The problem is Yvette’s delivery is scathing to say the least. Her arguments tend to be more emotionally charged, and after a while it comes across as a rant. She lambasts anyone who is not aligned with the political and economic welfare of ADOS, and either holds office, or seeks office.  As we’re approaching an election year, I found myself tuning in religiously for 3+ months. I had the show in my ears all day at work, on the train to and from work, when I got home from work. After a while, I found myself hypersensitive and frustrated at work, as well in my personal life.  That’s when I knew I had a problem.  I had to pull out of media all together and get in touch with my inner thoughts and spiritual compass.  As much I love the show, listening to such scathing critiques, literally everyday, can be too much when you are trying to pursue an un-chartered endeavor, and need all the positivity and optimism you can muster up, or come by.

The other area where I struggle with guarding my gates is with music.  Particularly mainstream hip hop and pop music. For the better part of 6 months, I have been od’ing on mainstream music.  But when I switched it up to my Classical music, it reminded me that listening to mainstream music for prolonged periods of time can begin to drive down your frequency and vibration if you aren’t careful.   As Pastor Toure preached one Sunday at the Potter’s House, you begin to come into a rhythm with it.  And let’s be real, most of the music that is played today is not the music you want to come into constant rhythm with.  At least, I don’t.  It’s great to power through a workout or cleaning session, but after a while that chaotic energy goes flat and you just find yourself droned out like a zombie.

The next instance in which I need to Guard my Gates is with news in the morning.  Every morning I have been waking up with Alisyn Camerota and John Berman, and I’m noticing that my days don’t feel as productive as they used to.  I used to have a nice little home routine inside of a miserable work situation.  I would wake up and listen to either Sarah Jakes Roberts, or TD Jakes, while getting ready for work.  On the way to work, I would listen to classical or gospel music on Pandora in my headphones.  Then while at work I would listen to Tom Bilyeu throughout my day.  This was a sweet little play here, that kept me super motivated! Even though I hated my job, my days were insulated by positivity and possibility!  Now, I find myself more on edge than a mountain climber on the peak of Mt. Everest!  I’m wound up tight and can’t think past the next 5 minutes.  All I can think about is ‘Oh hell nah!‘  I know this is from being agitated and annoyed at the top of the day by the daily news.  

It’s a challenge for me to remember this, because I love the Yvette Carnell Show, Lizzo and Miguel on Pandora, and hearing Alisyn Camerota’s reaction to the daily news and politics.  But as the old adage goes, everything in moderation.  So I have to be cognizant when consuming these types of media.  I can’t consume it mindlessly where it’s sinking into my subconscious and dictating my future thoughts and moods.  I have to be like a guard at the gate, or customs official, where I interrogate the nature and duration of the visit, and then deploy secret agents to monitor the activity while inside!  LOL  Since being intentional about the media I’m consuming, I’ve found myself more relaxed and at ease, more hopeful and optimistic, and more productive.  Just by being selective and intentional!  I would encourage you to do to the same, Beauties.  Because 2020 is all about making better choices! (at least for me it is)  You with me, Beauties!?

Until next time, girl, Guard them Gates!

xoxo,

LM

.