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Transformational Healing
The Transformational Agenda Magazine 26th Edition
Hurt people, hurt people. It’s only natural. It’s only human. And we African Americans really have way more than our fair share of hurt people. How could it be any other way—given the horrific realities of slavery and Jim Crow. Massive harm (literally centuries of continual trauma) has created massive hurt, necessitating massive healing. And, because we have failed to really face the horror of slavery, so that we can heal from it, we remain disempowered by our past.
Of course, you/we/our culture cannot heal from something that you don’t even know, that you don’t know, that it exists. That’s called a tragic and confusing blind spot, which creates the conundrum of seeing the negative impact, but whatever you try to correct the situation just doesn’t work, because you have yet to identify the root cause. Until the root cause is accurately identified, you are really addressing the symptoms of the problem, so heartbreaking outcomes continue to flow. This is the current situation for African Americans. We see the carnage, yet not knowing that it results from cultural intergenerational trauma manifesting as negative mental legacies of slavery, our attempts of healing our community fail miserably.
Identifying the root cause is the essential requirement, for within its ‘accurate and explicit definition’ viable solutions easily flow. When you know what the root cause is and how and why it developed, then voilà—you have begun transformational healing. We present ‘The Transformational Agenda Retreat’ and nearing the end of this 10 hours experience a participant said the most amazing and amazingly accurate thing. She said, “We really don’t have to live like this anymore. We can reject the negative mental legacies of slavery and chose instead to love, and to empower—yourself and others.”
And we must heal ourselves, for only African Americans can heal the African American community—and healing is exactly what we need. Others can reduce oppression, white privilege, and racism, but they cannot undue the psychic harm that was done during slavery, much of which ‘unconsciously’ remains within our spiritual being today. Only we can do that.
Are you ready to let go of any anger, shame, frustration, rage, and sense of powerlessness that you retain from slavery and times past? Are you willing to let go of the pain you hold, as a result of the abusive actions of another, who didn’t know that they didn’t know, that his/her actions were rooted in the intergenerational trauma of slavery? Are you ready to claim your power as a free human being, by embracing your true value and embracing a newly empowered ‘can do’ spirit? If so, then you are ready to aggressively move toward accomplishing anything that you are willing to work hard enough to achieve. If so, right now you are experiencing ‘transformational healing’.
You can realize this empowering transformation for yourself, plant and nurture it within your family, church, work site, etc. For when you realize that being empowering and being empowered is a choice, a change in your thoughts and feelings and expectations—then you can simply choose to make this change—or not. Just step out of the ‘don’t even try because they won’t let me culture’, and step into the ‘of course I can, for I control my destiny culture’. Nothing can stop you from realizing your chosen path, if you have internalized that you can BE and will BE the creator of your life.
We can create a culture where every person, regardless of age, is loved, encouraged, nurtured, and celebrated. We don’t need anyone’s permission to do so, nor can anyone stop us. Not today. Besides, there will be no apology and there will be no reparations in the foreseeable future. So, get over it already! It is just no reason for us not to get ourselves together.
There is true beauty and opportunity within the challenges faced by the descendants of American slavery today. That which is truly constraining us is between our ears. Our enslaved ancestors had no control over their destiny. Yet for 400 years our ancestors endured, knowing that one day you would know the imperfect freedoms of today. Their 400 years of triumph paid for our freedom. Now—we simply have to fully embrace it and fully claim it.
“Heroes are ordinary men and women who dare to see and meet the call of a possibility bigger than themselves. Breakthroughs are created by such heroes, by men and women who will stand for the result while it is only a possibility–people who will act to make possibility real.” That is a Werner Erhard quote, a member of Oprah’s posse.
Resolve right now to BE a HERO; for yourself, your fatmily, your community, and definitely as a tribute to the sacrifice of your ancestors, and for the benefit of your future generations.
Love. Help. Support. Decide who you choose to BE and BE it. Always. And always know that today it is you, who is in control of your destiny.
Every decision you make stems from what you think you are and represents the value that you put upon yourself.
The Transformational Agenda Magazine 26th Edition
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