Greetings and Good Afternoon, Everyone!
I hope that you’re off to an amazing start today. This past weekend was yet another learning moment for me. It was a chance to learn about how I handle disappointment. Even in the aftermath of the “slap that rocked the Oscars and America,” I took away some lessons learned to use in the future. Today, I want to discuss the importance of pushing through a disappointment.
Nowadays, we often talk about “leveling up,” but after we do so, we never talk about the new challenges we have to face. As I watched Will Smith deliver his acceptance speech at the Oscar’s last night, I’d agreed with his statement that was shared with him by Denzel Washington, “to watch out because at your highest point the devil will come for you.” That is a completely true statement. Not knowing what had just transpired on stage. I‘d completely missed the incident of him slapping Chris Rock earlier that evening. I mentioned this because, in the aftermath of this incident there is a teachable moment. I don’t believe in this moment, “the devil was coming for him.” There will be plenty of other days for that comment to ring true. However, I realized in that moment, that people will disappoint you. I’ve always respected and loved the way Will Smith, has always maintained a positive image in the public eye. He’s never acted out of pocket or out of character. So, his behavior shocked me! I was very disappointed with the way that Will Smith handled the joke that Chris Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will’s wife. I understand Jada’s hair journey with alopecia has been tough, to say the least, but there is no excuse to hit someone. I get why he was upset, and I realize there may be “history”, where Chris Rock may have poked fun at them in the past, but this was not the way to deal with his frustrations. I feel that he could’ve spoke to him in private. It was a very sad moment. It didn’t have to be like this. It turned into a very embarrassing moment, and it took away from his win and made it a non-factor! This morning, no one is raving and talking about the wonderful fact that he received an Oscar for his stellar performance in his portrayal of Richard Williams —the father of Venus and Serena Williams—in the movie King Richard, but it has been clouded by this terrible incident. I think that it will be the “talk of the town” for a while. This is an unfortunate situation because I loved the movie by the way! Disappointment has very different faces, and I was so embarrassed for everyone involved. It shows up in people’s behavior, what they think, and what they say. Disappointment is a strong emotion and it’s tied to regret. Somethings that disappoint me, I’m not regretful for the experience but there other times when I am. Eventhough this didn’t happen to me, I regret the entire situation for both Will and Chris. I hope that they can eventually talk it out and fix the problem between them. It’s funny, I swear the Oscars always has something crazy to pop off every year! 🤷🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️😃
After seeing that video this morning, I wanted to relate it to my professional journey as an author, and something that I experienced over the weekend. As I’ve grown as an authorpreneur, I’ve experienced many challenges and I’ve grown in many ways. I’ve been able to “level up” slightly, and as a result I begun to face new hardships. As an author, at this point in my journey, I honestly expect more from myself, from writing and my brand. It’s difficult for me to not feel disappointed and beat myself up, especially, when I’m unsuccessful in getting the support that I need for my writing to go farther. I spend a great deal of time and effort putting myself out there, to host events, and share my work and it amounts to just a “trickle” of wonderful people supporting me. I’ll take them, but I must be honest, I a want to reach more people. Case in point, this past weekend, I’d planned to host a Book Discussion & Wine Tasting for Perfect Chemistry, and to be quite honest; it was a flop!🤣😂 No one showed up. I’m laughing now, but I wanted to cry in the moment. I take full responsibility for that because, I just knew that the few people that showed interest would come out, but that didn’t happen. Now, I ended up having a wonderful afternoon tasting wines, and it would have been better to enjoy it with readers of my book, but it was my fault that I wasn’t successful this time. In a situation like this, how does one bounce back? I will tell you how. You stop beating yourself up and get back to work. Now is the time to pivot. Moreover, I said to myself, “let’s look at how we get the word out and begin to reach out to folks that may be interested next time.” It’s not the end of the world, it just feels a little harsh in the moment. This is when I have to “Push Through!” I have to refocus and tell myself, that’s just one event! You’ve got this and can do more! Next time, I will do better! I have a vision for my books, my business, and brand. All are impactful in many ways and for various reasons! I don’t say my mission and goal just to hear them for myself. I truly believe that through my writing, books, and everything that I do creatively that it is my goal to encourage my readers and beyond to live their lives with purpose, intention, and full of passion. Also, it is my hope M.OTIVATE at least one person to A.SPIRE to greatness, and I.NSPIRE many along the way. I live with that in my heart every day. It is my guiding force. When you have your moral compass guiding you, nothing can disappoint you for long!
I hope this post add a little bit of joy to your life this morning! May it stir you, and get you ready for pushing through the disappointments you may be facing. Get back there and keep pushing! You’ve got this and hold your head up high while you do it! Have a wonderful week!
Peace & Blessings,
M.A.I.
Thank you for reading my blog this morning. Hey, do me a favor, if you like or love this post, comment on it. I’d love to hear your feedback. Also, please feel free to share it with your family and friends in the social media universe. I greatly appreciate the support.
