Become more accutely aware of what’s happening right now, this very moment.
Phil Jackson
We are all talented in one way or another, but it is how we develop these talents that can determine our future. So often in life we are told that we that we have to be or act in a certain way so we can fit in with what society feels our role should be. This is completely contrary to what we really should be doing with our lives. If you could pursue what moves you, why not go after that dream?
Don’t settle for what others think or believe. The ideals society places upon us often runs against the laws of nature that suggests that we have the ability to be manifest our destiny by consciously willing our futures into existence. Instead of focusing on what others may think, take time to examine and further develop your talents and special gifts.
Whether you ride a skateboard like Tony Hawk or make hip hop beats like Pharrell from the Neptunes, it has to start somewhere. These guys didn’t become the best at what they do by worrying about what others thought about them or how they were acting. They took what they loved and ended up creating a life for themselves by believing that this was the only way to live life. There was no hesitation, just a pure love of being who they are and a unshakeable determination to use the talents they were graced with.
We all have talents and skills. They may lay hidden within us, but they are there. If you are sick and tired of not doing what you want to do, you must take the first step and examine what reallly drives and motivates you. Then take this crucial knowledge and start visualizing a future with you in it. Start envisioning accomplishing your goals and dreams and they will soon become a reality. This doesn’t mean that you make wish and hope that it comes true. It means that you start taking action toward making your dream a reality. The easiest way to do this is to start believing that you are worthy of living a life of happiness. This may sound simple, but so many people don’t think they are worthy of being a champion or a winner in the game of life. Don’t you deserve to be happy?
The second thing to do is to practice, practice, and practice. Since you will be doing what you love, you won’t have Allen Iverson’s pension for doing what it takes to be the best. We all have to practice because as the old saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” If you think you can become the next Michael Jordan, you had better be willing to do what it took to turn a young, talented basketball player into one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen. Remember, practicing doing what you love is not a chore. It is a conscious choice to take the best that is inside of you and harness it into a well-oiled machine.
The third thing to do is to not be afraid to fail. Each lesson we learn makes a stronger person. Life is a long journey and not a short race, so don’t expect to understand everything by tomorrow. Ask Jay-Z if he one day woke up and knew exactly what they had to do to be successful. He had to take capitalize on his talent, use the lessons he learned in life, and continue working on himself (as a whole) in order to achieve success. Life wasn’t an easy road, but he kept on going no matter what life threw at them. You have to be able to learn from what happens to you and around you, in order to grow and become the best you can be.
We are all gifted. Look inside yourself and find what makes you have goose bumps when you think of doing that. Whether it’s scoring the winning goal in the Stanley Cup or being a teacher who makes a difference in the lives of their students, have enough faith in yourself to give yourself the chance to follow your dreams. Don’t give up. If you believe it is possible, it can happen. This is your life to lead. Take control and begin to live life the way you want to.
Rapper Ludacris has joined with reality television show creator Matt Apfel to launch a new music community website called Wemix. Designed for unsigned singers, songwriters, rappers, musicians, and producers, the site is unique in that it allows its users to remix tracks that are uploaded by different site members. 
Kayne West has finally responded to the criticisms that were thrown at him after a delayed performance at the typically jamband-heavy Bonnaroo. According to West, his set-up problems were the fault of the folks behind Bonnaroo and he sharply criticized the event’s production staff. 
