It’s A Different World x BLK Thought CEO Anthony Eldon

Does life really ever become easy?

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." (Maya Angelou)

From childhood it seems we have aspirations for lives to become, well...easier. If only things were more simplistic. Day to day we engage in fanciful thoughts & romanticize about living the good life. This lead to me to ask the question, does life ever really become...easy? In my opinion. No. Not really. BUT (& there’s always a but) Fortunately easy doesn’t equate to peace. Nor does it equal contentment. Easy means easy. That’s it. Peace is still attainable. Contentment is still attainable & joy is still in fact, attainable. Let’s unpack.

1. Life is hard. This is something we can all agree upon & it’s a point I will keep running back to. If it isn’t work, it’s family, a relationship, an engagement, bills, household responsibilities...the list goes on.

Tack this onto any other emotions you may be experiencing: depression, anxiety, fear. It’s a lot to take in. The biggest takeaway? You aren’t alone. You will overcome. Every stage of your life will require a different version of you. In some way or another shifts will occur. They will not always be comfortable or welcoming but in every instance they will be necessary. Whatever the storm you will weather it.

1. Nothing. Even your dreams. Is ever what it seems. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the job is, how amazing the opportunity seems or how great it looks walking in - there will be things you don’t like & that is okay.

This is where you develop a feel for your levels of tolerance. Determine what works & what doesn’t. Become comfortable with the word no. Become comfortable with learning self & acknowledging when something isn’t working.

There will be moments of grief for the opportunities you didn’t take, decisions you made in poor taste, & engagements that bring forth emotional scarring. This is normal & expected. You are still capable of moving forward. If anything could have taken you out. It would have by now.

1. No one is an expert. It’s okay to have mentors & role models respectively but at the end of the day we are all still progressing, learning & attempting to make the best of the life we’ve been given. There will never be a moment in which we stop developing as human beings.

That being said - don’t lean too heavily on the influence of other people. You will never be LeBron or Beyonce. They’re dope & amazing points of study but you can only be you. What Mary J. say? Take me as I am! Or have nothing. Nothing at all. I can only be me. Do you hear me? No one will ever have all the answers. Be open to receiving feedback. Be open to taking notes. Be open to leveling up but never assume someone who has the same probability of out running a bullet - has it all together.

You are capable of actively claiming your peace one day at a time. You are capable of doing everything you desire even when it seems the world is working against you because you know & I know life will never be fair. But it can be conquered. You will encounter many trials but with each season you’ll find it’s only for a little while. Just as you fall. So you will rise.

Journal Entry:

1. How can I tailor my day to day actions so that I am approaching life from a sense of manageability and not based on how easy a situation may seem?

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This week we’re stepping into Full Effect with BLK Thought founder and CEO Anthony Eldon

Listen to our full episode here: