The Power of the Mind. Mental Mentors.

BRZKMND posts are designed for you to get a peek into my mindset, interesting concepts, and a feel for how I think.

Narrated by Tashawn B.(tuned), the author.

I want to start by saying this post is one of the strangest posts you’ll read from me. This post has been in my mind for a while, but it couldn’t have come before my previous posts. It was important that I talked about some of my favorite people who inspired me and the reasons for it first. I wrote about rapper Lil Wayne, and how he dealt with mental issues as well as how he overcame them. I talked about activist Malcolm X, and how even through the betrayal by the Nation that built him up, his integrity kept him steadfast in his purpose. I spoke about comedian Dave Chappelle, and how he didn’t let money or even falling from the limelight come between his feelings and beliefs. I talked about Muhammad Ali and how he faced several battles in the ring, but fought one of his best bouts outside of the ring. I only have about ten articles, but there are many lessons I have learned over time from thousands of people.

I read hundreds of books and can relate hundreds of stories that motivated and changed the way I think and go about things. I have my life lessons too and they all shape me in a way that helps me move on through my life. This post is about how I use what I’ve learned to help problem-solve beyond just my emotions and rationale. I can admit it’s rather strange, but it works for me and I’m sure with practice, it can work for anyone. For now, I would just read it as a proof of concept.

About ten years ago, I read a book called “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill. It’s my all-time favorite book, and it no doubt changed how I think and move through life. The book was based on a philosophy of how you can think yourself to riches. The book had an underlying message about the importance of believing in yourself and that we do not differ from the people we admire. The author emphasized that the only boundaries are the ones we create in our minds. This was life-changing for me. After that book, I started reading more and more about other people and subjects, even things that didn’t necessarily interest me.

What makes us different from other beings is our ability to think and decide for ourselves. We are the smartest and most capable beings on this planet. Other organisms live strictly by the laws of nature. A tree’s purpose is to grow the biggest it can and provide food and oxygen. It does its purpose well because if trees had the choice to turn-up every weekend, we would probably all be on some type of life support. The single thing that makes us different is our thoughts and ability to rationalize. That being said, let me introduce: Mental Mentors.

I ran into this exercise by accident while trying to meditate early on. I couldn’t silence my mind, so I just let my mind run. I thought it would eventually stop, but it didn’t. I started to sort out things that troubled me. This was so profound to me because my most complex thoughts were unlacing themselves in front of me.

Whenever I have something that I can’t quite figure out, I would take myself to a peaceful place and have these thoughts run free. As I read more, these sessions would become even more complex, but in a good way. I would eventually learn how to silence my mind and with that came the ability to handle thoughts directly. I would, in a sense, communicate mentally with figures that I knew overcame the problems I was having. These gatherings would guide my decisions and be a sense of counseling when needed. For lack of a better name, I call them Mental Mentors. Here’s how I would do it:

I would first take the time and silence the world around me. I would take out any biases I had out of my head. If it was regarding someone close, I would try to take out anything that would make me favor or averse to them.

Next, I would consult with my essential mental mentors. My mind is so in tune with this process that I don’t even have to think about who I’m going to talk to. They just show up.

It always starts with someone like Malcolm X. I read enough about Malcolm that I feel I know what he would say regarding integrity. It’s usually regarding the reasons for my subject and if it goes with my core beliefs.

Malcolm X would say: Brother, heed the lessons of my life. Through struggle and transformation, I have advanced with honor, even when my heart was heavy. Tell me, are you pursuing your path with righteous intentions?

Next, I would contact someone that was related to the subject that I was pondering about. If it was about making a big purchase or investing money, I would contact Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He would go over things like assets and liabilities and if this would be the best next step for my finances. He would say:

“Tashawn, I know you want that new car, but when making purchases, think of them as investments in your future. Consider if they contribute to your financial growth, bring you closer to your goals, or generate income or savings. Avoid impulsive purchases and prioritize those that align with your financial objectives.”

If I were questioning something relationship-wise, I would contact Kevin Samuels. Sike, but he probably would tell me:

“Alright, listen up brother. Why are you allowing emotions towards women to affect you? Focus on achieving your goals and pursuing higher-quality women. Strive to be a man of high value. You’re better than that. You gotta leave her in the dust and do what you need to do to level up.”

Marcus Aurelius would come in and say,

My friend, do you find yourself in the grips of your emotions? Remember to understand your feelings and to not let them govern your actions.

Kevin Hart would come in and say:

Alright, listen up people, emotions, and women, it’s a tricky game, let me tell you. One minute you’re on cloud nine, and the next you’re in the doghouse. But here’s the thing fellas, we can’t let those emotions control us. We got goals to chase, dreams to achieve. Keep your head up, stay focused, and…

Dave Chappelle would cut him off and say,

Don’t get me wrong, Kevin Hart’s a funny guy and all, but when it comes to love advice, you better steer clear. I mean, this dude’s been married like three times, and that’s not a good track record. Now, I’m not saying I’m an expert either, but at least I’ve been with the same woman for over 20 years… I’m just saying…

Then the entire group would start laughing.

If I was feeling inadequate or like a failure, I would contact someone like my father. I wouldn’t call him in real life, but I probably should. I would remember all the affirmations he gives me and he would come to life in front of me.

During these sessions, I talk to multiple people and their views are always uniquely different. Most of the time, my mental mentors would interact with each other. Philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates would often debate all the intricacies in my subject and leave me thinking more than I usually would. Malcolm X and MLK Jr. would speak about their different activism methods and how things changed from their time. These exercises get pretty intense, but at the end of them, I usually have very thorough answers that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

As you can tell, these mental mentors are a vast of different people. Obviously, I don’t know most of these people, but their wisdom still affects me. The beauty of this is the person could be still alive like Dave Chappelle, deceased like Mahatma Gandhi, fictional like Erik KillMonger, or even a younger version of myself. Time is not a question in these meetings. I’ve had many conversations with my younger and older self. It’s very humbling and motivating.

I’ll conclude by stating that the mind is a potent instrument. It can either collaborate with you or work against you, but you must choose a stance as there is no middle ground.