(ThyBlackMan.com) Who we are as black men and what we are to become depends to a great extent on a number of external factors largely beyond our control: family, genes, geography, social status etc. But the attribute we most influence and that single-handedly determines what we make of our lives is our attitude. That attitude is shaped by our willingness to engage three questions in the quest for our empowerment as human beings and as men of color. Who am I? What do I want? What action will I take? When we provide clear answers to these three questions, we form the basis of our empowerment.
Self-Image: Who Am I?
Ask, “Who am I?” Literally ask yourself this question. Verbalize the response. Do not be afraid to engage in what Dennis Waitley calls 
“relentless, repetitive self-talk.” The answer will give you the value you place upon your life. Many of us have never given much thought to the value of our lives; therefore, our esteem suffers and we lose sight of the fact that our self-image is a direct reflection of who we perceive ourselves to be.
We’ve been created in the likeness of Divinity. This is important because in America we live in a land of images. Commercial entities have adopted the slogan “image is everything.” What’s happened in America is that we as black men are wearing the images given to us by others. We must recover our true Divine likeness.
Self-Actualization: What Do I Want?
Ask, “What do I want for my life?” Too many black men are fenced in, unable or unwilling to move beyond certain imposed boundaries. Most of the fences that surround us are ones that other people have erected; unfortunately, others have defined the extent of our actualization. It’s time to break free of that. It’s important, though, that you answer this question divorced of imperfections resulting from past mistakes or poor choices.
Very early in my life people began to define the terms of my actualization – who I would be and what I would become. We cannot live the dreams of others. I concluded I was not moving in the direction which I really wanted and I decided to change that. We must not be afraid to reinvent ourselves.
Self-Determination: What Action Will I Take?
Ask, “What will I do to initiate change in my life?” Action requires courage. Anais Nin writes, Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. The first step is to understand the level of resistance we face on a daily basis – our own and that imposed by others. Resistance is a force intended to keep us immobile; its aim is to keep us right where we are, doing nothing but playing the victim. Resistance places obstacles in our paths and is designed to make us feel small and unappreciated. Self-determination, however, overcomes this by not just defining what we want but also what action we will take to get what we want. It is the summoning of courage. It is the intestinal fortitude that says “I will not be defeated!” in the face of tremendous odds.
In our quest for empowerment we must answer ‘who am I, what do I want and what action will I take?’
Staff Writer; W. Eric Croomes
This talented brother is a holistic lifestyle exercise expert and founder and executive coach of Infinite Strategies LLC, a multi-level coaching firm that develops and executes strategies for fitness training, youth achievement and lifestyle management. Eric is an author, fitness professional, holistic life coach and motivational speaker.
In October 2015, Eric released Life’s A Gym: Seven Fitness Principles to Get the Best of Both, which shows readers how to use exercise to attract a feeling of wellness, success and freedom (Infinite Strategies Coaching LLC, 2015) – http://www.infinitefitnesscoaching.com.
