Emotional Intelligence VS. Emotional Fragility
I started this 8 days ago and couldn’t push publish, then I heard this quote by Gil Scott Heron.
Enjoy this image, Gil’s quote, and my attempt at bridging the two in order to elucidate my title.
Makes sense?
The catchphrase — what that was all about… the Revolution WIll not be Televised… that was about the fact that THE FIRST CHANGE THAT TAKES PLACE IS IN YOUR MIND.
You have to change your mind before you change the way you live and the way you move.
So when we said, THE REVOLUTION WOULD NOT BE TELEVISED. We were saying that the thing that was going to change people was something that no one would ever be able to capture on film.
It would just be something that you see and all of a sudden you realize, “I’m on the wrong page. Or, I’m on the right page, but on the wrong note…” and I’ve got to get in sync with everyone else to understand what is happening in this country.
But I think that the Black Americans have been the only real die-hard Americans here. Because we the only ones who carried the process through the process. Everyone else has to skip stages. We the ones who marched. We the ones who carried the bible. We are the one who carried the flag, We are the ones who tried to go through the courts.
Being born American didn’t seem to matter, because we were born American.
But we still had to fight.
— Gil Scott Heron
Emotional Intelligence begins when you come to terms with who you are and accept who you are.
Emotional Fragility is active when you let people tell you who you are and let their words inform your feelings about yourself letting those feelings linger.
Emotional Intelligence begins in your mind.
Emotional Fragility is active when you let people rule your mind by giving them access to your heart.
Emotional Intelligence begins when you recognize that the time, the place, and the skin you’re in are all foundational pillars bringing you closer to your destiny.
Emotional Fragility is active when you hate the skin you’re in.
Emotional Intelligence begins when you tap into the power of your tongue and raise your self up in positive words. When you lift your spirit in high esteem. When you sing praises to the God in you.
Emotional Fragility is active when you let a small man crush your big divinity.
Emotional Intelligence begins when you realize your only competition is yourself.
Emotional Fragility is active when other people convince you that you’re in a race against them and that you were not born to win and can never win.
Emotional Intelligence begins when you know you have won. When you weaponize your words and you call upon a vision to defeat anyone and anything that subjugates your humanity.
Emotional Fragility is active when you let external shenanigans and empty barrels crashing drown out the still, internal voice of conviction which says, “Yes, You can. Yes, You are. Yes, You will.”
Makes sense?
The above was the Instagram post I saw of Gil’s brief, yet powerful explanation of the revolution. Below is his timeless single, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
This is the fourth installment of my #60DayWritingChallenge
At first, I thought I would write continuously for 60 days, then this piece really stood me up and the juice was not flowing. So here I am — taking it one day at a time. I guarantee you will read at least 56 more pieces from me, God willing.
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Thanks so much for reading my friend. I really, truly, absolutely appreciate it ❤
