by Akilah Nehanda
Many of us, including myself, have these grand ideas of what we desire to be and do. I think we can unanimously agree now more than ever that there is ultimately nothing that’s impossible to accomplish. Just look at Donald Trump! However, the thing I’m growing to understand about how this manifesting process works is that we have to be more attached, dedicated, and committed to performing the function rather than putting our focus on the titles.
What do I mean by titles? I’m an artist. I’m a Minister. I’m a Father. I’m a writer. I recently posted on my Facebook, Function over titles!!…You can call yourself anything nowadays…but people don’t respect what you call yourself, they respect what you actually do lol”. I had to come to the realization and truly the acceptance that while I call myself an artist, am I truly functioning as one? Am I surrounding myself with art on a daily basis? Am I doing vocal warm ups and practicing my songs or writing music a few times a week. Do I look like an artist? All of these things are considered FUNCTIONS of an artist. The function is what ultimately qualifies us to call ourselves what it is that we desire to be. I understand the concept of the biblical verse in Genesis, “In the beginning there was the word.” So people encourage you to speak things into existence first and then carry the function into practice. I get it. That works wonders. However, once we finish declaring our intentions we must Must MUST create a culture, a support system, habits, and a serious action plan to make that title a true statement and not just a fanciful declaration. That is where I am in my life right now. Now I’m okay with the time it takes to establish, create, and manifest the actual function of what it is I desire to be. I think in my immature way of thinking, I felt that once I declared what it is I desire, I would turn into that immediately. But everything is a process. I pray everyone starts putting their energy into manifesting the function of what they call themselves by taking the necessary action steps and habits.
I pray that instead of just calling yourself a father because you have a living seed, that you carry the function of leading, supporting, and pastoring your children to become upstanding people. Instead of just calling yourself a writer because you like to write on occasion, study, surround yourself, and think words all the time, not just when you feel like it. This year and beyond, let’s put all of our energy and mind power toward function rather than titles. Let’s let our actions speak and give us the title. On judgement day, God isn’t going to ask what you call yourself, He judges based on what we do. Ask yourself, What is your function?
I remember hearing Minister Louis Farrakhan speak about the late Commandante Fidel Castro and how even though he didn’t identify with the title of a believer in God, He functioned in such a way that was more Godlike than many of us who call ourselves Muslim, Christian, or Jewish by providing an entire country with free education, healthcare, and military protection. At the end of the day, what we call ourselves and what we do must align. Again, ask your yourself, what’s your function. There is power in the words I AM. And there is even more power in the FUNCTION. Now BE! Accept your own and BE yourself. Function over Titles is the new Black!
(Keep up with Akilah Nehanda on Twitter @AkilahNehanda and Instagram @AkilahNehanda. Subscribe to her YouTube Channel.)
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After asking several students about the Step show I received nothing but raving reviews! The AKA’S with their insane asylum theme and Alpha Phi Alpha with a comedic “Coming to America†theme took the trophy and won 3,500! I enjoyed my time at the events so much that I ended up taking over a thousand pictures, ran out of card memory of 8 gigs, had to delete pictures, and refill my camera batteries twice!
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