by Stephen R Smith
OVERCOMING OBSTACLES AND BREAKING BARRIERS. A GIFT FOR FATHER’S DAY
STEPHEN R S M I T H
AUTHOR, SPEAKER, CEO,FOUNDER, BROADCASTER
Copyright by Stephen R Smith
Today is a new day and we can paint the canvas of this picture any way we choose. I choose positivity and gratitude – Stephen Smith
Most people have built walls to create a safe zone to protect us from our adverse and painful experiences. However, every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow. This is based on the fact we are willing to make a positive transformational change and work towards goals we have dreamed about.
In my case, for several years I would tell myself “life sucked and I’m a bad person”. This would occur many times throughout the day. I contemplated suicide and the thought of death swirled in my mind. It seemed like a logical answer to end my suffering. I must have said “The world would be better off without you Stephen” a thousand times. I considered myself a failure to mankind.
As I was writing this article, music was playing, and this wonderful song came on. As it played on, tears came to my eyes when I realized that it was relative to what I am about to share with you. The song by The Pretenders is called “Show Me”. The first line goes like this; “Show me the meaning of the World”. Everyone wants to know the answer to this question, right? When we turn on the TV or read the news on our internet feed, we see turbulent days. It is filled with Disease, Social Distancing, Quarantine, Homelessness, Hunger, Riots, Crime, and hatred spewing everywhere around us. There appears a clear division amongst the masses and we wonder why is this happening? The next verse states “Welcome to the Human Race with its wars, disease, and brutality”. The melody plays on and the singer Chrissy Hines, exclaims “I WANT LOVE”.
I believe that deep within us we all want to be loved and admired by our families, our spouse, partner, and our children if we have any. We desire to be healthy and strong in mind, body, and spirit. The fact is that many people dream of this lifestyle, but very few obtain it. The reality is that we all possess seeds of greatness and the ability to achieve a higher quality of life that will make us proud and not feel threatened. To achieve this state of Nirvana will take a lot of
work to manifest these intentions in your life.
For myself, it took decades to arrive at the level of gratitude, joy, and serenity that I possess today. However, it does not have to be like that for everyone. The truth is, I would take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. If you can relate to this, do not give up. Failure is a step towards success. I did not apply the wisdom and good advice I had been given on any consistent basis. For most of my life, I used alcohol and drugs to help me cope with feelings of worthlessness and self-hatred. Alcohol and drugs helped me hide behind a mask that made everything seem good, even though it was not good. I struggled with anxiety. I endured mental and physical pain accompanied by deep depression at times. I came to the point where I recognized that my life was completely unmanageable, so I turned my life and my will over to the care of God as I understand him.
My bottom out was when I found myself homeless, living in the woods. My decision to drink and drive had caught up to me. I had lost most of my possessions, my job, and the meaningful relationships I had with family and friends. Throughout my life, I had made many good decisions, but I had made poor decisions as well. I lost businesses, two marriages, and everything else imaginable. On the other hand, I survived a few near-fatal car accidents, dependence upon alcohol and drugs, and forgave myself for the poor decisions I had made. I had found that love that I was looking for in all the wrong places. Having for the most part lived an abundant, blessed life, I am a survivor. When I tore down the walls, got honest with myself, and made amends to the persons I had wronged, my burdens were lifted. I began to take better care of myself and live each day like it was my last. Living in the present moment is a gift and I am grateful to be alive and well. Daily, I strive to become a better person and to embody positive transformational change. This behavior resulted in a lust for life and my desire to become a role model for others and my community.
Over 2 years ago I started broadcasting live videos on Facebook. I titled them “Live with Nature”. Each episode started with the statement that the broadcast offered a connection to Nature, Source, and was an opportunity to listen to the birds singing. We would watch the sun coming up and welcome in a new day with positivity and gratitude. This evolved into my nonprofit organization that is a resource for positive transformational change, The LWN Live with Nature Foundation. These days my broadcast begins with an introduction that speaks to a specific topic. I talk about empowerment, health, and wellness, gratitude, positivity, have a meditation segment, and close with a prayer.
My WHY is to serve others by sharing my personal story of victory over the darkness. I have a vision of opening a “New Life” Transformational Center that will offer the opportunity for the needy to get their life back on track. I plan to offer life skills training, provide health care services, housing, and jobs. I want to inspire people who inspire others. I will help people overcome the obstacles that used to hold them back and breakthrough barriers to become the best person they can be. When a person releases self-limiting thoughts and replaces that thinking with positivity and healthy habits, life is a rewarding and enjoyable journey.
By the grace of God and a lot of work on my behalf, I made a dramatic change in my thinking and habits until I arrived at the point where I am now, happy and healthy. When we use our experiences as a lesson to learn and draw strength from, surround ourselves with people who help us move toward a better life, it becomes the best gift we can ever give to ourselves and our family. Truthfully, the best gift a son can give on Father’s Day is to become a person their father can be proud of. Trust that relationships can be mended and remember to never give up on your dreams because dreams do come true. -Stephen R Smith https://www.lwnfoundation.org
The LWN Foundation
Stephen Smith is a man who has gone to hell and come back from the depths of darkness to a place filled with Light, Love of God, himself and others. He made many good, but too many poor decisions that cost him everything he had. He lost businesses, two marriages, good family and friend relationships and everything else in between. He survived a few near fatal car accidents, deadly diseases including Hepatitis C and alcohol and drug addiction. Having for the most part lived an abundant and blessed life, he found himself fresh out of jail, homeless living in the woods and nothing but himself left. Today, he earned back most of what he lost. A real survivor, God fearing, honest, caring and compassionate person who strives to help others and give back freely in an effort to pay it forward with no expectation of reimbursement. He strives daily to become a better person and has made a transitional change which resulted in a lust for life and becoming a role model for others and an asset to the community.
About The Author
