QUICK TIPS & ACTVITIES TO HELP YOU LIVE THE 7 LIFE LAWSTM

LIFE LAW #1 - The Past Has Passed.

• Write an apology letter to yourself regarding your biggest regret(s)?

• Memorize & Practice The Serenity Prayer.

LIFE LAW #2 - Accept Responsibility & Be Accountable.

4 Ways to Reinforce Accountability

1. Embracing challenges

2. Experienced accountability

3. Consistent and regular feedback

4. Self-reflection

LIFE LAW #3 - Be Grateful.

• Counterfactual Thinking meditation – For two minutes each day, reflect on a past, positive event or relationship in your life. Imagine what your life would be if it never occurred or existed. Reflect on how your life would be different and what you’d not possess.

• Develop your own Grateful Rituals (Meditation, Affirmation, Journaling - Additional suggestions at www.tinybuddha.com) opponents. For most, it manifests itself both literally and figuratively in our lives. Its most common forms characterize and consume our intimate relationships and physical environments. In relationships, toxic people, whom we cling to, offer discouragement instead of support and conflict instead of tranquility. In our homes, clutter steals our time and energy. It prevents us from valuing or enjoying our homes as a place to entertain, or as a sanctuary against our everyday stressors. Even in its physical, material form, however, clutter usually represents something else, and that is, unaddressed emotional baggage or benchmarks of the past. Consider the unnecessary trash in a hoarder’s home, to them, it symbolizes deceased loved ones, memorable experiences, or a fear of lacking. Clutter then becomes difficult to dispense with because they feel they are not throwing away trash, but rather, abandoning the people, experiences they love, or threatening their own security. (Types of Clutter: Physical

LIFE LAW #4 - Embrace A Spiritual Foundation And Practice.

• Establish a sacred space in your home.

• Meditate, pray, adopt Tai Chai or Yoga practice.

LIFE LAW #5 - Declutter Your Life And Environment.

• The Philosophy of In & Out – For every new item you purchase, you must discard an old item.

• Everything has its place. Return it.

• Establish a cleaning day or a daily cleaning ritual.

• Do Relationship checks. Are you getting out what you are putting in?

LIFE LAW #6 - Do Your Best Today But Pursue Better Tomorrow.

• Keep your word. Be consistent.

• Make a daily To-Do list. Complete every item before you go to sleep every day.

LIFE LAW #7 - Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously.

• Find ways to remain humble. Perform acts of kindness.

• Pick up trash in your neighborhood.

Clutter, Emotional Clutter, Human Clutter)

LIFE LAW #6 – DO YOUR BEST TODAY BUT PURSUE BETTER TOMORROW.

Change can be daunting. The people we are today versus the people we strive to ultimately become often are dramatically different. As a matter of fact, the distance between the two may even appear as polar-opposites and the mere thought, let alone, the actual undertaking, will intimidate and dissuade most. While everyone desires to be the best versions of themselves, few people act. Changing one’s life takes courage, commitment, and most of all, patience. It forces oneself to confront one’s unpleasant truths, accept responsibility, be accountable, develop a plan, take-action and remain consistent. Consistency gets us to the finish line, which is our transformation. Transformation, however, doesn’t happen overnight. Making multiple, dramatic lifestyle changes all at once are rarely sustainable. True change is a gradual, step-by-step, day-by-day process. Therefore, we must develop a habit of self-improvement, around all aspects of our lives, mind, body, and spirit, to achieve it. Each day, we must endeavor to do the best we can with what have, using the prior day as the least, or starting point, of our efforts. Affirmative habits always generate momentum, and momentum achieves dramatic, never-before attainable strides. Those consistent, strides are what leads us to achieving our goal.

LIFE LAW #7 – DON’T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY.

Ego has led to the downfall of the world’s greatest and most powerful individuals. It is the Achille’s heel of the so-called invincible. In fact, when we are selfconsumed, we become arrogant, and careless in our actions as well as neglect wise counsel. We believe no one can offer us assistance nor should we ever require it since we have all the answers. Therefore, we not only become patronizing to others, but underestimate them as well. All of which makes us easy prey for our enemies. Thoughtful leaders, however, realize the risk and take precautions against themselves. In Ancient Rome, when crowds would cheer and praise Emperor Marcus Aurelius during his triumphs, he had a slave continuously whisper in his ear, “Remember yourself mortal.” Ultimately, he realized the necessity to remain grounded and open-minded. Overall, we can still possess and exude focus and intensity – typical qualities of leaders and innovators, without embracing arrogance, obsession, stress, and tension. Humility, therefore, extends our growth by allowing us to receive and not overlook worthwhile feedback even from the unlikeliest of sources. No one can be all-powerful, and all-knowing. These are traits reserved for the Divine. We are entitled to make mistakes, but most of all, find humor in them as well as our inadequacies. In doing so, we recognize the commonality in our own humanity, making us more cautious and less likely to error, because we accept that it is possible. S

Brother Eric Christopher Webb, DDiv., CPLC, a 1989 Nu Chapter initiate, a Life member, and member of Rho Tau Lambda Chapter, is the Fraternity’s director of communications and editor of The Sphinx. Brother Webb is also a National Black Authors Tour bestselling author of five books, including the 2013 Phillis Wheatley Book Award Finalist for Best First Fiction, “The Garvey Protocol: Inspired By True Events.” He speaks and conducts personal and professional development workshops at universities, colleges, institutions, and corporations nationwide. In addition, he has been featured in or on The Washington Post, Thomson Newspapers, National Newspapers Publishers Association News Wire, ESSENCE, HBO, BET, The Learning Channel, SiriusXM, and the Voice of America. www.wordsbywebb.com

OWN YOURSELF: KEYS TO MASTERING YOUR LIFE AND DEVELOPING SOVEREIGNTY

Brother Abdoul Mohammed [Beta Alpha ’14] & Alex Covington provides a guide that will help you understand exactly how you can own every facet of your life and take charge of it, whether it is your mind, environment, or just about everything. Ralph Waldo Emerson aptly put it; “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” The fact that you are here, according to the book, means you understand the need to be 100% yourself, and you are passionate about unlocking the person you believe you truly are deep inside so you can take full charge over your life by living an authentic life. amazon.com S

THE TRUMAN COURT: LAW AND THE LIMITS OF LOYALTY

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are at the forefront of every organization worldwide. Executives and Chief Diversity Officers are working tirelessly to move the DEI needle. But what theoretically seems simple is not. Many professionals are asking, “What can I do?” Diversity Starts with You presents thought-provoking questions and provides proven strategies of success for DEI. This book is compiled with 15 years of experience, giving you a roadmap to become the change within your organization. Brother Dr. Marlon Moore

[Beta Gamma ’96, General Organization] creates a DEI Operating Plan with strategic objectives, initiatives, and core elements designed to recruit and retain diverse talent while building a sustainable approach to accountability and continuous improvement. amazon.com or DEIStrategyGuide.com S

BLACK FACES IN HIGH PLACES: 10 STRATEGIC ACTIONS FOR BLACK PROFESSIONALS TO REACH THE TOP AND STAY THERE

Black Faces in High Places is the essential guide for Black professionals who are moving up through their organizations or industries but need a roadmap for how to get to the top and stay there. Brother Dr. Randall Pinkett [Kappa Phi Lambda ’07, Theta Psi Lambda] and Brother Jeffrey A. Robinson [Kappa Phi Lambda ’07, Theta Psi Lambda] highlight the experiences of other Black faces in high places who were able to navigate various crossroads, reach the top, and stay there, including insights from President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Cathy Hughes, Bob Johnson, Ursula Burns, David Steward, Angela Glover Blackwell, Ken Chenault, Senator Cory Booker, Geoffrey Canada, and others. This groundbreaking book:

• Provides a lens into the careers of other prominent figures, across several industries and sectors.

• Identifies the 10 strategic actions successful Black leaders and executives must take.

• Empowers readers with models and steps to follow these 10 strategic actions on their own journeys to becoming a prominent leader.

• Outlines the unique challenges that come with a leadership role and how to overcome them.

• Walks readers through the changes in mindset, skillset, and toolset required to travel along the success path while helping others at every step along the way. S amazon.com

Two iconic photos of Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee show his close interaction with members of the Divine Nine Fraternities. One photo was taken on April 3, 1968, the day before his assassination and the other was taken on that tragic day, April 4th, of his assassination. In the first photo, Brother King is pictured with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.’s Hosea Williams, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.’s Jesse Jackson, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.’s Ralph Abernathy. These men formed part of Brother Dr. King’s inner circle, although most of its members belonged to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. The second iconic photo depicts Brother Andrew Young pointing to the direction from which the fatal shot came.

BY BROTHER ROBERT L. HARRIS, JR., PH.D., GENERAL HISTORIAN [THETA ’63]