Vote the Mandela Way.
In an interview with Oprah, Nelson Mandela revealed that he had been imprisioned for 27 years…
Imagine what kind of state your mind, heart, and spirit would be in if you had been sentenced to spend a lifetime in prison for speaking and acting against a political system that privileged whites and denied rights to non-whites. Originally, Mandela was sentenced to spend a lifetime in prison for his defiant actions against the government. However, after serving 27 years in prison, President F. W. De Klerk released Mandela as a result of increased domestic and international pressure, coupled with the fear of a racial civil war.
—
DISCLAIMER:
It’s okay to desire, to expect. You’ve voted, and I applaud you for doing so. You voted for a particular candidate and, naturally, you expect and hope that they will win—nothing wrong with that either. But how you posture your mind and spirit next is crucial.
—
Mandela’s Choice.
It would have been easy for the human mind to expect Nelson Mandela to enter prison with a broken, hopeless spirit and to exit with half of one. Yet—Nelson Mandela exits prison in 1990, then becomes the 11th President of the African National Congress and leads an administration that is credited with ending that apartheid (the system of legislations that upheld segregationist policies against non-white citizens), resulting in the first ever 1994 multiracial general election—in which he was elected President of South Africa. To some, Mandela has been denounced as a communist terrorist, but to others Mandela is regarded as an icon of democracy and social justice, having earned more than 250 honours, including the Nobel Peace Prize.
—
It’s not who you’re voting for,
but what you’re voting for that matters.
Nelson Mandela was 75 years old when he became President and officially eligible to vote. Even when he could not vote, he voted. He voted by standing for something much larger than himself. He voted by entering prison with his character intact. He voted by exiting prison, not only in wholeness, but boldness. He then, instead of being bitter, held strong to what he believed in and created positive, ground breaking change. One man changed the trajectory of an entire country, and beyond. Each year that Nelson Mandela sat in prison, he voted. He voted until what he believed aligned with WHO he believed in.
Can what you believe survive no matter who is in the White House? Are you bold enough to foster the change that you believe the world needs—within you, first? How about your household? Your community? Are you willing to sacrifice almost a lifetime, maybe 75 years, before you see change?
Nelson Mandela is a beautiful example of the enduring, purpose-filled, and loving human spirit. Today, and everyday, I CHOOSE to vote the Mandela way.
Prayer & Affirmation.
Spirit, Guides, & Angels above—
In this moment, we ask for clarity and direction. In this moment, we ask that our minds, hearts, and spirits might be opened to a Higher perspective. Create inside of us, the capacity for courage, love, and hope. Allow our kids, the youth & future generations to be INSPIRED by what the world could be. Plant an irresistible connection within them, one that thrives on the understanding of their unique purpose. Grant them the divine ability to bring positive change to this world. Allow their bravery to be gracefully bruised with sensitivity to the needs of themselves and others. Open their minds and spirits to desire a lifetime of enlightenment that grows at the roots of awareness.
We realize that our understanding of 2020 may be blurry right now—we may have resisted the events of this year—but it is in this moment that we surrender our expectations as we make room to trust life’s way of unfolding. We surrender our expectations for the higher good. As we do so, we pick up the armor of love. We pick up the armor of LIGHT—we bring this into our homes, our workspaces, and communities. We do this with Faith, belief, and intention.