Question my friend, “when was the last time you assessed the canvas of your inner most thoughts?” Specifically, what I am referring to is taking yourself on a trip and finding a way to get outside of yourself and truly looking at your life for what it reflects at this very moment. I am talking about a “Mental Freestyle.” A “mental freestyle” as I frame it, can be considered an intentional day dream where for a moment we visit pain, loss, joy, triumph, and the sometimes consuming gray areas of our lives.
The thought of resielncy often leaves us with a moment of wonderment and amazement. We are often left with the question of “how does one person come back from going through so much?” With typical struggles that come with balancing marriage, family, friendship, and holding on to our purpose in being, many of us would think those areas alone bring about a time of personal victory and/or challenge…. right? Well, so many of us rarely have taken time to look over our mental canvass and conceptualize its content. If we do, maybe we can identify the things that we run to and run from. However, what makes us who we are is our ability to identify our pain, joy, loss, and triumph. Many times it is not within our control to remain in one space in life whether good bad or indifferent. Quite naturally, life evolves and simply happens.
Allow me to remind us that our resiliency can be measured by how we get beyond our sorrow and perhaps even a complacency in our own success. The question that persist in the exercise of “mental freestyle” is how do we strive ourselves in becoming a better person regardless of where we may be? What are the divine principles that guide us toward becoming that better person? Can we ultimately view ourselves in what we truly believe contains the properties to become better people? Unless we allow opportunity for “mental freestyle”, we stand to rid ourselves of embracing the experience of life bouncing back, becoming better people , and realizing where this all encompassing help comes from.
To begin, I will say that in 2015, I was convicted and sentenced to an eighty-four-month sentence in a Federal Prison. It was during this time of incarceration that I was committed to my path to redemption. In my desire to not lose sight of my calling and drive to restoration, I established worship services, Bible studies, and taught G.E.D. courses to fellow inmates. Now, that I have your attention, allow me to introduce myself.
I am a 70s child, the eldest of two boys, from Ohio. My parents provided a solid upbringing that was steeped in church involvement, where I was exceedingly active. It was in church that I began to develop leadership abilities, and being a part of youth groups and other organizations helped to shape and guide me. It was always my desire to attend an HBCU, and following high school, I entered Central State University, earning my Bachelor's degree with honors.
Seminary followed thereafter, and while I had begun with Payne Theological Seminary, I finished with a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary. Upon graduation, I had my inauguration into Pastoring with the United Methodist Church, in Mid-West, Ohio, and after several years there I transferred to the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC). Serving as an Associate Pastor for several years, until I was blessed with the opportunity to Pastor my first AMEC in Southern Ohio and remaining there for over five years. My second charge elevated me to higher grounds as Pastor of a larger congregation in Northern Ohio.
Coincidentally, during this time, I, simultaneously, earned a Ph.D., from Miami University and entertained a professional vocation that would take me throughout my life to the present day. I have held positions from Program Directors at prestigious universities to Outreach Director of Education to increase access to high-quality education for minority and marginal students.
In the Spring of 2014, I launched an internet radio talk show entitled “Reach The Masses” which engaged in a wide range of topics that were designed to impact the spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental well-being of its followers. Life was good, and I was enjoying it to the fullest until 2015 when my life took an unfortunate turn.
Using my experience as a catalyst for change, I viewed it all as humbling, while understanding and embracing it as my life’s reboot. I am home now and view this experience as compared to the mythical creature known as the Phoenix. I credit my return to society as if rising from the ashes that held a life that once was and looking forward to life’s new beginning.
Today, I serve as a Minister and Freelance Educational Consultant, assisting with the research and development of educational leaders. I am boldly the proud father of two sons and surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends. The Biblical words that I maintain as an anchor are found in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
I am reminded of Warren Buffet who said "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently." It is my greatest desire to do things differently, recognizing that I will take each phase of my new journey, beginning with one step at a time. Without question, I am committed to the process of rising FROM THE ASHES.
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Dr. Shane K. Floyd, I have read one of your blogs on another website and once again your words inspire thought. So, you ask, “when was the last time you assessed the canvas of your innermost thoughts?” and I shudder at the thought. Stepping out of self to look at self is or can be convoluted and confusing. To know the you, that you have become can be inspiring, however, traveling back, through stepping out, can be rewarding. The chance to focus and reflect on the things that you had done or had gone through to get to where you are is definitely worth the journey. Moreover, to reflect on the pain, the loss, the consuming gray areas that once hindered you, now have you feeling that you can pound your way through any brick wall.
Looking over our mental canvas to conceptualize the content, in my opinion, can be reckless, damaging at best. There are some things that are meant to remain buried deep inside, safely tucked away in your inner sanctuary not ever to surface, disturbing your peace. Memories such as the loss of love, the truth unfaced, and the roads wretchedly traveled. There is no need in recalling hurt when it is not necessary and unfortunately when you go searching the crevasses of you, you cannot say what should or should not surface. So, tread lightly. While it may not be in our control to remain in one place, should the place we land be one that we fought to forget.
This was a great thought for me, Dr. Floyd because I have many areas from my past that I remember and that I, today, still try hard to forget. Childhood pain, misery, and trauma that stifles me from confidently moving forward. Ironically, it was these same thoughts that propelled me forward, fueling my desire for success. It is, as you stated, “life evolves and simply happens”. Dr. Shane K. Floyd, I Thank you for sharing your ‘Mental Freestyle” and I look forward to reading more of your work.
Educational Matters for the Recreational Mind 
Dr. Shane K. Floyd, I have read one of your blogs on another website and once again your words inspire thought. So, you ask, “when was the last time you assessed the canvas of your innermost thoughts?” and I shudder at the thought. Stepping out of self to look at self is or can be convoluted and confusing. To know the you, that you have become can be inspiring, however, traveling back, through stepping out, can be rewarding. The chance to focus and reflect on the things that you had done or had gone through to get to where you are is definitely worth the journey. Moreover, to reflect on the pain, the loss, the consuming gray areas that once hindered you, now have you feeling that you can pound your way through any brick wall.
Looking over our mental canvas to conceptualize the content, in my opinion, can be reckless, damaging at best. There are some things that are meant to remain buried deep inside, safely tucked away in your inner sanctuary not ever to surface, disturbing your peace. Memories such as the loss of love, the truth unfaced, and the roads wretchedly traveled. There is no need in recalling hurt when it is not necessary and unfortunately when you go searching the crevasses of you, you cannot say what should or should not surface. So, tread lightly. While it may not be in our control to remain in one place, should the place we land be one that we fought to forget.
This was a great thought for me, Dr. Floyd because I have many areas from my past that I remember and that I, today, still try hard to forget. Childhood pain, misery, and trauma that stifles me from confidently moving forward. Ironically, it was these same thoughts that propelled me forward, fueling my desire for success. It is, as you stated, “life evolves and simply happens”. Dr. Shane K. Floyd, I Thank you for sharing your ‘Mental Freestyle” and I look forward to reading more of your work.
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