Real Talk with Judge Dawson
In the East Cleveland Court I make it my business to see people who are arrested and spending time in the city jail on a daily basis. When people from the jail are brought to my Courtroom its either for the purpose of setting a bond or to move their case forward. Most of the time I hear about the horrible the conditions of the city jail. I acknowledge that jails are not the most comfortable places in the world, in fact they shouldn’t be, but I am always intrigued by the persons who come up from jail with a pleasant and cooperative attitude. I’ve determined that these people understand at least one of the principles of being a Cycle Breaker.
Cycle Breaker Truth: You can bring about the desired improved conditions in your outward life if you commit to improving your inner life. In other words, you have to free yourself from your mental jail in order to live a free and productive life.
Commit to Improvement: All of my workshops and seminars are based on the ideal that in order to change your life you have to want to change and then actually commit to changing it. So many people make a lackluster attempt to change but fail due to their lack of commitment. When a tragedy strikes people call me and talk about the Cycle Breaker/Finish First programs, but when the hype dies down no one cares to volunteer, no one is interested in self improvement and no one is concerned with helping others change their lives. Commitment to improvement is a key to breaking free from your mental bondages and jail.
Mental Discipline: In the workshops that I conduct at the East Cleveland Municipal Court, we have an exercise where we finish this sentence, “nothing great was ever achieved without ____.” I love when the answer is discipline. In order to make positive change or break free of your mental jail you have to exercise the practice of discipline every day. Start with something as simple as making the bed or reading a positive affirmation before you leave the house. Daily exercise makes your muscles strong and the discipline muscle must be strong in order to be a Cycle Breaker.
Eradicate Your Weakness: In order to make positive change, you must identify your weaknesses. Once you identify your weakness you can then fight to get rid of them. If your weakness is being lazy, get up as soon as your mind wakes up (sometimes that before your eyes open). If your weakness is poor physical health, resolve to walk during lunch. If your weakness is the opposite sex, make sure that you stay away from that temptation. Whatever your weaknesses are, you must destroy them so that you can get out of that particular mental jail.
Tap into the Spirit of Success: We are all born to be great. In order to break out of your mental jail you first must realize that you have a birthright to be free. When you meditate allow your mind to travel beyond your current boundaries. See yourself being in the places you desire to be. See yourself achieving the goals you want to achieve. When you realize and tap into this right to freedom and expand your mind, you will never allow your mind to be jailed again.
Understanding that getting out of jail is as much as a mental exercise as a physical one. I now can appreciate the people who come before me who, after spending time in the city jail, are pleasant and respectful. They understand that when your mind is free it doesn’t matter where your physical body is located. Eventually, your body will reach the level of your improved mind.
East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!
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