"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."  -- Henry David Thoreau  

It seems the Michael Jackson news coverage will never end.  CNN continues to break into important news stories with the latest exclusive details about his death, latest rehearsal, the drugs found in his home and the constant replays of his memorial service.

Americans are consumed with celebrities and it doesn't appear it will ever change. The rise, fall, and rise again trajectory of being a celebrity can be brutal to watch.  "Jacko the Wacko" has gone from a "perverted sicko" to musical genius again.  In life he was abused, arrested, and ridiculed. In death, he is a genius we will miss forever.  This is the cycle of almost all celebrities, few can break the love/hate cycle with the American public. Jon and Kate, America's favorite family, are now scorned for every step they take. Brittany Spears couldn't buy a cup of coffee without scandal, the list goes on and on.

It is the sad path of fame, but what is more sad is the "man in the mirror".  The delicate and shattered self-image most of these celebrities hide with drugs, alcohol, money and toys is what ultimately destroys them in the end.  Regardless of fame or money, who you are on the inside will ultimately determine your success or failure.  Michael Jackson was destined for self-sabotage and self destruction because the "man in the mirror" was still an 9 year old boy abused by his father, longing for the joy of childhood and unhappy with his features.  No amount of fame, wealth or pills would fix the negative self-image he saw every time he looked in the mirror. He was never able to put his past behind him. He was never able to look forward into the future without being limited by his childhood damage.  No matter what financial happiness, fame and success MJ enjoyed, the negative image he saw every time he looked in the mirror made him unable to achieve happiness.  Even the 30 million dollar Neverland ranch could not bring MJ's childhood back.  It only brought him more pain and misfortune.

Recently I watched "Walk the Line" again, the Johnny Cash story....great movie!  As you travel through his life story, you see that a tragic event in his youth and a destructive father continued to damage him throughout his life.  All through his life he went through battles with depression, drugs, and alcohol in an attempt to deal with the first 12 years of his life. His father had convinced him he was not good enough and he should not even be alive. Johnny Cash believed this for most of his adult life. Had June Carter not been there to show him what he really looked like in the mirror, he would never have survived.

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see a view of yourself that is distorted because of your past? Are you holding on to your childhood and reliving bad memories preventing happiness in the present?

Had MJ been a well-adjusted future-focused person, he will still be alive today.  He would have made a bigger impact on the world if he didn't  constantly bring up the demons of his past.  If it wasn't for June Carter, Johnny Cash surely would have self-destructed to the point of no return. She brought out the best in him and helped him see himself through different eyes.

The level of your success in life will be controlled by your self-image. You need to put your past behind you and start to charge at the future with unbridled optimism.  The best events have not happened to you yet and the past can never be relived.  You can only achieve goals consistent with your self-image. If you believe you can sell 10 million dollars in real estate this year you can. If you believe you are only good enough to sell 5 million, you are right again.

When you look in the mirror do you see your amazing talents, gifts and potential or do you see all the negative experiences and comments from your past? Looking in the mirror and constantly seeing your past will keep you firmly rooted there. 

Charge!!
Dave