Day 5: "Express your feelings openly; it's a sign of strength, not weakness. Your emotions matter, and so do you." Daily Check-In: Take a few minutes each day to check in with yourself emotionally. Reflect on your feelings and be honest about what you're experiencing. Communicate with Others: Share your emotions with trusted friends or family. Practice articulating your feelings, fostering a sense of connection and understanding. Journaling: Maintain a feelings journal where you can express your emotions in writing. This private space allows you to process and understand your feelings without judgment. Use "I" Statements: When expressing emotions, use "I" statements to communicate your feelings without attributing them to others. This promotes personal responsibility and clarity in communication. Mindful Moments: Incorporate mindful moments throughout the day. Pause, identify your emotions, and acknowledge them without judgment. This practice enhances emotional awareness. Seek Support: If you're facing challenging emotions, seek support from a counselor or therapist. Talking to a professional provides a safe space to explore feelings and receive guidance. Encourage Others: Create an environment encouraging others to express their feelings openly. By fostering a culture of emotional honesty, you contribute to a supportive community where everyone's emotions are acknowledged and respected. The best men can be add by Gullett

Day 4: "You are not defined by your mistakes. Learn, grow, and forgive yourself as you journey through life." Goal Setting: Set achievable goals that align with your personal growth. Embrace the journey of learning and improving, understanding that mistakes are part of the process. Reflection Time: Acknowledge any mistakes, identify lessons learned, and consciously let go of any self-criticism. Gratitude Journal: Include a section in your gratitude journal to focus on personal growth. Write down lessons from mistakes and express gratitude for the opportunities they provide for learning and development. Positive Self-Talk: Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Remind yourself that you are on a journey of continuous improvement, and mistakes are stepping stones, not roadblocks. release self-judgment and inhale the potential for growth and self-forgiveness. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress. Embrace the positive changes you've made and the lessons you've learned, reinforcing the idea that mistakes don't define your worth or potential. https://hbr.org/2018/10/how-men-get-penalized-for-straying-from-masculine-norms 

Engage in open and honest conversations with those you trust. Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, fostering a more profound understanding between you and others.  Express Feelings: Practice expressing your emotions, even if they make you feel vulnerable. It could be through art, writing, or direct communication with someone you trust. Active Listening: Be a receptive listener when others share their vulnerabilities. This creates a reciprocal environment that encourages deeper connections. Set Boundaries: Communicate your boundaries while being open about your vulnerabilities. This ensures that you share authentically while maintaining a sense of safety. Risk-Taking: Take calculated risks that involve vulnerability, whether it's trying something new or admitting when you don't have all the answers. This builds resilience and openness. Seek Support: If you're facing challenges, don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professionals. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable in seeking help is a courageous step. The power of vulnerability | Brené Brown | TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o Listening to shame | Brené Brown | TED https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psN1DORYYV0

Day 2: "Your strength is not measured by how much you can carry alone, but by how well you share the load with those who care about you." Teamwork Mindset: Approach tasks and challenges with a mindset that values collaboration. Remind yourself that strength is found in shared efforts. Open Communication: Communicate openly with those around you about your goals and challenges. Allow them to share in your journey, and be receptive to their support. Delegate Responsibilities: Don't hesitate to delegate tasks when appropriate. Recognize that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Express Gratitude: Acknowledge and express gratitude for the support you receive. This fosters a sense of connection and reinforces the idea that strength is intertwined with mutual care. Check-In with Others: Regularly check in on friends and loved ones. Offer your support and let them know you're there to share the load when needed. Celebrate Shared Successes: When you achieve a goal or overcome a challenge with the help of others, celebrate together. Recognize and appreciate the collective strength that contributed to success.

This week kicks off with the The Empowered Gentleman:  7 Days of Inspiring Men to Lead Exceptional Lives Day 1: "You are worthy of love and kindness. Embrace the love that surrounds you." “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. MLK Morning Reflection: Begin your day by repeating the affirmation. Stand in front of the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and say, "I am worthy of love and kindness. I embrace the love that surrounds me." Gratitude Journal: Include this phrase in your daily gratitude journal. Reflect on the love and kindness you've experienced, both from others and within yourself. Positive Affirmation Breaks: Take short breaks during the day to remind yourself of your worthiness. Repeat the affirmation silently or aloud, reinforcing the positive message. Mindful Moments: During moments of stress or self-doubt, pause, and repeat the affirmation. Use it as a grounding tool to shift your mindset and focus on self-love. Share with Loved Ones: Express this sentiment to those close to you. Share your appreciation for their love and kindness, creating a reciprocal flow of positive energy. Visual Reminders: Place written notes or reminders in key locations, like your desk or wallet. Seeing the affirmation regularly reinforces the message throughout your day. Evening Reflection: Before bedtime, reflect on the love and kindness you've experienced during the day. Remind yourself that you deserve these positive connections.“All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”. MLK Subscribe to The Drayton Jackson Experience on YouTube to watch the episodes.

Drayton Jackson talks in depth about racism and its affect on America Music by Aye Nyce "Where My Shake At"  Produced by @franam1.   References District Judge Tammy Kemp, who is black, has come under fire for the compassion she showed last week to Amber Guyger, who was convicted of second-degree murder. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joshua-brown-murder-dallas-police-identify-suspects-in-case-of-slain-amber-guyger-witness-2019-10-08/ Samuel Morton https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Morton Ku Klux Klan https://www.history.com/topics/reconstruction/ku-klux-klan 

Do you think Athletes should get paid when their likeness is used? California thinks so; the NCAA doesn't. Articles: A Star’s Shoe Breaks, Putting College Basketball Under a Microscope. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/sports/zion-nike-shoe-ncaa.html College Football Player Loses Scholarship https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/31/college-football-player-loses-scholarship-youtube/ Surprising Facts about being a College Athlete https://www.bestcollegesonline.com/blog/14-surprising-facts-about-being-a-college-athlete/ https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/05/i-trusted-em-when-ncaa-schools-abandon-their-injured-athletes/275407/ How Athletic & Academic Scholarships work https://usatodayhss.com/2017/how-athletic-and-academic-scholarships-work

With my last podcast for the season I wanted to bring an exclusive. The man who brought you Audio Two, MC Lyte, Frankee & Positive K and one of the biggest Hip hop sample song ever "Top Billing."  A pioneer and a legend in the Hip Hop's history, Record Label Executive,  and  founder of First Priority Music, Nat Robinson,  the exclusive interview on Conversations with Dray. Oh, we gonna talk about it! #draytalks Follow me on my social media FB @draytalks  IG @draytondjackson Twitter:  MrDDJackson First Priority Music Opening - MC Lyte - Stop, Look, Listen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_44Q8xBZoP8&feature=youtu.be After the opening Audio Two - I Don't Care https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY-HRfwKzAE&feature=youtu.be after first part Mc Lyte - I Am The Lyte https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NtLLeWQA4&feature=youtu.be Eamon - F**k It (I Don’t Want You Back) (Dirty Version) (HD Official Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptcX5L8chVc Audio Two - Top Billin' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw4PuS7e-gA

Zoe Spears is just one of ten people in the LGBTQ community have been killed just this month.  Only half a mile away her friend Ashanti Carmon was killed. While pride celebrations are going on in cities throughout the U.S. there are people being murdered because they want to be who they are.  Some of these people are people you know, some are your children and they are in danger.  We need to love people and not judge them or force them to be something they are not.  In this episode, I talk about what is going on with the LGBTQ community and what we can do.  Zoe Spears Is the Fourth Black Trans Woman Found Dead This Pride Month https://www.out.com/news/2019/6/15/zoe-spears-fourth-black-trans-woman-found-dead-pride-month   Report: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-affected Hate and intimate partner Violence in 2017 http://avp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/NCAVP-HV-IPV-2017-report.pdf   Music RuPaul - Supermodel (You Better Work) https://youtu.be/A0uVtfotC0c Madonna - Vogue https://youtu.be/d_MgPK_9bcM Mary Lambert - Secrets https://youtu.be/baCewV1fCrQ Diana Ross - I'm coming out https://youtu.be/zbYcte4ZEgQ

Older father's in society For years society has told women that  their clock is running out or you better have that baby now because you're not getting any younger .  But many men have heard from other men saying you not missing anything and ooh it's stressful and the the  cost to support a child is overwhelming. Now that I was in my late 30's when I had my first son and in my 40s when I had my second son, however, I was 19 when I had my first child so I have seen it from both sides.  Here is my take on older fathers in this episode of "Conversations with Dray." Older Dads Are More Common Than Ever Before By AMANDA MACMILLAN August 31, 2017, Time.com  http://time.com/4922923/older-dads-are-more-common-than-ever-before/  NBC News - 7 Surprising Benefits of Being Older Parent by Vivian Manning-Schaffel  https://www.nbcnews.com/better/health/5-advantages-being-older-parent-ncna775581 The Unique Pros and Cons of Being An Older Dad By Corey Levitan   https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/good-bad-ugly-being-older-dad/  follow me on Social Media Facebook:  drayton.djackson Instagram:  draytondjackson And always at:  www.draytonjackson.com