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B r o w n

E s s e n c e

P O B o x 8 2 4 6 2

C o n y e r s , G A

3 0 0 1 3

Norlita Brown &

Cortez Cheeks Stages is the place where life breaks

down. To understand that statement is

to know that life never breaks down, only

the people in it. Therefore the only way

to break life down is to break down its

meaning. Find out more between the

pages of Stages!

Stages

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Stages

Copyright © 2010 by Brown Essence Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means without written

permission from the author.

ISBN 978-0-9826745-1-2

Printed in USA

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Table of Contents

Preface .................................................................... 5

Introduction ............................................................ 6

Words of

Wisdom ............................................................. 8

Love for Self .................................................. 11

Love for Others .............................................. 14

Relationships .................................................. 16

Self Control .................................................... 18

Life ................................................................. 20

Enemies .......................................................... 22

Respect ............................................................ 23

Wealth ............................................................ 24

Emotions ........................................................ 25

Truth, Honesty and Lies ................................. 26

Revelations ..................................................... 27

Meaning Matters ....................................................28

Wisdom ........................................................... 29

Love for Self .................................................. 36

Love for Others .............................................. 43

Relationships .................................................. 50

Self Control .................................................... 54

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Life ................................................................. 57

Enemies .......................................................... 58

Respect ............................................................ 59

Wealth ............................................................ 63

Emotions ........................................................ 65

Lessons Learned.....................................................66

Wisdom ........................................................... 67

Love for Self .................................................. 75

Love for Others .............................................. 83

Relationships .................................................. 90

Self Control .................................................... 97

Life ............................................................... 104

Enemies ........................................................ 112

Respect .......................................................... 114

Wealth .......................................................... 117

Emotions ...................................................... 120

Truth, Honesty and Lies ............................... 122

Revelations ................................................... 126

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Introduction

Stages is filled with statements of wisdom made to

exercise the mind. Therefore the first part of the book is just

that, the statements. However, we understand that some

thought processes come easier when someone expounds on

an issue and so we have added a section in the back of the

book with comments and viewpoints. The asterisk will indicate

which ones we have selected for further discussion. Finally we

have added a section that gives you the opportunity to write

your thoughts about the statements.

Wisdom and advice stem from the intellectual minds of our

ancestors. Many of the statements here have already been

heard in some form or fashion. Our goal was to provide a

compilation of this wisdom for you to gather your thoughts

and prayerfully allow each of us to gain an understanding of

who we are. We find that the best way to do that is to look in

the mirror. This book offers insight to help you do just that.

Remembering that these observations reflect from the lives of

some rather than the lives of all and are not written into law,

you should always take each statement and apply them as they

are relative to your own experience. It is our hope that you will

relate to one, some or all which will give room for thought and

ultimately lead to room for change. We are fully aware that

change doesn’t happen overnight as we are also aware that

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this may be too much to take in one sitting, so all that we ask is

that you take it in Stages.

Enjoy…

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Wisdom

True leaders do not need followers.*

One is only lonely when you depend too much on others. *

Awkward situations are put in place to make you feel

uncomfortable, use your poker face. *

Don’t just meet expectations, exceed them.

Refrain from making comparisons to experiences you can’t

relate to. *

You give breath to the temporary and the permanent phases

of your life. *

Your awakening begins when your revelation ends.

Understanding the difference between obligations and

options provides a better appreciation when the option works

in your favor.

You can’t pay back something you never borrowed so use the

change toward your advancement.*

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Love for Self

Realizing your self-worth changes the way you allow people to

treat you. *

Love yourself in your current circumstance, but love yourself

enough to change your circumstance.*

Your presence should be so powerful it changes the

atmosphere. *

Why put thought to how others have failed you, when you

consistently fail yourself? *

Others should know who you are by your actions not your

words.*

In your search for a mentor look in the mirror, for you should

always be your best example. *

Excuse yourself from excuses, you will love the results. *

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Love for Others

Be careful in your quest to expose someone else, you may

find you’ve taken the covers off of yourself. *

No tool has been designed to chisel someone into perfection.

Determine what you’ll do for someone by how it will benefit

them, versus how it will benefit you. *

One of the hardest tasks in life is also the one that gives the

most pleasure: learning to love unconditionally.

How does a person become unworthy of your greeting? *

Sin was not created for your acceptance or your forgiveness.*

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Meaning Matters

This section affords you the opportunity to

understand on a deeper level what was meant by

the words we said.

Keep in mind that many of our statements

have many levels and we have not expounded on

every one, we just wanted to get your thinking

process going but if you feel that we have

touched on something that you want to discuss,

please visit us at

Brownessence.com

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Wisdom

True leaders do not need followers. True leaders are those who take pride in knowing other

leaders. Their leadership is contingent upon making

those around them leaders as well. They do not become

dependent on someone following behind them doing as

they do, but rather molding others to be uniquely

different and becoming a trendsetter themselves. It is

okay for you to admire others and the way they do

things, but when choosing to wear the clothes they wear,

style your hair like theirs or follow in any of their paths,

take it and make it your own, so that you are careful not

to become a copycat or a follower but a leader in your

own right.

Thoughts that are lost empty the mind for higher levels of

thinking. When your mind is at a total stand still and you feel you

cannot think anymore do not feel defeated. It is at this

point where your mind forces you to think at higher

levels. The outcome will be much more satisfying if you

give your mind a chance to enter this state. Nothing will

almost inevitably lead to something.

Thinking motivates a person to higher standards of living. The more you think, the more you realize that God has

something more for you. The moment you stop

thinking, you begin to settle and become comfortable in

the situation you are in. We have all heard it before, “an

idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, now it’s up to you to

not leave room for him to work. Any person that can

come to your mind who is living at a higher standard are

more likely than not still thinking of ways to make better

use of their time. This may not necessarily mean trying

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to find ways to make more money, even though that is

nice as well, but it can also mean trying to find ways

where you can be beneficial to society or to someone

other than yourself. Get to thinking; you’ll love the

things you come up with it.

You become the weakest link when you change another’s

name for your own amusement. It is amazing how some people believe they have the

God given right to degrade and disrespect another

person. It is time out for this type of hatred. Our young

children are killing themselves and others all over being

called out of their birth names. If your self-esteem is so

low that you feel the only way to make yourself feel

better is to call someone else names then maybe you

should refocus your energy on YOU and instead of

belittling someone else concentrate on lifting yourself.

In order to change your outlook on life, you first have to

change your mind. Looking at life the same way everyday doesn’t leave

much room for growth. Each day is another opportunity

to try something new. Everything you do is not perfect

therefore the best way to make that change is to take

advantage of the opportunity. The first step in that is to

change the way you think about things. Put a new

perspective on it, it just may work for you.

Your present can never be your past until you let go of it. It is time to let go of whatever reasoning or excuse you

are giving yourself to hold on to yesterday. Walking

around wondering how long you are going to be in your

present situation is not going to help the matter; you are

the only one who can control the answer to that. Let go,

move on!