Every child is born in a state of sincerity. Every time he or she cries, smiles or throws a tantrum it is sincere. At some point in a child’s development it learns how to  manipulate situations and circumstances to achieve short term goals. The hope, then, becomes that a child will grow out of its manipulative ways when it becomes an adult; more spiritually mature.

Sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Hence, the difficulty in finding sincere people in today’s world. I contend that you can find sincere people and the first place you should look is in the mirror. If you don’t see him or her, fret not.

The insincere man or woman in the mirror is the human being that you have the ability to change. The best way to inject sincerity into an insincere society is through self improvement. I’m on my way to the mirror right now.

Take a journey of self appraisal with me. Have you ever been inspired to join a church, mosque, organization, fraternity or sorority and once you’ve dedicated yourself to that cause you found difficulty? Sometimes disunity, disorganization, fussing and infighting, mismanagement and an overall betrayal of the general objectives can disappoint you to the point you want to leave. It is at that moment that you must meditate and collect your thoughts about why you joined in the first place.

I know people who go to law school with a sincere desire to make change. Once they graduate, pass the bar and began to practice they immediately run into a criminal justice system that vehemently resists change. Their desire then turns into a desire to make dollars and they usually end up moderately wealthy, yet unfulfilled.

Even married couples say “til death do us part” at the ceremony, but often it does not last. Sometimes we start off with a sincere and noble motive in our endeavors, but end up frustrated and abandoning the goal. What has happened?

We’ve allowed negative forces and circumstances to tamper with our sincerity. Sincerity to the soul is much like the chin to a boxer. It must be protected at all costs if you are to finish the fight.

My boxing trainer taught me that there are nerves found in the chin that are so sensitive that one blow can end a fight in a split second. The same goes for us all who strive for true success; especially those of us who seek to help in the cause of the resurrection of Black people and humanity in general.

We must always be in the moment, remembering why we do what we do. We must never forget what brought tears to our eyes that made us want to help the cause. We must look beyond our people’s faults, see their needs and sincerely desire to help them.

The best part of self is “the self” with no ulterior motive. We all have it within; it’s just buried under our need for money, ego-gratification, attention, recognition, high position, sex and other forms of excess. I say pull up to your mosque, church or temple on a mule if you have got too; keep it real with yourself at all times and never forget why you came in the first place.

Don’t just go through the motions this week. Stay in the moment. Be ever cognizant of why you do what you do no matter how insignificant the task. Sincerity allows us access to the power of God. Keep your hands up and your chin down this week.