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How to get through the lowest point in your life?
Dr. Omekongo Dibinga is a motivational speaker, trilingual poet, TV talk show host, rapper, and professor of cross-cultural communication at American University. In this episode, let’s find out how he survived growing up in a violent, unjust, and poor environment and how he had transformed from being a suicidal young man into a successful and motivational leader that he is now.
“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” This was one of the most important lessons that Omekongo learned at a conference he attended, which happened to be the turning point in his life.
Omekongo believes we just have to do more listening because everybody has a story and people are going to do whatever it takes to get themselves heard. Sometimes children or people, in general, may be too ashamed of whatever happened to them to speak to their parents because they feel like they’ll be judged.
They may not feel comfortable going to a teacher or a friend. So, the spaces by which they have to express themselves may be very confined.
And from his own experience, just being heard made him start to realize his value again.
Q: What did you reconnect to that really put some fuel to your tank?
Dr. Dibinga: Connecting to that higher power.
Dr. Omekongo drew inspiration from people who used faith to pull themselves through into something greater.
His parents had influenced him greatly and their home served as the shelter that fortified him against intense levels of bullying and discrimination outside their house.
Dr. Omekongo’s parents have always taught him to embrace and love the people who are pushing him away. This allowed him to start looking past the person and start looking at what’s behind them.
He says that rather than question the person in front of us we should challenge ourselves with our own stereotypes and biases. And once we realize those things were wrong, we should give that person the benefit of the doubt. We should let them prove to us who they are and give them that option because they deserve it.
Question: What is your mission today?
Dr. Dibinga: I just wanna get as many people as possible to be sold on themselves.
He just wants to tell everyone he meets that they are fine just as they are. To do their best and forget the rest. He believes that we can help each other out if we could just get past our ego.
And as human beings, we are supposed to thrive on interaction. We have to consciously put in the effort to get out there and start conversations with the people around us.
One essential insight he’s learned is that we are not given any challenge that we can’t handle.
We should stand firm in faith, be strong, and be courageous.
What You’ll Learn
- How Dr. Omekongo Dibinga dealt with and survived all forms of bullying and discrimination.
- The important roles parents play in their child’s life.
- How faith and being connected to the higher power give you stability and propel you towards your goals despite life’s challenges
- How listening can change someone’s life.
- How the best listener can turn into the best leader.
- How challenging our own biases and stereotypes can change how we perceive people and life, in general.
- How to get through the lowest point in our life
- The importance of finding that one thing that could help us get to the next day.
Resources
- Dr.Omekongo’s Website
Bio
Dr. Omékongo Dibinga is the UPstander. His life’s mission is to inspire all across the globe to take a stand when they witness an injustice, no matter how small or large. He is a motivational speaker, trilingual poet, TV talk show host, rapper, and professor of cross-cultural communication at American University.
His Urban Music Award-winning work has best been described by Nikki Giovanni as “outstanding, exciting, and new while being very old.” His book, From the Limbs of My Poetree was described byEssence Magazine as “a remarkable and insightful collection of exquisite poetry that touches sacred places within your spirit.” He was one of 5 international recipients out of 750,000 to win the first ever “CNN iReport Spirit Award.” He has received over 1,000,000 views on CNN.com.
Omékongo’s writings and performances have appeared in O Magazine, as well as on TV and radio fromCNN, BET, and the BBC to NPR, Music Choice, and Voice of Americain millions of homes in over 150 countries.
Omékongo has studied at Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Georgetown, Morehouse, and The Fletcher School, where he earned his M.A. in Law & Diplomacy. He earned his Ph.D. in International Education Policy at The University of Maryland (UMD) where his dissertation centered on the global hip-hop phenomenon and Jay-Z. At UMD, he also worked with the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Teaching Diverse Students Initiative.”
He provides leadership, educational and diversity empowerment as a consultant and motivational speaker for organizations, associations, and institutions.
Omékongo has published and produced 7 books, 7-fusion music and motivational CDs, and one independent DVD. His motivational book G.R.O.W. Towards Your Greatness! 10 Steps to Living Your Best Life has received praise from great motivational speakers such as Willie Jolley. His most recent book “The UPstander’s Guide to an Outstanding Life” is a life balance book for students.
