"Let him that would move the world, first move himself." - Socrates
There have been times when I have asked myself if success was really within my control.
I'm sure a few of you probably have as well. When you feel you have done everything possible and you still don't achieve the desired result (whether it be with money, health or relationships...) it might make you wonder if there is some force out in the universe that is out to thwart your efforts... or that has some other plan for you that you cannot quite see yet.
Is it about luck? Is it about destiny? Is our fate already written and so there's no point even trying?
Well, I would say "yes" and "no".
Sometimes that's just the way it is. We all make mistakes, it's part of being human (along with desires, fears and insecurities), and life can definitely take you in directions you have never imagined. Often, if not always however, the surprises turn out to be blessings in disguise... as long as we can allow ourselves to embrace the change instead of resisting it.
It can also be necessary to live through certain experiences in order to prepare us for those to come... but we often only see the wisdom of it much later, looking back.
Anyway, is there ANYTHING that is in our control then?
Two things actually:
A) Attitude - How you think, or don't think, about something.
B) Activity - What you do, or don't do, about something.
You can think about what you want or what happens in many different ways, all of which are essentially up to you. You can also do many different things, or not, in response (or reaction) to the way things go.
It's been said that the harder you work, the luckier you tend to get. After all, "genius" is only a matter of having your attention, your focus, on something and working so much on it that you get "lucky" and find the answer. Or, more accurately, the answer finds you when you have done the work to prepare yourself, and become ready to finally accept it.
The more you "work" on it, the more "ready" you become.
Now, depending on the way your life has been successful, or not, in your mind, there is also a third point to add that applies to the others. Here it is:
To learn and to grow in order to improve both the way you think about things (expanding your knowledge or consciousness), and the way you do them (skills, competence, mastery) ... or, to NOT learn and grow.
Either way, it's up to you.
That's where your choices are... to be or not to be (a certain way)... to grow or not to grow...
Outside of that, the world has a flow that you can't really control. Just like the weather, you can't control what others will be or what others will do, you can't control where the financial markets will go, you can't control whole populations or corporations or nations to try to protect yourself or others... the world will be what it is, with or without your consent.
Forget about changing the world.
You can't do that anyway until you change YOUR world.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Gandhi
Focus on what you CAN control: your attitude, your activity, and whether you grow yourself or not. If you do, you will lead a truly successful life, even if it does not turn out exactly the way you planned it. Who knows, compared to what you wanted, it might just be better.
And always remember, the journey never ends.
CHB
Copyright © Charles Begin
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