your mental attitude shapes your destiny

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…” — Epictetus, Discourses, 2.5.4–5

Our mind is a gift and one of the greatest assets we have. And the best part is that we have absolute control over it.

Whether you’re a 9-to-5 office worker, a freelancer, or an entrepreneur, your time and efforts may be directly impacted by your employer, your clients, your customers, or other people that you regularly associate with. However, your mind is the one thing that only you have power over — it cannot be controlled by anyone.

This is why it’s crucial that you consistently monitor the quality of thoughts that swirl in your head. Marcus Aurelius wrote in his private journal, “The things you think about determine the quality of your mind. Your soul takes on the color of your thoughts.”

If we don’t take charge of our mind, it can soon become one of our greatest liabilities as well.

The thoughts you think, the vibes you give out, the attitude you bring to your work, and what you’re willing to contribute in exchange for the wages or profits you earn — all these things are entirely up to you.

No matter what title you currently have or what educational qualifications you possess, ultimately, your mental attitude determines your future and shapes your destiny. As Napoleon Hill explains, “It is up to you to determine whether you will be a slave to a negative attitude or the master of a positive one. Your attitude, your only master in life, is entirely within your control. When you control your attitude toward events, you control the eventual implication of those events.”