Life is short. The decisions we make today will determine how we live in the future. Some of us make poor decisions that follow us throughout our life. We may decide to have children when we are not willing or able to take proper care of them. Some of us decide to behave in a manner that leads to a criminal record which affects our ability to get a job. Some of us decide to do things that lead us to prison.Many of us share a history of poverty and oppression. Some of us had parents who lacked the skills and knowledge necessary to guide us to a meaningful and fulfilling life. Some of us had parents who themselves made poor decisions. Some of us had no parents at all.
Although it is true that our history hinders our progress, it is up to us to break free from the chains of the past in order to set a different course for the future. We don’t have to settle for the future of our past: we have the power to create the future.
Our challenge in life is to: 1) Identify meaningful purpose and direction, 2) Seek to control ourselves, and 3) Work to achieve our objectives. Purpose and direction are the fuel that keeps us going. This is what Friedrich Nietzsche was referring to when he said, “He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.” Many of our forefathers found meaning in religion: it explained life and protected them from death. Today, many of us don’t have the same strength of faith, yet the need for meaning and purpose is as great as ever. One of the most pressing challenges of our life is to find meaning and purpose.
Self-control is also crucial to success, be it in sport, business, or interpersonal relationships. If you think about it, self-control is the personal quality most admired in our society. Self-control is the root of courage. We admire people with courage, which is the ability to persevere in the presence of danger or extreme hardship.
Courage is directly related to our capacity to work and succeed. In our society we admire those who sacrifice. We revere the parent that puts their own needs aside to make-do for their kids. I guess we could say that success in life is 90% mental and 10% physical.
Our challenge is to stay focused on finding meaning in life, on getting a grip on ourselves, and on working hard toward our goals. We need to do this for ourselves, our families, and for our communities.