It’s easy to believe that the future is completely out of your control. We may plan where we want to go or who we want to become, but there’s no way to absolutely ensure life will go according to plan. But life isn’t all about what you do or what happens to you, it’s mostly about the person you are in all those circumstances. Though events are unpredictable, you can intentionally plan who you will become.
Do you get frustrated when things don’t go the way you planned or hoped? Do you ever feel like all the work you put into something doesn’t produce any results? Have you ever been caught off guard and derailed by an unforeseen event?
I know I’ve experienced plenty of that. I followed the plan of getting a college degree, a master’s degree, and an internship – only to end up being unemployed for a year. I’ve been in promising relationships that unexpectedly went downhill. Numerous projects I planned and prepared for ended up failing.
For a long time I felt helpless and bitter whenever things didn’t go my way, but I neglected the one thing that I could control about my future – who I would become. Though you can’t control events that happen, you can shape your destiny by determining your character.
[bctt tweet=”Though you can’t control events that happen, you can shape your destiny by determining your character.”]
You Can’t Control Events
No matter how much you plan, things don’t always go your way. Whether it’s your day or your next 5 years, there are things that will interrupt you and are beyond your control.
So let them go. It doesn’t mean you don’t plan – planning is good. But don’t let those plans have a hold on you or change who you are.
You Can Control Your Character
You have complete control over your character. You can choose who you want to be and what decisions you’ll make, regardless of the situation. It’s not always easy, but it’s possible and it’s essential.
Think about the values you want to hold. Think about the reputation you want to have. You won’t get there right away, but you do have control over the direction and progress you’ll make towards becoming that person. And you can start now.
Your Character Determines Your Future
You don’t have control over what happens to you, but you do have control over how you react and the outcome after the event. Though life is unpredictable, the constant in every situation is you.
[bctt tweet=”Though life is unpredictable, the constant in every situation is you.”]
Who you are impacts how you see the world, which affects your attitude and perspective. That in turn affects what actions your take, which determines where you go from here.
Though everything in life a variable, the decisions you make throughout are based on the same values you carry into every situation.
Who are you now, and who do you want to become? When you put that question at the forefront, you’ll get there, no matter what else happens in life.