By: Douglas J Utberg

When life becomes difficult, it can become very easy to believe that we are the victims of circumstance.  It is comforting to blame the economy, or whichever political party happens to be in power.  (Ironically, the political party in power typically blames the people that were in power beforehand as a way to try and absolve themselves of responsibility)

However, as individuals there is only a narrow scope of things that we can really control.  I do not have the ability to directly influence the political system since my one vote is easily dissipated.  Thus, the only area of my life that I can ‘really’ influence is what I choose to do and how I choose to react to my environment.

The importance of this insight lies in the fact that many people do not actively choose how they will act . . . instead, they react to their environment emotionally.  Therefore, in a very real way their environment shapes them instead of them shaping their environment.  Conversely, if we wish to exercise influence over our circumstances it requires that each action be a conscious choice.  James Allen described this phenomenon in his book: “As A Man Thinketh.”

The composition of the human mind is such that the thoughts we hold in our mind will manifest themselves in action by means of influencing our perceptions.  When our minds are fixed on blame and failure, then all that we will see is failure.  This focus on failure will naturally result in actions that take us in the direction of our thoughts.  When we consciously fix our minds on thoughts of improvement and achievement, we will remain open to opportunities.  Once we become open to opportunity, they seem to live everywhere that we look.

In the end, it is our thoughts that determine what we perceive.  This perception influences our actions and slowly molds the composition of our character.  Thus, it is figuratively and literally true that we are who we choose to be.