Friends, partners, and family members will eventually leave you. Material objects come and go. Emotions are momentarily. But what’s forever with you are your thoughts — the way you think. When you can control what and how you think not letting external factors affect or control you, then you’ve won over your mind. Stoics emphasize the importance of controlling your mind and thoughts because this is what will ultimately lead your emotions and actions.
“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
It’s not about who we are with, what we have or don’t have, or where in the world we are; it’s about who we actually are, what and how we think. Perhaps it’s also essential to think why we think in a certain way; what factors are taken into account — past experiences, education… The power lies in your brain — your thoughts. This will make you happy or break you down, make you a success or a failure, make you better or make you worse. As long as you know how to control your mind and thoughts, you are pretty much set for success because success is usually going from experience to experience without losing the ability to keep a good attitude while working hard for what you believe in — that’s also patience.
How to have a strong mindset and transform negative thoughts into positive ones? I’ve personally learned that jogging and exercising, reading meaningful books, learning and applying Stoic philosophy to life, believing in something; and most importantly, believing in yourself when nobody else does help us going toward this path.
That’s how you can control your mind and develop a strong mindset. Don’t let external factors disturb your emotions and actions. You are what you think.
Richard Chan 