Only Two Things You Can Ever Control – Thoughts and Actions
What are these you may ask? Your spouse? Parents? Boss? Coach? Kids? Wouldn’t that be nice! Unfortunately, none of these people is in your control. But, hey, the good news is that they’re all influenced by you and your relationship with them!
But back to your control, what do you have 100% direct control of? Emotions? No, not direct control. Thoughts? Yes. Actions? Yes. Thoughts and actions, along with your beliefs, control your emotions (happiness, anger, peace of mind, etc.). This is powerful stuff!
Learning to control your thoughts and actions is one topics I cover in most of my workshops. Two years after I presented a workshop to a sales team, I asked the leader of that team what the take-away value had been. Without hesitating, he said, “I can only control two things: my thoughts and actions. So that’s where I focus my energy.” He had become laser focused, a key to both time management and success.
Ironically, most of us, especially when we feel out of control, spend a lot of energy trying to control others, usually without even realizing it. But it’s futile. When you focus on what you can control, you can change your world. You’ll find this truth in most philosophies and world religions; notice the diversity of this truth in the quotes below.
“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
— Proverbs 23:7
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
— Napoleon Hill, “Think and Grow Rich”
“All that we are is the result of our thoughts.”
— Dhammapada, 23, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
This week, go within and decide what thoughts
and actions help you, and what hurt you.
Then focus on the thoughts and do the actions that help you.
What are your thoughts on what you can control and not? Please leave your thoughts and comments below…
