“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.”
When I first heard these words I was awe struck. It hit me like a tonne of bricks. I am in charge of it all. All of it. Where I am, where I am going, it all is up to me. I am not only responsible for my life, I HAVE to be responsible for my life. Otherwise, I am one of the 95% that whines and complains about life.
“I am the master of my fate.”
That means to me that I am in charge of where I am going. It also means I was in charge of what got me to where I am today. No excuses. I am not going to let anyone influence my drive to achieve my goals. Never.
I have to say, I used to be one of those people that blamed my circumstances, or other people for my lot in life. I was very hesitant to accept much responsibility about anything.
A lot of people seem to sit by and let life pass them by. They blame what happens to them as being responsible for where they are in life. What these people do not understand is their life is a reflection of their reactions to what happens to them.
I look at the word “Master” and think of the master of a ship. I like Jim Rohn’s analogy of all of us being like a little sailboat. The same wind blows on us all, it is up to us to set our sail in order to get to our destination. The wind is whatever happens to us. The sail is our reaction to what happens to us.
Some people don’t react at well all and get blown off course. They get so wrapped up on some little thing they let it consume their psyche. They stew and worry and blame circumstance. They keep their sail in one spot and end up wherever the wind blows them, usually on the rocks.
Some people are so self unaware that they don’t even have their sails up. They float around bobbing along and never going anywhere, bouncing back and forth as the wind blows.
The smartest ones tack whatever way is necessary to get to their destination.
“I am the captain of my soul.”
To me, my soul is the stuff inside of me. It is personal. It is my driver. Those words mean to me that I have to guard and protect my soul. My soul is what will direct my actions to help me achieve my goals. I need to make sure that I allow no outside “force” affect my mind.
That brings to mind a proverb from King Solomon. “Guard your heart for it is the wells spring of life.” My heart. My mind. My soul. In reality, no one can hurt, my “feelings” unless I allow them to. I intend not to allow my emotions to rule my life any more.
Read on....
Invictus
Out of the night that
covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
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