How to be the master of your fate. How to be the captain of your soul.
I love the poem Invictus. When I read it, I imagine a man facing off against insurmountable odds, but refusing to give up. As silly as it may sound, it gives me inspiration.
The author of Invictus, William Ernest Henley, is said to have written the poem from his hospital bed to show his resilience after one diseased foot was amputated, and doctors wanted to cut off the other as well.
As I said, it gives me inspiration. It makes me want to fight for what I want. It makes me want to be in charge of my life.
But it got me thinking… aren’t I already in charge of my life right now? No. Instead of me running my life, life is running me. Like most of us, I have been operating on autopilot.
We have been programmed how to behave, how to act, even how to think. This programming, these core beliefs and behaviors, are housed and run in the subconscious mind.
How can the subconscious control you? Think of your subconscious as a giant naval ship. You, your conscious mind, is the captain in the bridge giving orders, the subconscious is the crew of the vast ship, keeping it running, and making things happen as you order them.
For example, the crew takes care of the automatic systems, like making sure you keep breathing when you are asleep; keep your heart beating, digestion happening, etc.
The crew takes care of those things you have been trained to do, like walking. How often do you think about shifting your balance as you walk, which muscles to use and just how much effort is needed from each muscle? The crew takes care of it. They’ve been trained.
The crew is even part of your thoughts. Your crew repeats everything back to you as you think it, like an echo in a canyon. Your thoughts will echo, unheard, among the crew, and the crew will repeat your thoughts back to you when they think you need to hear them. I could never be as successful as that person, you think. Then, when you are presented with a great idea, the crew reminds you, I could never be successful, causing you to give up on the idea, or sabotage you should you try anyway.
The problem with this setup is, your random thoughts are always being interpreted by the crew as the captain’s orders. There’s so many thoughts, the crew go scurrying around the ship trying to do everything at once, leaving the ship adrift, floating along with the flow.
I want to lose weight, you think. Umm that chocolate looks good… I’m hungry… I’m fat… A steak would be good right now… I should run… I hate exercise… Food… Don’t eat… Eat… Who is that guy again, what’s his name… My memory is terrible… I have a great memory…… On an on, an endless steam of contradictory orders are issued by the captain to the crew.
To take command of where your ship is traveling, you need all hands working together. To do that, you must be a leader. Leaders make decisions and stick to them.
Be in control!
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.
Giving orders to the crew involves reminding them often of your desires. As negative thoughts enter your mind, stop them in their tracks. Acknowledge you had that negative thought, but tell yourself again what you want. Talk to yourself in a mirror. Look yourself in the eye and command your crew, I have a great memory… I am successful… I am (whatever it is you desire)…
Be persistent!
Do not give up on what you want to accomplish in life. Do not permit the opinions of others to guide you away from what you truly want. You must resolve to actively combat the forces life throws at you and refuse to give up. When life throws an obstacle in your path, do not give up! Either find a way to overcome the obstacle, or find a new path around it.
Be positive!
There’s enough negativity in the world. Some people don’t like to see others succeed. They do what they can to prevent it. Sometimes they don’t intentionally want to be mean, but they are reacting to the echoes of negativity they have trained into their own crew.
The best way to combat another’s negativity is your own bravery. Do not be afraid to disagree. You don’t have to actively confront a negative person to bravely disagree with them and tell them what you think. Try do inspire them with your positive desire for success.
Be a leader!
No one will give you what you want in life just because you want it. You must actively pursue your dreams, or they will be simply that: a dream. Take charge of your ship and guide it where you want it to go.
A captain never starts a voyage without knowing where he wants to go using his charts and maps. A voyage without a destination is simply cruising on autopilot; it won’t get your anywhere or accomplish anything.
Create your own map. Decide where you want to go, when you want to get there, and set sail!
