What good is livin’ a life you’ve been givin’ if all you do is stand in one place?

Kenny Chesney

Society will have us think we’re drastically different from our ancestors.

Discrimination, inequality, and hatred are nothing new. We hope with increasingly accessible knowledge we can dissolve evil into love. As American citizens, we’re conditioned to believe We the People have the power. Whoever is elected next will change our life. But the reality is, it doesn’t affect traffic on your daily commute, and it won’t change your current state of depression. Our mind is the best tool we have to change our reality.

We are vastly concerned about everyone else, yet we rarely spend time reflecting on ourselves. We all have shortcomings. I’ve come to the conclusion self-contemplation isn’t the definition of selfishness. However, it is selfish to go through life thinking we know the answers to everyone else’s problems. It is selfish to believe our knowledge is far superior to others; that our view of the world is better, more loving, more correct.

History holds a harsh reality check for this “advanced” world we live in. It is vital to recognize the commonalities we share with every other human who has ever walked this earth. Cain killed Abel. Famines and climate change killed millions. Walls were built and broken down. Disease has taken many. War has always raged. Slavery and exclusion are the oldest stories written. Everyone in human history has lost a loved one.

I believe many great, wise humans have focused on creating a “better” world. Yet, their toil has led us to today; the heart of humanity is no different. Based on history alone, hatred, envy, persecution, rape, and murder will never end. A sad reality, obviously we’d love to stop evil. Many organizations fight for justice. I am not diminishing their successes, but I observe people daily struggle under a cloud of doom. When worry of darkness consumes your life — what life is that?  We’re only given so much time. Many have come and gone. Some pursued their dreams, others didn’t. Some died rich, some died poor — but they all died.

Our mind is a tool that can be trained to uplift us despite evil that plagues the human heart. Joy is more powerful than hate, and love is more healing than judgement. When the darkness of our world dominates you, I encourage you to read or watch an ancient historical documentary. A quick reminder that although we’re more technologically advanced, our human struggles haven’t changed.

The evils of humanity have always been, don’t waste your precious time worrying. Life is a struggle. Living is about finding joy in spite of struggles. Poverty is a circumstance, as is wealth. Discrimination is a circumstance, as is domination. It’s not what happens to you that defines you, it’s how you respond. Your cards have already been dealt. It’s your choice how to play them.  Do you persevere? Do you laugh? Do YOU love? Our mind creates our reality. It’s the most powerful weapon we have.

Below are resources I’ve found helpful for training the mind.
Books:
–How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnagie
–Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
Podcasts:
–The GaryVee Audio Experience