Personal Philosophy is Like The Set of The Sail

We have all experienced the blowing winds of disappointment, despair and heartbreak. Why, then, would each of us, in our own individual ship of life, all beginning at the same point, with the same intended destination in mind, arrive at such different places at the end of the journey? Have we not all been blown by the winds of circumstances and buffeted by the turbulent storms of discontent?

What guides us to different destinations in life is determined by the way we have chosen to set our sail. The way that each of us thinks makes the major difference in where each of us arrive. The major difference is the set of the sail.

The same circumstances happen to us all. We have disappointments and challenges. We all have reversals and those moments when, in spite of our best plans and efforts, things just seem to fall apart. Challenging circumstances are not events reserved for the poor, the uneducated or the destitute. The rich and the poor have marital problems. The rich and the poor have the same challenges that can lead to financial ruin and personal despair. In the final analysis, it is not what happens that determines the quality of our lives, it is what we choose to do when we have struggled to set the sail and then discover, after all of our efforts, that the wind has changed directions.

When the winds change, we must change. We must struggle to our feet once more and rest the sail in the manner that will steer us toward the destination of our own deliberate choosing. The set of the sail, how we think and how we respond, has a far greater capacity to destroy our lives than any challenges we face. How quickly and responsibly we react to adversity is far more important than the adversity itself. Once we discipline ourselves to understand this, we will finally and willingly conclude that the great challenge of life is to control the process of our thinking.

Learning to reset the sail with the changing winds rather than permitting ourselves to be blown in a direction we did not purposely choose requires the development of a whole new discipline. It involves going to work on establishing a powerful, personal philosophy that will help to influence in a positive way all that we do and that we think and decide. If we can succeed in this worthy endeavor, the result will be a change in the course of our income, lifestyle and relationships, and in how we feel about the things of value as well as the times of challenge. If we can alter the way we perceive, judge and decide upon the main issues of life, then we can dramatically change our lives.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine. Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn's Weekly E-zine, go to http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

Tim McGraw had it Right - Live Like You Are Dying!

Chorus: An' he said: "I went ski diving, I went... Read More

Spring Quotations - Top 30 Quotations About Spring Time

"Is it so small a thing To have enjoy'd the... Read More

Persistency - Element In Reality

One of the keys to being successful in anything you... Read More

Re-Developing Your Vision

One of the most important things we can do for... Read More

The Climbs In Our Lives

I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging,... Read More

Beluga Whale Hits the River

Wonders never cease. Just when those in our area of... Read More

Random Thoughts on Living Your Best Life

More things I've noticed along the way:* Our son's birthday... Read More

Faux Feelings

Direct Answers - Column for the week of November 10,... Read More

Have You Ever Felt GOD in You?

God is the primordial Creative Force that is believed to... Read More

How To Walk On The Path Of Peace (Part 2)

If you are praying daily for wisdom, for peace, a... Read More

5 Notions That Americans Should Put Out To Pasture

Wisdom and knowledge come from the same family but are... Read More

Why Be Great?

Have you ever thought of what it would take to... Read More

False Prophets

Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 12,... Read More

A Life Time of Strategic Thinking

You may be one of the thousands who think "Strategic... Read More

Arranging Stepping-Stones

The greatest achievements were obtained by those who took one... Read More

Flight Delay

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 6,... Read More

How Four Words Can Enhance Your Life Of Prayer (Pray More In My Hectic Day? You Cant Be Serious)

"I would like to pray more. But ... how to... Read More

Moral Obligation & Responsibility

Chances are you have seen some type of disturbance in... Read More

It Wont Happen Again

Have you or do you know someone who has been... Read More

3 Big Fat Lies that Deserve to Die

Big Fat Lie 1: Your personality is formed and unchangeable... Read More

Time to Change the World!

Here's something you can do each day that will REALLY... Read More

Where Did We Miss?

Talking with friends, people I meet on a regular basis,... Read More

8 Ways to Get Your Healthy Groove On

You've heard the saying, "You are what you eat." I... Read More

The Power of Inner SELF

I am sharing one of the great insights.The fear that... Read More

Making the Most of Your Peak and Off-peak Times

What is the most essential part of your business? You... Read More