To say that Brian Tracy’s wisdom is legendary is a gross understatement. In the more than 80 books he has authored, his empowerment message shines through clearly in every one.
One of my favorite quotes from him is, “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”
Life is full of things we can’t control. However, one thing we always have power over is our inner attitude and reactions. This is a skill that takes practice.
In the world around us, many events and situations are well beyond our influence. These are the things we simply can’t change. There are millions of examples of circumstances that are out of our control, but as a Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Coach, the ones I hear most about from my clients involve frustrations with other people’s thoughts and behaviors; “My husband does this… my mother does that… etc.”
The goal is always to help my clients understand in their very powerful subconscious minds that within ourselves, we have the ability to choose how we respond to these external factors. However, we can NEVER CHOOSE the external factors. Those things are provided by a force greater than us.
We will NEVER be in control of them. But… The goal is to NEVER let them CONTROL US!
Therefore, we can live our lives being upset and frustrated all the time, or we can accept the things we cannot change and bring empowerment and calm to our lives. All that needs to be done is to focus on changing the things we can change… Namely, OUR thoughts, emotions, reactions and behaviors.
In fact, these are the ONLY things that are TRULY 100% within our own control.
You might be thinking that this is easier said than done. The truth is that mastering this inner control is like becoming skilled at any craft. It’s something we get better at with time and effort. Just as a craftsman hones their skills through practice, we can refine our ability to choose our responses, no matter what’s happening externally.
To do this, we can use tools like mindfulness, meditation, self-reflection, hypnotherapy and personal development. These practices help us understand ourselves better, identify and overcome limiting beliefs, tackle fears, and change negative thought patterns.
As we keep working on this, we get better at maintaining a positive attitude, even when life throws challenges our way. We develop resilience and a mindset of growth. Instead of being passive recipients of what happens around us, we actively shape our internal world.
This inner mastery becomes a source of strength. It helps us navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and composure. While the world remains unpredictable, our inner world becomes a stable anchor.
Brian Tracy’s message reminds us that although we cannot control external events, by practicing internal control, we become masters of our own destinies. Over time, we realize that no matter what’s happening, we have the power to create a life that aligns with our deepest goals and desires.
I offer everyone a complimentary phone consultation so you can see how this applies in your life. Please always feel free to reach out.
Jayne Goldman, MBA, C.Ht., Founder and Principal of Best Life Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles, is a Certified Hypnotherapist and NLP Master NLP Practitioner and Coach
