How you respond matters.
Let’s talk about it.
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Hello, my friend, I have an inspirational quote to share with you today. It goes like this:
“Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.”
This quote is by Charles Swindoll. Charles Swindoll is an author, educator, and Christian pastor.
I love this quote. This quote gives you a powerful key to achieve happiness and fulfillment along the way.
That powerful key is knowing that YOUR RESPONSE MATTERS.
There are 4 powerful positive ways you can respond to whatever happens to you in life to turn anything into a force for good.
1) RESPOND BY ASSIGNING A SUPPORTIVE MEANING
There is some inspiration about meaning in Viktor Frankl’s book, “Man’s Search for Meaning”(https://amzn.to/3hRXXLk). Viktor Frankl was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp and although he couldn’t change some things about his situation, he maintained that he could control what meaning he found in his suffering. He controlled his attitude and his response. And by maintaining control of these responses, he found strength to survive. You have ultimate influence on what things mean in your life. T. Harv Eker, in his book, “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind,”(http://amzn.to/2xsIzlt) says that nothing in life has meaning unless you give it meaning. Respond by giving everything a meaning that will support your happiness. If you get to choose what something means, might as well assign a positive meaning.
2) RESPOND BY MAINTAINING A HELPFUL ATTITUDE
Here is an instructional quote by Epictetus, “It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous – even death is terrible only if we fear it.” By choosing to see the silver lining of a rain cloud, by looking for the good in people and things, and by believing in the possibility of a better future, you imbue yourself with power to face whatever life throws at you. Always look on the bright side of life.
3) RESPOND BY ACTIVELY IMPROVING YOUR LIFE
You must also work to actively improve your situation in life. And this starts with a belief that your situation can be improved. As Carol Dwek mentions in her book, “Mindset,”(https://amzn.to/3Hpm4OF) only after you accept that with effort, you can change your situation in life, you are capable of acting to make changes. Then you must respond with physical action to bring about improvement wherever you can.
4) RESPOND BY CHANGING WHAT YOU CAN CHANGE AND ACCEPTING WHAT YOU CAN’T
There will always be elements in life that you cannot control. HOWEVER, there will always be elements in life that ARE in your control. You must engage your intelligence to know the difference. This is what Steven Covey referred to in his book, “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,”(http://amzn.to/2yqF1Pk) as acknowledging your circle of influence. You must realize there are things outside that circle that you have little to no significant influence on. You can’t change the weather, politics, economy, etc. But you can change what you have direct influence on starting with your attitude and your response.
The famous Serenity Prayer is instructive here. It basically says, “grant to us the serenity of mind to accept that which cannot be changed, the courage to change that which can be changed, and the wisdom to know the one from the other.”
The truth and wisdom you can derive from this quote, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” — Charles Swindoll, is that although a small portion of life may be outside your control, a large portion of your life, is within your control. How you respond to what happens to you is MORE IMPORTANT that what happens to you.
In review here are …
4 WAYS HOW YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU:
- Control the meaning place on what has happened
- Choose to consistently maintain a positive attitude
- Respond through taking action to improve your situation
- Engage your intelligence to change what you can and accept what you can’t
The quality of your happiness and your life experience all come down to how you respond to what life throws at you.
So, stop trying to fight the inevitable or waste your energy blaming or complaining. Pick yourself up get to work living a happier, fuller life.
This is Ben Balden from Live a Happier, Fuller Life. Please comment, like, or subscribe to show your appreciation and support me bringing more positive inspiration in the world.
You can buy my new book, Live a Happier, Fuller Life at …
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*links in this post are affiliate links that support my mission help others live happier, fuller lives
Books Mentioned In This Post*
Buy “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ” Here
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker
Buy “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” HereMindset by Dr Carol S. Dweck
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl (9.6/10)
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