Are you ready for an inside job?

Hey! Happy Halloween!

I hate to admit it, but there are times when the events from the outside start to chip away at my self esteem and self confidence.  I know you have had times like that as well.  There are times when someone says something that may make you feel bad or feel angry.  Someone told me years ago that hurt feelings usually lead to emotions such as anger or resentment.  Simply knowing the source of the emotions, however, does little to erase the pain and suffering associated with getting our feelings hurt.

There are so many external variables that we deal with on a daily basis.  Many times, our difficulties result from these external variables.  How many times do we experience a less-than-productive day simply because the weather is gloomy outside?  How many times do we have a less-than-stellar day because we got off to a bad start due to something hurtful said to us?  How many times do we head off for our daily routine, simply dreading our potential interactions with those certain people who seem to simply make life more difficult for us?

With all of these uncontrollable variables, there is one absolute certainty, and the good news is that it is entirely controllable.  We are in complete control of our internal environment.  We can determine how we choose to respond to the external variables we are exposed to.  It sure is not easy to convince ourselves that we need to move on and not let ourselves be hurt!

Zig Ziglar is quoted as saying, "Don't expect others to make you happy.  Happiness is an inside job.  You make yourself happy first; then you share that happiness with others."

Are you ready for an inside job?  Are you ready to take control of your internal thoughts and feelings, while taking ownership of your personal happiness from within?

It's a tough job, but it's ours, and if we can master this one important task, it makes the previously-hurtful actions and words seem just a little more "amateur" and a bit more absurd in some ways.

Are you up for the challenge?  I know you are!

Have a great day and a happy Halloween!

-Victor