Are we the masters of our destiny?
Weekends with family can be really fun, but they can also become quite competitive sometimes… especially when it comes to board games or cards! 😊
Over the past weekend, I had my cousin over and we dusted off an old pack of cards to play a game of rummy. The initial rounds seemed like my cousin was being dealt some brilliant hands, since he was able to form his sets and win quite effortlessly, irrespective of who was dealing.
As I took a break and saw what was happening behind the scenes, I was surprised to find that my cousin was dealt similar hands as I had received, but was really able to manipulate his position and the cards to get himself into winning positions every time…
My thoughts drifted to the larger question of the game of life… are we at the mercy of the cards we are dealt, or are we the masters of our destiny?
Do we love misery, or the challenge of life? Are we worried of what may happen or love the thrill of the possibilities? Do we envy the ability of others or are proud of our strengths and shortcomings?
While there’s no right or wrong answer, here’s what I believe…
- We are the ‘distilled concentrate’ of the values we imbibe
Our values play a huge role in shaping our identity. Are you being mindful if your actions are in harmony with your values, and do you sometimes also allow for self-acceptance of your adaptive-self over your authentic-self?
e.g. Gambling is bad, but playing cards is fun (values and adaptive-self)
2. We are the ‘blossoming buds’ of the mindsets we cultivate
It’s our mental makeup, the thoughts that we harbor and the desires that we garner…
e.g. I never win in a game of cards! (mindset)
3. We are the ‘sum total’ of the choices we make
Situations are either unconsciously or consciously created by us by the choices we make. If this world is your stage, what choice of character do you like to play — the victim, the perpetrator or the hero?
e.g. Since, I never win in a game of cards (mindset), I will keep complaining about the hand dealt to me (choice of being a victim character)
Our Values -> Our Mindset -> Our Choices
‘I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul’ — William Ernest Henley (The backstory to this line is truly inspirational)
#FridayMusings #Values #Mindset #Choices #AGameOfCards #Invictus
#Zenesse #ExecutiveCoaching #CoachVaishaliWagle
