Marc Chernoff

Don’t settle for the default settings in life.

Don’t wait on others to choose you. Choose yourself today!

11. A mounting pile of personal debt

In fact, most of what we describe as our “biggest problems” are the direct consequence of how we react to life on an average day.

Yes, sometimes there are major tragedies to cope with, but most of the time the only real problem is our mind-set and resulting behavior in the present moment.

Openness means you admit that you don’t really know what the next step will be like, and you’d like to understand the whole truth of the matter. It’s being fully present and willing to learn and grow.

Their experiences are a reminder that even when harsh circumstances threaten to bring us down to the lowest of lows, we can keep our minds focused on the positive and our hearts open, and continue to put one foot in front of the other, to recover the pieces, rebuild, and fight back with more strength and determination than we ever imagined possible.

Don’t lower your standards, but do remind yourself that removing your expectations of others—especially those who are being difficult—is the best way to avoid being disappointed by them.

Remember, there’s always something to be negative about—and something to be grateful for. The choice is ours.

If you feel differently, or if you’ve been holding yourself back recently, realize that the real battle is in your mind. And your mind is under your control, not the other way around. You may have been broken down by adversity or rejection or stress, but you are not broken.