Are You The Master Of Your Destiny?

How strong are you?

I'm not asking if you can carry 150 lbs. of weight. What I'm
after is your strength of character. How resilient are you to
hang on to your dreams amidst the raging forces of discouragement
and criticisms?

There are far too many individuals who never get to experience
the joy of attaining their desires because other people's
influence has significantly (and sometimes negatively) affected
their crucial decisions.

Are there instances in your life when other people said that
you should not continue your plans because they're never gonna
work? What did you do? Did you continue your endeavors or did
you just follow their command?

If you always adhere to other's beliefs and opinions even though
they are contrary to yours, you're just torturing yourself. It's
like you don't have a mind of your own. You're like a shadow
following the moves of someone else.

You may listen to other people's advices, but never let them
control you. If their advices would contribute to your
success and well being, then by all means follow them. But
if they would hinder you and stray you away from what you
really want in life, then you've got to make a stand and
pursue your heart's aspirations.

Sure there would be criticisms. But if you always avoid
them, then you will never be truly happy.

As one famous person said, "There is a sure way to avoid
criticisms, be nothing and do nothing. This remedy never
fails." True enough.

Take my case.

When I was in first year college, my dad wanted me to shift
my course to Physical Therapy because it was in demand in the
United States at that time. But I wanted to continue my
studies in Accountancy. I remained firm with my decision
and after some negotiations they finally gave in.

Then there's my love life. Chinese tradition states that
Chinese people marry their own kind. (No offense) But I fell
madly in love with this Filipino girl. Despite all the
criticisms, discouragement, and harsh words (pardon me), I
defended my love for her. Right now we're going strong and
my relatives have respected my decision.

You see, if I have given up easily in any of the two scenarios,
I would've deprived myself of joy and contentment in my life.

Sometimes other people's words would cut like a knife. But
never be disheartened. Listen to the voice inside of you.
We will never be able to satisfy everybody because each of
us is unique. We have our own distinct traits and values.
Respect for each other's opinions should be upheld.

With that said, I would like to leave this final message that
sums it all up. Follow your heart and happiness will follow.

Michael Lee is the author of "How To Be A Red Hot Persuasion Wizard," an ebook designed to fully improve your relationships, multiply your profits, win negotiations, and help you attain all the desired freedom and power you could ever dream of. Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com now and grab a sample chapter.

---

Leaving The Child Behind. Recovery From Child Abuse

I looked at my father for the last time before he was finally laid to rest. And I said to myself, "I forgive you father".I have forgiven him but I have not forgotten... Read More

Rocking The Boat

I work in a factory, and we have supervisors who play favorites. They have about six girls who can do no wrong, and they have easier jobs than the rest of us. These... Read More

Giving Importance

I call myself semi-retired. I work at a job that takes up 5 hours of my day, 5 days a week. I go home and I lock myself in my office and I... Read More

Life is Art

In my years teaching people to be successful, I have seen that basically people break their lives down in to two major parts: Wealth-building and the rest of their lives. Having done a... Read More

What is Your Recovery Rate?

What is your recovery rate? How long does it take you to recover from actions and behaviours that upset you? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? How long? The longer it takes you to recover... Read More

The True and Magnificent Power of Giving

You've probably heard of the popular saying "It's better to give than to receive." But do you actually know what hidden power lies within this magnanimous act known as "giving?"When you give something... Read More

Case Closed

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 27, 2003I met my boyfriend on an online dating service four months ago. About a month ago I went to the dating service website... Read More

Beautiful Day Blues

The massive orb dominates the aqua crystalline backdrop of its own making, floods its rays on everything below. The sky devoid of a single cloud seems as empty as I feel and the... Read More

How to Conquer Fears and Worries

"More than any other time in history, mankind face a crossroad. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness, and the other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to... Read More

The Art of Selfishness

Mature selfishness is the cornerstone of effectively living with passion and purpose. A commitment to self- interest is practical and efficient since you are better able to meet your needs than hope that... Read More

Mirror, Mirror -- What Do I See?

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror."-Ken KeysMirrors have a very particular function. They reflect the image in... Read More

Spiritual Bread Making

All the ingredients to make 12 loaves of bread already exist. The probability that any kind of bread already exists in your reality and it is simply is a matter of combining ingredients... Read More

Change Your Landscape by Seeing with New Eyes

A Story (Source Unknown) ? One day a very wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country for the sole purpose of showing his son how it was to be... Read More

Navigating The Squeeze

Today more than ever before, we are witnessing a crises of consciousness over the validity of war versus the power of humility, integrity, understanding and diplomacy. Simultaneously those who are spiritual seekers ponder... Read More

Wow a Butterfly!

Okay, I am sure that you clicked on this title out of curiosity. Wow a butterfly; what would a butterfly have to do with self help content? And you are right. Not a... Read More

I Am?

?you are, he is, she is, they are? But you knew that already, didn't you? Or have you really stopped to think about it recently ? or ever for that matter?Huh?I guess we... Read More

Eight Choices You Can Make Today that Will Change Your Life Forever

The direction of our lives is determined by the choices we make every day. They accumulate and add up to our ultimate destiny. Here are eight choices you can make - choices that... Read More

Do We Really Want to Be There Yet

The beauty in creation is in the process, in every single step along the way.A lot of attention is given a thing that is under construction or in the building stages. The activity... Read More

Are You The Master Of Your Destiny?

How strong are you? I'm not asking if you can carry 150 lbs. of weight. What I'm after is your strength of character. How resilient are you to hang on to your... Read More

The Most Important Investment You Can Make For Your Old Age - And No, Its Not Money!

When I was twenty-two, I was befriended by a woman named Doris who was thirty years older than I was. Although Doris was then a fifty-two year old woman, she did not feel... Read More

The Spectacular You

I recently received a letter addressed to Spectacular Rachelle Lee. At first I thought it was a joke. Who would write such a thing? I then thought maybe it was a mistake. Whatever... Read More

Meatballs: Friend, or Foe?

We all have those moments, don't we? We're right in the middle of a project, and it's simply not going well.Like me, you may find yourself becoming irritated, wishing you could find an... Read More

Favorite Quotations... What Do They Say About Us?

Have you stopped to think what your favorite quotes are saying about you and your life experiences?How you relate to them? How they relate to you?Today... I decided to take one of my... Read More

Sissys Show of Support

I had been fighting with the software program that I used to build my website. The software program had a bug in it and would occasionally anger the main brains of my computer.... Read More

Repeat Offender

Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 8, 2002I am a 26-year-old escort, in the business on and off since I was 14. I have a tendency to get involved in... Read More

Energy Work Basics Part 3: The Power of High Intention

At SPIRIT Connections, we believe that the most powerful tool we have when working with energy is our ability to set a high intention. We add the word "high" to intention since we... Read More

Keeping Your Attitude Up When Circumstances Are Down

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is key to the successful life. But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when circumstances deal us a blow? We have a tendency to let... Read More

The Seasons Of Life, Part 3 of 5

This week is part three of our five part series on The Season's of Life.In Part One of the series, I stated:a) That life is about constant, predictable patterns of change.b) For all... Read More

Learn From Failure and Confirm with Success

Both failure and success are good... if you know what their specific purpose is.Of course we know that success is good, but why? Success is good because it confirms things for us.Success confirms... Read More