Life is beautiful and offers us many valuable lessons along the way.

As much as we have come to believe that it is unpredictable and that our destiny is set in stone, we have the power within us to control and change most of what happens in our lives and it’s quality by the choices we make, the actions we take and the way we react to circumstances and various situations.

The following quotes reinforce this:

Quote #1:

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

We cannot change the past, neither can we predict the future but we can use our past experiences, challenges and the valuable lessons we garner from them to create and shape our future. Life and time have a way of making us wiser, better equipped and changing our perspective as far as many things are concerned.

Often times though, we are so hung up on the past and spend too much time re-visiting it that we fail to realize the opportunities that abound before us. The best things are never behind us but ahead of us and can only be experienced if and when we allow ourselves to embrace new possibilities and opportunities and become proactive in creating the lives we desire for ourselves.

Quote #2:

“Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” – Gail Devers

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! To accomplish anything; you have to dare to dream, be willing to take risks and put yourself out there. Nothing worth having in life comes easily or will be handed to you without any effort or due diligence on your part.

The World’s greatest inventions and innovations were birthed from an idea and the idea turned into manifestation by the person who dared to try by taking a leap of faith and making the decision to put the idea into work.

Quote #3:

“That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln

Roger Bannister was able to accomplish a feat experts had said for many years the human body wasn’t capable of; he broke the four minute mile barrier and inspired others to follow suit shortly thereafter. As they say, the rest is history, what was once considered impossible is a norm today.

If someone else is succeeding at something you are failing in, you need to re-examine your actions and figure out what you are doing wrong or aren’t doing and determine if their actions, habits and mannerisms are duplicable and if emulated would aid you in achieving similar if not greater success.

Quote #4:

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You really are the Author and Creator of your life and can be, do and have anything you put your mind to. Whatever you tell yourself is possible for you will be possible for you. The person YOU determine to be is the person you will become based on your mindset, the actions you perform and the choices you make.

The only person that stands in the way of you becoming the person you want to be is yourself. People can try to prevent you from becoming the person you would like to become or even influence you into becoming that very person but all the hard work lies in you determining the possibility of this happening.

Quote #5:

“Be miserable or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s your choice.” – Wayne Dyer

When it comes to dealing with challenging situations or obstacles in life, you can either take the stance of being the problem or the solution; whichever option you choose greatly determines the outcome and your happiness.

Complaining about circumstances that you can easily change is pointless and will lead you nowhere. Either make the choice to do whatever it takes to change your situation and proactively pursue the solution or choose to not do anything about it and stay miserable. The choice is really up to you. For things to change, you have to be willing to make the change or stop complaining about it if you aren’t willing to.

Quote #6:

“Only those who risk going far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

Although we are unlimited beings, we rarely tap into most of our potential because we sometimes aren’t willing to take the risks or make the sacrifices or commitments doing so would require of us. You will never know what you are capable of or where your strength lies until you are willing to push yourself further than you’ve ever gone or get out of your comfort zone without the possibility of a safety net.

The difference between being extra-ordinary and ordinary is determined by one’s will to go the extra mile and do what others aren’t willing to do.