I remember when I had the epiphany about the most valuable possession you can ever have. I was in a car, zoning out as usual (don’t worry, I wasn’t driving!), contemplating this thought swirling in my head about how the thing that holds us back most in life is our own fear. Fear of failure, fear of looking stupid, fear of getting our ego hurt. I was a junior in college, and I was deeply immersed in self-help literature. Although I had read and understood many of the principles that the authors talked about, I still suffered from self-imposed limitations at times, when I doubted myself or was afraid to attempt something of fear of looking foolish. Even though I had the enthusiasm and idealism that most youths possess, I didn’t have the experience or strength yet to push through my mental barriers. One thing I was sure of however, was that the most important asset I could ever possess wasn’t money, or an expensive good, or even your health. Health can be lost but your vitality and positive energy still remains. No, your most valuable possession you can ever have is a positive mindset.
We’ve heard it all before: stories about people who’ve lost everything they own, or lost a loved one, or suffered a tragic accident, but still managed to let go, move on, continue living life. It is this mental strength that plays the largest role in whether you succeed or fail. Your mind, along with your body, are your most valuable resources (although I would argue that the mind is more important). A healthy attitude towards life can make all the difference. Riches come and go. Friends come and go. Loved ones enter our live and exit, sometimes leaving a trail of tears and a broken heart in their wake. Whatever the circumstance, the one thing we have control over is our mind. Where one man would be unhappy with $1,000, another man is happy with $100. More often in life than less, you choose to either be happy or unhappy with your circumstance. I’m not saying that you should always choose to be happy. In fact, I don’t even think that is possible. Sadness, depression, bitterness - these are all real feelings that humans inevitably feel through living their lives. But the mind can learn to bounce back, stronger from the experience. Read Setback - My Story and Up and Down and Spinning all Around for more about the darker moments in my life.