“Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence, and love, and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation.”

James Allen (1864-1912) British-born American essayist. 

Ultimately, how you respond to any given situation is your choice. 

You can fold up, cave in and just let things happen to you. Or, you can choose a more arduous course – and – happen to things. 

When choices, situations, responsibilities or commitments seem to be gunning for you, only you possess that singular opportunity to decide just how you will respond. And in many ways, that decision acts to determine just how it will turn out.

It can be grim. It can be mediocre. One of those “I knew that was gonna happen” moments. Or, you can simply choose to turn it into your shining moment. 

Therein lay the opportunity inherent in all challenge, difficulty and adversity.  Each of those moments represents an opportunity to choose how you will respond. Each can become precisely the outcome that you have the ability to determine.  

So as Mr. Allen posited,  you can choose to be unmade and exist with all that entails.  Or, you can choose to be the lord of your thoughts and be made to ascend.  

For only you hold that key.