James A. Surrell, M.D.

One of the most important things I have ever learned in my life is summarized in this following short statement: “We live by choice, not by chance.” Be aware that we all have been given this amazing ability to choose what we think about, and it is always so very important that we choose to have positive thoughts, and choose to avoid negative thoughts. This will lead us to having positive results in our life and will also lead us to have positive interactions with others.

Regarding our thoughts, we should think of our mind as a garden, and we are the master gardener. The thoughts we choose are the seeds we plant in the garden of our mind. Therefore, as the master gardener in control of our thoughts, we should choose to plant good seeds (positive thoughts), and choose not to plant bad seeds (negative thoughts). Always remember that we all have been given this remarkable ability to choose our thoughts and therefore, we choose what we think about. Consider these six words of profound wisdom from the great motivational author and speaker, Mr. Earl Nightingale. “We become what we think about.”

Perhaps one of our greatest choices that we make every day is the attitude we choose for that day. It was a profound moment and learning experience for me when I learned that I can choose my attitude each and every day. Our attitude, of course, will impact not only how we feel about ourselves, but our attitude will also dramatically impact how we interact with others, at work, at play, and perhaps most importantly, at home with our family.

As was so simply and eloquently noted by the great author Wilferd Peterson many years ago, one of our greatest individual powers is what we choose “To Be”. We can all choose to be more loving, to be more courageous, to be more joyous, to be more friendly, to be more sensitive, to be more aware, to be more forgiving, to be more tolerant, to be more humble, to be more patient, and to be more helpful to others.

It is so very important for all of us to always recall that we live by choice, and not by chance. Every day we choose our thoughts, we choose our actions, we choose our personal habits such as exercising and what we eat and drink, and to make healthy lifestyle choices. We should never forget that all of our personal choices have consequences. When we make good choices, we will ultimately get good results. Of course, we cannot always choose what happens to us in life, but it is very important for us to always remember that we can always choose how we react to it. Ultimately, we all will become a product of our personal choices.