I am the captain of my own ship
I suspect that we don't have as much control over our lives as we believe that we do. Sure, we aren't helpless beings at the mercy of a predetermined algorithm, but we also aren't the all-powerful titans we sometimes convince ourselves we are.
When things are going well, we over-estimate our contributions; and think highly of ourselves because we've done this Incredible thing. Feelings of pride, and confidence are warranted after an achievement; however, there's often a lack of acknowledgment of the factors, circumstances, and people that played different roles in getting you to the mountain top.
When things aren't going well, there are often feelings of anxiety and despair due to the lack of control we have over our lives. It starts feeling like life is happening to us without our permission, and all we can do is react to each new thing that life throws at us. This is a dangerous place to be, because it can demotivate you from taking care of things that you could get under control simply because you no longer feel in charge.
One of my favorite things to say to my friends is that I'm the captain of my ship. What's important to remember is that even the greatest captain, on the best ship, is still subject to the whims of the ocean. All he can do is respond in an effective manner that still leads him toward his destination. Whether it's smooth sailing, or gale-force winds, the captain has as much control over the ship as he did before; no more, no less. He was always responding to the stimuli in his environment, and when that stimulus is negative, the response needs to be as controlled and measured as it was when the stimuli were favorable. And at no point should the captain think that he is above the ocean and its wrath, Poseidon is a jealous man whose anger knows no bounds.
It's as frightening a realisation, as it is freeing
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