“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”
What this quote means
This quote reminds us that our state of mind is a choice, even if it takes effort. We can choose to focus on what makes us miserable or on what makes us strong. The difficulty is the same, but the result is different. In tough times, it's easier to let negativity overwhelm us, but that takes as much energy as cultivating resilience. Choosing strength means investing your energy in what builds you up rather than what tears you down.
How to apply it daily
Identify a situation that makes you miserable, then list three concrete actions to turn it into strength. Pick one and put it into practice today.
Continue
Related quotes
Same author or same theme — keep reading.
“Be proactive. Begin with the end in mind.”Create visual
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”Create visual
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”Create visual
“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”Create visual
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”Create visual
“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”Create visual
More quotes by Carlos Castañeda
“The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge, while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.”Create visual
“The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.”Create visual