Inspire thyself

I recently read a tale about two adults: one, a drunkard with many bad habits, and the other, his complete opposite—a well-respected individual in society. Both claim their father was their motivation, and it's solely due to him that they ended up the way they did. How is this possible, you might ask? The drunkard son would say that he inherited his habits from his father, who was also a drunkard and never looked after his family; he believes these traits somehow seeped into his own character. On the other hand, the other son would explain that he observed his father's behavior, discerned the difference between good and bad, and concluded what kind of person he should strive not to become. Although both were influenced by the same person, their lives took two distinct paths. This illustrates how life operates—it's one's thinking and outlook that shape their destiny.

Now, I'd like to delve into a third category of people—those whose inspiration primarily stems from within themselves. The idea is simple: focus on your own positive qualities, achievements, lifestyle, skills, and compassion. Additionally, there's always something to learn from mistakes. Every person has a unique story. One of my friends used to boast about his mastery of the English language, often saying, "If someone like me can excel in English, so can you." He was undeniably proficient in this skill, but I couldn't help but wonder why he phrased it that way. One day, I decided to ask him, and it turns out he used to be dyslexic; learning languages used to be his greatest challenge. However, with persistent practice, he overcame his struggles. Looking back, you'll likely find numerous similar stories from your own life. During your free time, reflect on such experiences, conduct a retrospective of the hurdles you've faced, how you conquered them, and ultimately, take pride in your accomplishments while congratulating yourself. By adopting this approach, you'll bolster your confidence and find the courage to undertake even more challenging endeavors next time. Encourage yourself by thinking, "If I managed that, surely I can handle this as well."

In my theory, this is how self-inspiration operates, and it's the philosophy that drives my life. While external sources can indeed serve as inspiration, being self-inspired often proves to be much more accessible.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.