When you master yourself, you master life and all its challenges.

The moment you set a goal for yourself, self-doubt appears, your mind becomes muddled, and a fog of uncertainty washes over you. Negative internal voices prod you to give up:

“This is too hard.”

“This isn’t important to me.”

“I’ll work on this some other day. Now’s not the time.”

Every time that you abandon a goal and give up, your?self-esteem?takes a big hit. You feel like a failure, and?happiness?is fleeting. You’re tossed around in a sea of uncertainty; a victim rather than a victor of your destiny

Buddhist peace advocate Daisaku Ikeda suggests that the battle for self-mastery is key to establishing a strong?identity. He?writes?that we must:

"...push open the heavy, groaning doorway of life itself. This is not an easy task. Indeed, it may be the most severely challenging struggle there is. For opening the door to your own life is, in the end, more difficult than opening the door to all the mysteries of the universe.”

Developing self-mastery

Every time you face your fears and overcome them, you experience a burst of pride. Cultivating the self-discipline to keep pushing through obstacles is key to winning. Here’s how to get started:

1. Set a goal and hold to it.

In the world of self-mastery, victory lies in the effort, not the outcome. Stop being a slave to your feelings. Give yourself an order and follow it.

It doesn’t matter what you’re feeling—doubt,?fear, uncertainty—push through it. There’ll be plenty of time to analyze it and reevaluate later. Start with smaller, achievable?goals, then move onto larger ones. As Emerson advises:?“Do your work, and you shall reinforce yourself.”

2. Keep your eye on the prize.

Ups and downs are part of the process of developing self-mastery. Like lifting weights, you grow stronger every time you overcome an obstacle. Stumbling or falling along the way is not evidence of your weakness or failure—it’s the way to develop?resilience?and grit.

3. Be of service.

Kindness?is an excellent source of self-esteem and is far more empowering than ruminating about your misfortunes or assigning blame. Helping someone who is suffering lessens your burdens, boosts your self-worth, and brightens a darkened path.

Self-mastery is formidable but the rewards are boundless. When you master yourself, you master life and all its challenges.