What do I care about?

It is fair to say that the world around you is a mirror.  Therefore

you have a lot more control over the future than you might think,
because you can shape your world just by being true
to what you really care about.
-Bradley Trevor Greive


It's sometimes difficult for me to believe that life is a mirror, and that it reflects what I put into it.  After all, so many things happen that are completely out of my control that it's not really fair to say that our current political situation is my fault.  Maybe it is, and if that's the case, I'm sorry--but I'm pretty sure that politics in our country today have very little to do with me.

Then what does Bradley mean here?  I think he means that we have to redefine our worlds to include those things over which we have some true sort of influence.  The way I treat that man in the supermarket, the ways in which I interact with friends and coworkers, the love that I show--or fail to show--to my family.  These are all part of my world, and they really do depend on my actions and attitudes.  And what comes tomorrow in my world is going to be more a result of what I do today than it's going to be a result of chance, or of other people's input.

Just because I smile at someone doesn't mean that person has to smile back.  That would be an unrealistic expectation on my part, and I don't want to be disappointed anymore by unfulfilled expectations.  Just because I'm polite to you doesn't mean you'll be polite to me--I have no idea what kinds of tribulations you may be going through today.  That's not what Bradley is talking about.  What he means is that if you're not polite to me today, I see that as an opportunity to be compassionate, or I see it as something terrible that's going to make me feel bad.  If I lose something important, I can see it as a disaster, or as something that's going to make me think more about how important it's been to me.  And my tomorrow is going to depend on my balance and clarity today--I have much more of a chance to be working where I want to be tomorrow if I take great care in being a good person who instills confidence in my abilities during today's job interview.  I have a better chance of being surrounded by friends if I treat people well today, if I show them that I care for them.

You do shape your world, and your tomorrow does depend on what you do today.  Be aware of this fact, and make your tomorrow bright by doing good today.  Don't get your expectations up too high for specific outcomes, though--sometimes life knows better than you do what's best for you!

http://livinglifefully.com/life4.htm