There are many reasons why I love this song and
the snippets of its lyrics that speak to me,
but today, it’s this little thought.

The lines are delivered so knowingly.
I get it.

So many things we see, read or believe
have to do with taking charge of our lives.
In fact, they’re based on the idea that we
control our own destiny.
And to a large degree, I’ve always believed that to be true.

I’ve been captain of my own ship, master of my destiny.
Or so I thought.
But when I heard those Gnarls Barkley lines
for the first time, it stopped me in my tracks.

Am I really?
Or are some things simply out of my control so that
the best I can do is accept them and manage my life around them?

Strong Christians believe God is in charge.

If you’re a follower of The Secret, you believe that
you can manifest your heart’s desires by visualizing
and acting as though you already have them.

Buddhists don’t have a God in their faith and it’s
all about suffering.

And some people think science is in charge.
For me? Well, to some degree I think we all do create a good bit of our lives.
And it’s influenced by what we say to and about ourselves.

If we say our lives are crap, well, that’s how they are.
Doesn’t matter if it’s real or not; it’s the veil through
which all our experiences are filtered.

If we self-identify as a real F-up, well, that’s what we’ll be.
Because it’s a comfortable place for us, even in its discomfort.
If you know what I mean.
The familiar is always easier.

It takes courage to grab control of what we can and change direction.

It takes strength to push obstacles out of the way,
especially if they’ve been there so long
they’re practically cemented in place.

And it takes strength of will to look at
the glass as half-full instead of half empty.

So, what do you believe?
No.
Let me go one better.
I’m not going to ask what you believe.

I’m going to ask “So what stories are you telling yourself
and how do they affect your life? What if
you told yourself different stories?”

Just askin’.