Are You a Robot or a Person?

I was just asked the following question, "Does the decision of another person not affect you?" and I decided to explore my own thoughts with my blog. The first answer that came to my mind was, "Yes, it surely does." On the second thought I found out that the decisions of other people have usually affected me because I am not as strong as I want to be. It also affect me because we are all one, that means we are eternally connected by human fiber. That is why a single act of goodness is a blessing to the human family. And a single evil act makes the human family less human. This is not a mere grandiose statement. I truly believe that what it is. 

Exploring the idea further, I have an all together different set of opinions about it. I believe that you are primarily affected by your own thoughts, words and actions. When you think, speak and act pure, your life is pure.  When you entertain any impure thought, or speak unbecomingly, or act like a beast, then again your life will mirror just that. The truth in the adage is true: "You reap what you sow." 

You may ask, "OK, but people through their words and actions can ruin your life." That's right, too. They do this all the time. The question, however, is, "Do they ruin your life because they have power over you or is it because you gave them the power?" The world has plenty of examples to prove both sides of the argument. But I believe that if you choose to have power over yourself, i.e., if you have 'self-mastery', in thought, word and action, you will be surprised to find that people actually have less power over you. People's power over you is as much as you choose to give them. No one has power over the person who has power over himself. No one can ruin the person who has his life consciously in his own hands. 

You see the problem is you don't take full responsibility over your life. It is easy to be led than to make your own destiny. It is easy to blame others than to say I screwed my life myself. When 'they' are in charge of your life, then 'they' are free to do what they wish with it. 'They' can make you happy, or sad, or angry, or delighted, or depressed as they wish. But if you are in control of your life (which is to be in control of what you think, say and do), then you are the boss. Nobody can play with you pressing buttons like a robot toy. 

It is easy to change. It is tougher to keep the change consistently. This is how I think you should go about it. 

1. Make a DECISION never to be anyone's toy. Be ware not to be your parents', or your spouse's, or your friends' toy. 
2. Learn to CONTROL your thoughts since "act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits."
3. DISCIPLINE yourself consistently until you become your own person in thought, word and act. 
4. When you FAIL to do so, as it will happen more frequently-especially the first few months, pick yourself up and move on taking your lessons from what happened. Keep on keeping on!

"MAN IS MADE OR UNMADE BY HIMSELF."