Moods don’t rule—actions do
We are not at the mercy of the forecast. We are the forecast. And the greatest war is not outside, but within. To master your emotions, you do not suppress them but lead them.
Quote:
He who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32
Today I will be master of my emotions.
The tides advance; the tides recede. Winter goes and summer comes. Summer wanes and the cold increases. The sun rises; the sun sets. The moon is full; the moon is black. The birds arrive; the birds depart. Flowers bloom; flowers fade.
Seeds are sown; harvests are reaped. All nature is a circle of moods and I am a part of nature and so, like the tides, my moods will rise; my moods will fall.
Today I will be master of my emotions.
It is one of nature's tricks, little understood, that each day I awaken with moods that have changed from yesterday. Yesterday's joy will become today's sadness; yet today's sadness will grow into tomorrow's joy. Inside me is a wheel, constantly turning from sadness to joy, from exultation to depression, from happiness to melancholy.
Like the flowers, today's full bloom of joy will fade and wither into despondency, yet I will remember that as today's dead flower carries the seed of tomorrow's bloom so, too, does today's sadness carry the seed of tomorrow's joy.
Today I will be master of my emotions.
And how will I master these emotions so that each day will be productive? For unless my mood is right the day will be a failure. Trees and plants depend on the weather to flourish but I make my own weather, yea I transport it with me.
If I bring rain and gloom and darkness and pessimism to my customers then they will react with rain and gloom and darkness and pessimism and they will purchase naught. If I bring joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter to my customers they will react with joy and enthusiasm and brightness and laughter and my weather will produce a harvest of sales and a granary of gold for me.
Today I will be master of my emotions.
And how will I master my emotions so that every day is a happy day, and a productive one? I will learn this secret of the ages: Weak is he who permits his thoughts to control his actions; strong is he who forces his actions to control his thoughts. Each day, when I awaken, I will follow this plan of battle before I am captured by the forces of sadness, self-pity and failure.
🚀 If I feel depressed I will sing. If I feel sad I will laugh. If I feel ill I will double my labor. If I feel fear I will plunge ahead. If I feel inferior I will wear new garments. If I feel uncertain I will raise my voice. If I feel poverty I will think of wealth to come. If I feel incompetent I will remember past success. If I feel insignificant I will remember my goals. Today I will be master of my emotions.This series features select excerpts from The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino—a timeless source of inspiration. As we close the first half of the year and prepare for the next, I believe its wisdom offers clarity, encouragement, and momentum for the journey ahead.
What’s Your Thought?
Do your emotions drive your behaviour—or does your behaviour lead your emotions?
When last did you override a mood and still showed up?
What personal “weather” are you creating today—for yourself and others?
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Deeper Dive
📚 Resources:
Emotional Agility by Susan David
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer
“Mastering Emotions” — Jordan Peterson lecture (YouTube)
Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
🛠 Actionable Tips:
Start your day with a State Shift Ritual: music, declarations, movement (3–5 minutes)
Keep a Mood Log to detect triggers and patterns
Write a “Mood Manual”: a list of counter-actions like “If I feel ____, I will ____”
Use the Opposite Action Rule: Do the reverse of what a negative emotion urges
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