I’ve been trying to find this exact quote but it goes something like this…
Our thoughts lead to words, words lead to actions, actions lead to habits, habits lead to character and character to destiny.
I think it’s true. Our lives are testament to the daily minute-by-minute choices we make. Turns out that we are not only what we eat, though I think there’s more to that particular cliche than we’d like to believe.
But, we are also the sum of how we perceive the world & what we believe to be the Truth about Things. We are truly what we think, what we say and what we do.
We are in a constant state of becoming. The trick is to choose what we want that to look like.
I say this knowing that none of us have equal circumstances. Some people really get dealt a crappy hand, whether due to genetics or the country they were born in to or the kind of family that completely takes the fun out of dysfunctional.
I loved the movie Hugo and how he believed that the world was like a big machine. And because there were no spare parts in a machine, he had to think that his life too, must have meaning and importance.
Truly, the poor kid’s life sucked; orphaned and abandoned and living in clock tower in a Paris train station while subsisting on stole croissants. It is not a particulary upbeat saga. But Hugo overlaid his own framework and meaning on to his story, and voila! he had purpose and a reason for going on.
I believe we ascribe meaning to our lives one ticking minute at a time. This is a completely individual act. I cannot decide what meaning your life should have, nor can you push your view of what you think is important and meaningful on to mine.
I find this to be both a wonderful and terrifying thought. But then, how would I know it was an important concept to me unless I found it a titch overwhelming?
Thank you for the encouragement. You are absolutely right, you have to want it. A favorite quote I once heard is “I was sick and tired of being sick and tired”. I am in awe that all the successful decisions/choices seem to “stick” when the want is turned into the do. Following through with mind, body and sole together as one unit.
Love your blogs Colleen, best read with a moment to ones self, coffee in hand or bedtime steamed milk.
I went and saw the movie “The Iron Lady” yesterday and strangely enough Margaret Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep says your quote. I had just read your blog and there it was up on the big screen in an academy award winning movie! I’m sure it will be. Not sure if it’s “her” quote, but she definitely owned it in the movie!
I won’t spoil the movie, but I will say I LOVED IT and how your thoughts ring true throughout the entire movie. Or perhaps you have already seen it?
On another note, someone I know that was dealt a crappy hand…… fun out of dysfunctional (all that) went back to college at the age of 40 and in a two year span, quit drinking, got an amazing job, quit the consumption of 4 cokes, 3 chocolate bars and a pack of cigarettes per day. He is now following an exercise regime. Think of all the money he is saving, not to mention the mental, emotional and physical health! A wonderful transformation. Still many demons in the closet, but it certainly is a great way to tackle them!
Thank you, let me know if and when you see the movie.
Oh Karen. That is all so amazing. I haven’t seen the movie but now I really have to go. And really, I would pay to watch Meryl Streep sit in a chair for two hours. She can do no wrong.
But it is the second part of your comment that really resonates for me. It is so heartening and inspiring (!) to watch someone grab hold of their life, wrest control away from the various demons and kick some butt. I completely and totally believe in our ability to change our lives…but we’ve got to want it.
If we don’t desire a change enough to do the hard work it requires the status quo will prevail. Thank you for such a great story. I am in awe of all the strength such a dramatic change like that must take.
“combo-pack” – precisely!
Don’t you love combos? We get the best of everything that way.
I looked up the quote and found it but no author was listed.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
I’ve often wondered about folks with awful childhoods who became great. How did they overcome when so many today just soak in their misery and live as victims? What is the difference?? Strength of character, determination, motivation, eye on the goal – something!
Jana…thanks for the research. I wasn’t able to find an author either. Maybe it’s just ‘one of those general sayings’ that has survived.
I think that there must be a lot of genetics involved in determining outcomes. Like with litters of puppies; there is often the runt, the shy, nervous one, the outgoing exuberant one, etc. Those dogs can all be trained to various purposes and to overcome a lot of that but their basic character seems to be set upon arrival. The difference (I hope) with us is that we think about more than fetch and peanut butter and can sometimes over ride our pre-set wiring. I guess we’re back to Nature vs. Nurture. I believe it’s a combo-pak of Nature AND Nurture 🙂