I had to memorize the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley when I was in high school. At the time, it was just another hoop to jump through and so I did as was expected. However, I have always repeated the final two lines in the poem as a kind of personal mantra, “I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” I think it has unconsciously helped guide me during my life.
If I am the master of my fate, then I am the boss, I am in charge and I am the decision maker. I must accept the responsibility of making the right choices and the direction that my life takes. No one else is going to take the credit for my successes or more importantly no one else is going to be blamed for my failures. I alone decide if:
- I begin each day with a smile or a frown
- my attitude to life will be positive or negative
- I treat others as I would choose to be treated
- I put in the effort to achieve my goals or not
- my life is surrounded by many or few friends
- my standards of conduct and behaviour are acceptable
- my life is boring or exciting
- I model the important values I wish others to emulate
- I am humble, sincere, honest and kind
- I maximize the opportunities that life presents me
Some people don’t really understand that they are responsible for their own lives. Of course, many have to face some serious issues during their entire life. If you are faced with a major health issue or troubling family problems, life can often seem unfair and in some cases that is true. It does not prevent a person from taking charge of the aspects of their life that they can control or significantly influence. It is not easy, but “you are the master of your fate.”
I think my life has been shaped by a loving childhood, the gift of an excellent memory, an appreciation for simple pleasures and a moral compass provide by my Catholic upbringing. I credit these factors and life’s many other blessings along with my simple mantra for a long happy life. “I am the master of my fate.”
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