Our thoughts shape the world around us and determine the course of our entire lives. They have a huge impact on our existence, and according to the author, it is important to remember that we, and only we, are responsible for what happens to us; blaming external circumstances or the people close to us prevents us from taking responsibility for our own problems. Some people prefer to point the finger, or they avoid calling themselves into question, when trying to solve their issues, but this only leads to an endless and tiring internal struggle that gets us nowhere. If, on the other hand, we are able to change our attitude, stop blaming others, and start questioning ourselves, things will quickly start to change for the better. If we take a closer look at our life experiences and at our character, we soon realise that we can actively intervene and improve our situation.
If we reflect on our reactions, for instance, it soon becomes clear that we tend to follow precise behavioural patterns. As children, we learn our behaviour from our parents, who pass down their attitudes and reactions, and their general approach towards life. Children who spend a great deal of time with sad, unhappy, anxious, or resentful adults will be significantly affected by those negative feelings in later life. These unhappy emotions leave a mark on us and influence our behaviour in various ways.
Our experiences are the result of the thoughts that we formed in the past. According to the author, in order to change the course of our lives, we have to tune into the present, and train ourselves to create new thoughts that have a much more positive influence on our actions and on our way of interacting with the world.