Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
— Lao Tzu
I first saw this quote about two years ago while watching Mohnish Pabrai’s lectures on YouTube. It resonated with me, and I’ve kept it in mind ever since.
With social media and our constantly busy schedules, it’s hard to spend time with our own thoughts. Often, we don’t realize how much influence the content we consume has on us. We may think we control what we believe, but on reflection, it’s clear that our understanding of the world is shaped by content chosen for us by algorithms that use our age, location, trends, and so on.
Exposed to other people’s views every day, our original ideas gradually blend with those of the people we follow and the media we consume. The algorithm studies our patterns, feeding us content that strengthens our existing beliefs.
It’s crucial to be aware of this and to work on taking back control of our thoughts. We need to regularly ask ourselves: are these ideas genuinely mine, or do they reflect someone else’s agenda? Are these thoughts useful to me, or are they serving other interests? Are the ideas I’m taking in / have currently helping me become the person I want to be?
It’s comfortable to remain in an environment of familiar views, but if that environment perpetuates negativity, fear, or self-doubt, stepping out of it is a necessary challenge.
Hence, it’s important to reflect upon our thoughts and beliefs and to ensure that they align with the life we want to live. Start manufacturing the thoughts that will help you become the person you want to be.
Our words do more than express our thoughts; they reinforce and solidify them. When we speak, we don’t just communicate with others; we communicate with ourselves. Speaking thoughts aloud brings them closer to reality, making them feel more tangible and, often, more true.
This self-reinforcement can work in two general ways:
Sometimes sharing our aspirations and intentions with others serves as a means of accountability, a promise we make to ourselves in the presence of others. Social expectations can be a powerful motivator—use this dynamic to your advantage.
Thoughts and words are often underestimated tools for personal growth, overshadowed by factors like intelligence, effort, and luck. Yet, they form the foundation of our character and our trajectory.
It all begins with your thoughts. Eventually, you’ll start to speak like the person you want to be, do the things that will bring you success, and you’ll become the person you’ve always wanted to be. By consciously shaping our inner and outer dialogue, we can grow into the person we strive to be. This is the simple but profound process of programming ourselves toward a better life.
What you always think about, you become.
Disclaimer: The ideas presented in this post are solely my personal perspective and have not been substantiated by any verifiable evidence. Please form your own opinions on such matters.