The Key to Total Self-Mastery

Article for those who are tired of depending on external factors and strive for complete control over themselves and their lives.

If you’re even a little interested in personal development, you’ve probably faced situations where things don’t go as planned, or everything suddenly turns against you. For example, you decide to start saving money—maybe for a new pair of running shoes—but after a few weeks or even days, something urgent comes up that requires immediate spending. After some agonizing, you dip into your savings to patch up the problem.

Sound familiar? What do people usually do in such cases? Most start to get nervous or upset: “I knew it! Something always happens to me!” Others might be more restrained and, after a while, try saving again. But in the end, both groups often give up and never reach their goal.

So, what should you do? The eternal question. What helps us stay afloat? What does everyone who wants to change their life and become its true master need to know?

There’s one crucial aspect that, if developed, can lead to amazing results in any endeavor. I’m talking about Awareness. Maybe this isn’t news to you, but I strongly recommend reading to the end—you might realize just how important this really is.

What Sets Achievers Apart?

Let me ask you a few questions:

• What helps a ship’s captain reach their destination?
• What helps a racecar driver get through a sharp turn?
• What helps an athlete get back on the field or court after a setback?

All of them—the captain, the driver, the athlete—have something in common. They don’t just know where they need to go, and that it’s important to them. They also know that, no matter what happens, they’ll reach their goal if they stay as aware and focused as possible.

The Four Pillars of Awareness

Let’s break it down. Being able to organize and keep your knowledge in order is also a key factor in personal growth. When I talk about Awareness, I see a structure made up of four main components:

1. A clear goal or dream
2. Understanding your values and principles—what’s truly important to you
3. The skill and determination to keep your attention on what matters most
4. Unshakeable belief that no circumstances or people can affect the outcome you’ve decided to achieve

The first three are usually manageable (though not always easy), but the last one often raises a lot of questions.

I don’t like to complicate things. Anyone can make things harder, but true mastery is in making them simpler. So, remember this:

You are not a product of circumstances; you are the result of your decisions. Only what you allow to influence you can actually affect you.

The Secret to Achieving Goals

What’s the secret to achieving your goals? There is no secret. NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) says that if someone else can do it, so can you. You just need to keep trying and adjust your approach until you get the result you want. That’s it. Simple, right? So why do so few people actually reach their goals? There are many reasons.

Some people don’t have any goals at all—they just drift through life. Others can’t focus, or don’t know their true values. Some waste energy trying to change things they can’t control, like the weather, the dollar exchange rate, or a politician’s behavior.

My Recommendations

1. Find what matters most to you. Your values—this could be your family, loved ones, your dream, your health, or your children’s well-being.
2. Understand what you can really influence, and what you can’t. Don’t waste time on the latter.
3. Develop the belief that anything is achievable if you stick to the first two points and are determined to nurture that belief.
4. Take action and stay flexible.

And that’s not all, though it’s already more than enough to get started.

The “Eagle’s Flight” Technique

Here’s a simple technique to help you rise above the chaos and problems:

Imagine you’re a sharp-eyed young eagle. You’re flying high above the ground, surveying miles of land below. Nothing controls you. Only the sun’s rays warm you, and the wind gently ruffles your feathers.

All your problems and difficulties are surmountable. No weather or barking enemies can break your will or faith in your strength. There’s only the sky, the sun, your goal, and you.

If it rains, you can shelter in the forest or a nearby canyon. If someone tries to attack, you just need to show your claws—and your determined, unapproachable appearance will be enough to deter most threats. So you keep flying until you reach your goal, stopping only occasionally to rest and regain strength.

Would an eagle complain about bad weather? No. He’ll just wait it out until the sun comes out again. Would he fight a hurricane? No. He can’t win against a hurricane, so he waits it out. Would he complain about circumstances? No. Eagles don’t talk.

Be an eagle. Don’t be a chicken.

Build Your Foundation

We all need a foundation: goals, values, focus, and belief that anything is possible. Many people lack this today. But you can create it.

Understand this: you are just a small part of this world, and your problems are nothing but tiny grains of sand in this vast universe. Yet I believe that every person, no matter how small compared to the universe, has limitless power. To unleash it, you only need to do one thing—awaken that power within yourself.

The universe doesn’t want to break you; it wants you to become stronger. People don’t want to hurt you—they’re just full of their own pain. Success isn’t running away from you; it wants to be attracted by you. We’re not weak by nature; we become weak when we refuse to fight.

And we refuse to fight only because, at some point, we started believing we couldn’t do something—and no one came to tell us otherwise. I’m here to tell you: You are capable of so much more.

Awareness Is for Everyone

Awareness isn’t just some philosophical term or a skill reserved for Tibetan monks. Awareness is the ability to rise above your circumstances at the right moment—and eventually, in every moment of your life. It’s the determination to be stronger. The determination to be wiser. The intention to draw knowledge, strength, courage, and wisdom from nature and higher powers, wherever you are, at any time.