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Quote of the Day

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Playing With The Cards You’re Dealt

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.

I’ll explain.

One of the most astonishing facts of life is that you’re born into this world with a set of circumstances completely out of your control.

You don’t get to choose your starting point like a character in a video game, selecting traits, abilities, or power-ups.

No, your starting circumstances are handed to you—whether by a higher power, sheer luck, or whatever belief system you subscribe to.

These circumstances? They’re your hand.

The cards life, the dealer, hands you.

Playing Victim

Many people feel trapped or limited by the hand they were given. Their cards—whether physical, mental, financial, or a mix of all—don’t seem good enough.

I’ll be the first to admit, I fell into that mindset for a long time. I thought I was the victim of life’s lottery, stuck with a hand I neither wanted nor deserved.

"Why did I have to be born in a different country? All the kids bully me because I’m different. I can’t make any friends," I complained.

"Why am I fat? Everyone around me is in better shape." I cried.

"Why is my Mom so protective? His Mom is so much more chill. She’s the reason ___."

These narratives became my excuses—reasons why things weren’t going the way I wanted.

I was completely caught up in that mindset—looking at my hand and feeling like I was playing a rigged game.

All that complaining did nothing to actually improve my life.

It was a waste of time and energy.

The Illusion of Control

It’s natural to wish for different circumstances.

"If only I had better cards, things would be so much better."

But this way of thinking gets you nowhere.

You’re letting those cards dictate your life instead of figuring out how to play them to your advantage.

It’s a trap.

Focusing on what you can’t control only leaves you drained and stuck.

Thinking this way builds barriers around your life—and the saddest part is that these barriers are completely self-imposed.

Shifting from Victim to Player

So, life has dealt you a hand.

You’re stuck with these cards.

Now you have two options:

Option A: Do nothing, complain, put the cards down, and let life beat you down over and over again.

Option B: Make the most of the cards you were dealt. Play the game.

Option A keeps you stagnant and gives you—and those around you—a mean headache.

Option B gets you back in the game, fighting to win against the dealer and, ultimately, for a life you want.

Hint: you should choose the latter.

You’re self-imposing barriers onto your life, preventing you from becoming the person you aspire to be.

And this is what I meant by “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

So get your dancing shoes ready.

Because here’s how you’re gonna dance:

1. Gratitude

A lesson my Uncle taught me, and still reminds me of to this day (Hey old man 👋 in case you’re reading this):

You have no choice as to which family you’re born into.

You have no choice as to what body you’re born into.

You have no choice as to where you were born.

But, you were born. You were blessed with life. That should be enough.

That’s gratitude.

Appreciate what you have, even when it isn’t perfect.

Regina Brett once said:

Someone out there always has it worse than you. Focus on what’s right in your life, not what’s wrong.

You’ll never play life’s game well if you’re more focused on the cards others were dealt or the ones you weren’t.

Be thankful you were even invited to play.

2. Perception

I’ve written about perception before, and how the ability to shift your perception can rewire your life.

Here’s the short version:

The way you perceive your situation will ultimately control the way you experience life.

Perception is life’s glasses—each of us wears a unique lens that colors our view of the world.

You’re wearing these glasses even as you play against the dealer.

The challenges you face can either be roadblocks or stepping stones—it all depends on how you choose to see them.

If you wear sh*t-stained glasses, expect the world to look like…well…sh*t.

But if you choose to wear clear lenses, you'll start seeing the possibilities instead of the problems.

Think of all the people who have faced tremendous adversity yet have managed to achieve incredible things.

These are the people who impress and inspire you.

What sets them apart isn’t the hand they were dealt, but how they played it.

They see opportunities where others see obstacles.

Recognize that you have the power to shape your story, no matter where it begins.

3. Control

I’ve written about this, tweeted about it, and talked about it.

And I’ll continue to because it's a lesson you must 100% learn and accept to break past the limits you’ve set for yourself.

The only thing you can control is how you react to the uncontrollable.

Period.

You cannot control your outcome.

You can only control your input—the things you do and how you react to the outcome.

You cannot control the cards you were dealt nor how the game unfolds.

But you can control whether you participate in the game and how you play the cards.

Owning the Outcome

The outcome of your life is in your hands, not in the cards themselves.

Take ownership of your journey and remember: you have the power to change your story, no matter where it begins.

Life is a game, and we’re all dealt different hands.

Don’t let uncontrollable circumstances become barriers.

You win by making the most of what you have, not by waiting for the perfect hand.

Play with the hand you have and give it everything you've got.

You've got this - I believe in you.

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