Attitude, Belief, and Destiny: Reclaiming Your Power

Elmen Lamprecht
2 days ago
5 min read

“Everything changes as you move through three stages of awareness: first, that beliefs are the result of conditions; second, that beliefs are the cause of conditions; and third, that beliefs are themselves conditions.” ― Eric Micha’el Leventhal

This profound insight reveals a progression at the heart of human transformation. At first, we believe we are shaped by the world—our beliefs are merely the product of our environment. Then, as our awareness grows, we begin to see that our beliefs shape that very environment. And eventually, we realize that beliefs are not just passive reflections or active causes—they are conditions in and of themselves. They are the reality we live in.

This shift in awareness marks the boundary between a mediocre life and a Resolute Life. In the former, we become prisoners of circumstance—reactive, disempowered, resigned. In the latter, we reclaim authorship. We recognize that although we cannot control every external event, we can radically transform how we respond to those events—and thus, change everything.

The Mastery of Mood: Your Attitude Shapes Your Reality

Many people live in perpetual emotional dependence. When circumstances are favorable, they feel confident, joyful, alive. But when hardship strikes, they descend into fear, resentment, or despair. Their mood is a mirror of their surroundings—a reflection, not a choice.

But the Resolute Life calls for something higher: the recognition that your attitude is not a reaction but a decision.

Emotions are natural responses. But moods are cultivated states. After the initial emotional surge—joy, sadness, anger, fear—you have a choice. Will you feed the emotion until it takes root and shapes your worldview? Or will you choose to transmute it into something constructive, empowering, and purposeful?

“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same.” – Carlos Castaneda

Graph shows impact of emotions on energy over time. Blue line for negative emotions descends; red line for positive emotions ascends.

Indeed, negative emotions may feel effortless in the moment. But over time, they exhaust us. They are energetically expensive. Positivity, by contrast, often requires energy up front—but it returns that investment with interest. A hopeful attitude is not naïveté—it is energetic intelligence.

From Reaction to Intent: The Six Mentalities That Shape Your Life

At the root of our attitude lie our mentalities—deep-seated beliefs about control, resources, and people. These mentalities are the soil from which either pessimism or purpose will grow.

❌ Mentalities That Erode Energy and Purpose

Blame Mentality: This is the belief that life happens to you. When things go wrong, it’s always someone else’s fault. This mindset creates paralysis—why take action if nothing is within your control? You surrender your agency, convinced that success and failure are purely circumstantial.
Scarcity Mentality: Here, the world is viewed through a lens of lack. Life is a competition, and there’s only so much to go around. If others succeed, it must mean less for you. The result is envy, comparison, and a chronic sense of insufficiency.
Victim Mentality: This view sees people as fundamentally dangerous or selfish. Pain from the past becomes identity. The focus remains on injustice and compensation. You feel owed something and remain stuck in grievance, demanding others fix the present for wrongs committed in the past.

⚠ Important Note on Justice: Having grown up in post-Apartheid South Africa, I have seen firsthand the deep wounds that systemic injustice leaves. Justice matters. Reckoning is necessary. But we must not confuse acknowledging injustice with building our identity around it. The moment we allow the past to define our future, we limit our freedom to shape what comes next.

✅ Mentalities That Build Resilience and Power

“Abundance is not something we acquire; it is something we tune into.” – Wayne Dyer

Responsibility Mentality: This mentality is built on the conviction that you are the primary force in your life. Even when circumstances are unfair or beyond your control, you ask, “What can I learn? What can I do?” You become a powerful participant in your destiny, not a passive observer.
Abundance Mentality: Instead of competing for a fixed pie, you see life as an expansive force. Opportunities can be created. Resources can be generated. Generosity multiplies value. Gratitude replaces envy, and innovation replaces fear
Victor Mentality: You believe in the fundamental goodness of people. Bad behavior is seen not as essence but as injury—learned responses to pain. Victors acknowledge suffering but focus on building a better future. They do not demand rescue—they become the force of healing for themselves and others.

The Three Transformations: Rewiring Mentalities

🔁 From Blame to Responsibility

You may not have chosen your starting point. Life often hands us unfair cards. But the moment you choose to act anyway, you reclaim control. Start with what you can influence, no matter how small. Each responsible action expands your sphere of control.

🔁 From Scarcity to Abundance

Look around you. Nature overflows. Life expands. Growth is a principle of the universe. Abundance is everywhere when you train your awareness to see it.

Focus on what you have, not what you lack.
Celebrate others’ successes as proof of possibility.
Practice gratitude.
Share what you can—generosity unlocks abundance within and around you.

“If you want love and abundance in your life, give it away.” – Mark Twain

🔁 From Victim to Victor

Pain is real. But so is your capacity to rise. All over the world, people with immense suffering have chosen to transform it into strength, wisdom, and impact. You can too.

Refuse to surrender your future to your past.
Let go of self-pity—it is a thief dressed in comfort.
Choose to be an example of resilience, not a symbol of defeat.

Attitude Is the Engine of the Resolute Life

The Daily Life of Resolute Beings is not built on perfection. It is built on perspective.

You don’t have to get everything right. But you do have to take responsibility for the direction of your life. Your attitude will determine that direction more than any external event. Belief is not something you wait for—it is something you choose, cultivate, and condition.

When you change your belief, you change the condition of your inner world. And when your inner world changes, your outer world begins to reflect it.

This is the work of a Resolute Being:

To choose responsibility over blame.

Abundance over fear.

Victory over victimhood.

And attitude over apathy.

Because in the end, you are not at the mercy of fate. You are the author of your story. And the next chapter begins with a choice.

If you found this blog valuable, please forward it to someone in your network who will also benefit from its message. Life is amazing but hard, and we all can benefit from sharing knowledge and wisdom that can help us life a Resolute Life.

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“The Daily Life of Resolute Beings” integrates philosophical insights with practical advice, encouraging readers to adopt a mindset of abundance, purposeful resource management and meaningful connectedness in pursuit of their goals. Order your book at any of the following online bookstores: