Count it a blessing when you are surrounded by loved ones who can encourage you with words and knowledge that are influential enough to change your course of direction. In an engaging conversation with my husband, Paul, I discovered the innate writer he was by stumbling on one of his thought-provoking philosophies. Among many, this particular one grabbed my undivided attention. I sought his permission to share it with the world only because I found it to be a mindset that, if adopted by many, can change the atmosphere of our environment.

This ideology he created and lived by is immensely profound yet shrugged off subconsciously by our minds. What intrigued me was the young mind of this twelve-year-old Paul, who decided to choose this way of thinking and lifestyle in order to have a sense of harmony with his milieu. The philosophy embodies the notion of staying constant in the state of our mind/mood as much as our ability allows for it. In brief, the aspiration for consistency.

We take for granted this dynamic potential we have in controlling what can be controlled—our mood/emotions. But then we say we are humans, and it is acceptable for us to be controlled by our mood. But then again we ask: why can’t we be in control of our mood instead? If we are able to intentionally practice this, many issues can be resolved, i.e., conflicts, disputes, depression, anxiety, etc. The reason behind many of these negative outcomes is mainly attributed to the fact that one of us has succumbed to being a slave to our emotions. Such a simple notion. Yet it is a seed that has the wherewithal to grow a magnanimous fruitful tree. The lifelong lesson we ought to excel at is to learn how we can stop being slaves to our emotions and to be above them.

Here is the enjoyable excerpt from his writings:

"Choose your mood and stick with it.” These were the exact words I first shared with my dad at the tender age of twelve. I believed he alone could comprehend them, given his unique character. Now, years later, this quote echoes resoundingly within me, especially in today's day and age of instant change being marketed to the masses. I now realize how this has always been my life philosophy. But what does it truly mean to choose a mood and stick with it?

During my childhood, I observed the emotional volatility of people around me—kids my age and, especially, adults. Their unpredictability rendered them unreliable, a trait I was opposed to. I had to constantly align my wavelength with theirs; this became tedious, leading me to interact with them as little as possible. In doing so, I was able to guard my energy. In some drastic events, it called for cutting ties and burning bridges if I had to.

The prospect of accommodating such a broad spectrum of emotional oscillations within a short instance felt like having to reintroduce myself to a new person each time. Have you figured out its meaning yet? This statement was a cry for a consistent character. Whether you opt for anger, sadness, or happiness one day, commit to it. Take responsibility, own it, and resist fluctuating uncontrollably with every positive and negative stimulus, as if being tossed to and fro by storms on a ship without sails. With time, I realized that this quote was not merely a bunch of words but mirrored the core of my character, laying the foundation for my growth and stability. Without it, nothing substantial could be built. It is a reliable source in this plane of existence. If we held on to consistency in the way we regulated our emotions, I truly believe we are guaranteed healthier relationships.

The absence of consistency is the presence of chaos and disharmony. This is where societal cooperation becomes challenging and stability falters. Even the universe operates with consistency—the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. As winter approaches, birds in the north migrate south. These universal laws, along with many others that we are aware of, have allowed mankind to study the wonders of this intelligent environment and evolve successfully. This consistency has been a platform for predictable living conditions. You can only imagine the consequences if Earth behaved similarly to how we do with our emotions—unpredictable and volatile. I am certain mankind would have never come this far. Consistency is reassuring; it instills confidence to move forward, knowing to a degree what to expect. In many ways, it's a form of stoicism. I envision a towering mountain, unwavering. Whether rain cascades, snow blankets, or heatwaves bear down, the mountain remains steadfast. Despite cold and dark days ahead, you will stoically choose to be cheerful and stick with it.

(Paul Purtcher)

“A towering mountain.” As I read these words, I thought of the glorious 29,032 ft mountain that has stood tall and steadfast—the Mount Everest Sagarmatha. I took this thought philosophy of consistency and refusing to be an emotional slave a little deeper with this mountain. It stands true; this mountain has consistently stood its ground, all things held constant. It did not succumb to its external pressures and damages. Mount Everest still holds the record for being the tallest mountain in the world. It doesn’t have the ability for choice. But we humans have the gift of choice. This gift makes way for us to decide how we navigate through our emotions and not be a slave to them. Instead, we urge you collectively to be the master of our sails and steer our ship to higher grounds, elevating our minds—consistently taking on the mindful art form of “choosing your mood and sticking to it,” come what may. This comes with breaking in with tiny intentional steps that will take us to bigger breakthroughs.