One simple line, pretty much.

> Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

I also pursue Stoicism, thus it is rather easy for me to always remember that at the end of the cay it all comes down to what I do myself and how I react to things myself. There’s too many factors, external factors, I have no influence over to let those decide over how I myself behave... or don’t.

A great example of this is what one of the main Stoic philosophers, formerly a slave, Epictetus said about illness. It’s important to also know that he had a lamed leg.

> Sickness is a hindrance to the body, but not to your ability to choose, unless that is your choice. Lameness is a hindrance to the leg, but not to your ability to choose. Say this to yourself with regard to everything that happens, then you will see such obstacles as hindrances to something else, but not to yourself.

Lastly, of course, there’s the wise words of good ol’ Abe Lincoln:

> The best way to predict the future is to create it.

Reading, reading, reading helps. Especially if you read biographies of inspirational people and/or leaders. Many have had lives much more challenging than their life/career/success seems to be.

Remember that Steve Jobs was uttered out of his company and only saved the company when he returned.

There’s many such stories, in pretty much any walk of life and any focus which may interest you most.

I don’t really have such a thing as something which keeps me inspired. Instead, I have read a lot and soon realized that, yes, life sucks. So many obligations, so many challenges, and often it looks like everything’s stacked against one.

That’s not true. That’s the easy way out. Can’t, too much. Everyone’s against me.

Life is what you make from it.

Life is how you chose to live the circumstances, the hand you’re dealt. That knowledge is all inspiration needed for me. To acquire that knowledge I’ve read lots of books which both inspired me and contributed to the way I deal with life.