"Life does not control you. What you believe about it does." Alan Cohen

Dear Reader,

This morning I was reminded of a simple but life-altering idea:
Life itself is not always what binds us—our interpretation of it is.

We can face the same storm as one of two people: one who is broken… and the other who is willing to grow and change.

What we believe about the storm becomes the story we live.

If I believe life is against me, every hardship becomes proof of that belief.

However, if I begin to believe that life is working with me—even in difficulty—then my challenges become teachers, not enemies.

In recovery, I have learned this truth slowly: it is not the event…it is the meaning I give the event that shapes my peace or my struggle.

This echoes what we find in scripture:
“As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7

And in another way:
“For the Lord seeth not as man seeth… for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

The outer world may not always change quickly, but the inner world—through faith, surrender, and honesty—can transform everything.

So today, we pause and ask: What am I choosing to believe about my life?

I share this because, in my experience, I am quietly shaping the life I will ultimately live.

I end with the wish that all of us will “Live long and prosper.”