Why the lens through which you view the world matters profoundly.

Fear and love are the two great motivators. While fear suffocates, love liberates.

With which lens do you most frequently choose to see the world?

With so much negativity, violence and brokenness in the world, it’s common to grasp onto and utilize the perspective of fear to view the world. Fear of others. Fear of the unknown. Fear of tomorrow. Fear of life.

However, one of my favorite quotes on the power of our perspective today determining what happens tomorrow was written by Pedro Arrupe.

Arrupe gave his entire life to be in service of others. Although his life was seldom easy and often extraordinarily difficult, more than three decades after his death (and more than four decades after he lost the ability to speak due to a stroke), these words still matter.

What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.

It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read,
whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in Love,
stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

I love this quote. And agree wholeheartedly with its premise. But now reread the quote supplanting the word “love” with the word “fear.”

What you FEAR,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.

It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read,
whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and how seldom you are amazed with joy and gratitude.

Fall into FEAR,
stay in FEAR,
and it will decide everything.

Fall into love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.

Fall into fear, stay in fear, and it will decide everything.

So, my friends, with which lens do you most frequently choose to see the world?

Your answer influences not only what you see, how you feel, who you know, what you think, and the words you speak, but ultimately the actions you take, the results you get and the world in which you live.

Choose wisely.

This is your day. Choose love. And Live Inspired.