Some years ago, while teaching at South Texas College, I encountered a story that has profoundly impacted my understanding of the human mind. The author recounted an anecdote about a man seeking a tattoo. When asked what he wanted inscribed on his skin, the man simply replied, “Stupid.” Despite the tattoo artist’s surprise and persistent attempts to clarify, the man remained resolute. He explained that “stupid” was how he perceived himself. This encounter crystallized a powerful idea: the first tattoo appears in the mind, not on the skin. “Tattoo the mind before the skin.” What we cultivate within our minds inevitably manifests in our actions.
The mind is indeed our greatest battleground, the epicenter of our most intense conflicts. It’s where we forge daily habits that can either propel us toward or directly oppose reality. It’s the realm where over half of our fears never materialize, yet still hold us captive. It’s where unchecked expectations lead to disappointment, and where we repeatedly fall prey to our own thought patterns.
Life presents each of us with unique, often unexpected, limitations and variables. The crucial question is not what hand we’ve been dealt, but how we choose to play it. We can fixate on what we lack, or we can empower ourselves to play resourcefully and intelligently, making the most of every outcome, even the difficult ones. As Epictetus wisely said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
Ultimately, when we lack control over external events, our focus must shift inward. We must strive to control our responses by consciously dismantling those habitual, often subconscious, thought patterns that lead to negativity and self-sabotage. This is, admittedly, far easier said than done. Changing deeply ingrained habits, particularly those operating at a subconscious level, is a formidable challenge. However, by cultivating self-awareness and bringing our thoughts into the light of conscious examination, we can undoubtedly improve.
Evans Akpo 