The most underrated skill in the world: Controlling your thoughts....
Stijn Noorman@stijnnoorman
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May 15, 2025
~4 min read
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The most underrated skill in the world:
Controlling your thoughts.
I studied Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, Aristotle, Epictetus, and Buddha.
Here’s how you can control your thoughts to be 10x happier:
Controlling your thoughts.
I studied Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, Aristotle, Epictetus, and Buddha.
Here’s how you can control your thoughts to be 10x happier:
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"Choose not to be harmed - and you won't feel harmed.
Don't feel harmed - and you haven't been."
Nobody can make you feel a certain way.
Don't feel harmed - and you haven't been."
Nobody can make you feel a certain way.
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You can't control sensations (rain falling on you).
But you can control your perception (how you interpret it).
But you can control your perception (how you interpret it).
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“If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”
Control your mind.
Control your mind.
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You have power over your mind — not outside events.
Realize this, and you will find strength.
Control your mind.
Realize this, and you will find strength.
Control your mind.
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Inner game is everything.
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."
Control your thoughts to control your life.
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."
Control your thoughts to control your life.
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Everywhere you have the option:
• To accept this event with humility
• To treat this person as he should be treated
• To approach this thought with care, so that nothing irrational creeps in
You can always do the right thing.
• To accept this event with humility
• To treat this person as he should be treated
• To approach this thought with care, so that nothing irrational creeps in
You can always do the right thing.
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Stop caring about others' opinions.
"Nothing that's going on in someone else's head can harm you."
Stop letting a figment of someone's imagination limit you.
"Nothing that's going on in someone else's head can harm you."
Stop letting a figment of someone's imagination limit you.
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Pursue your dreams.
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."
You're happiest when you pursue meaningful goals.
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live."
You're happiest when you pursue meaningful goals.
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"Peace comes from within.
Do not seek it without."
Master yourself to master your life.
Do not seek it without."
Master yourself to master your life.
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"The root of suffering is attachment."
The fewer desires you have the happier you'll be.
The fewer desires you have the happier you'll be.
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"Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it."
Material possessions won't make you feel fulfilled.
A meaningful purpose will.
Material possessions won't make you feel fulfilled.
A meaningful purpose will.
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"There is no path to happiness: happiness is the path."
External things will never give you lasting happiness.
Inner growth is real growth.
External things will never give you lasting happiness.
Inner growth is real growth.
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The past is already gone.
The future is not yet here.
There's only one moment for you to live:
The present moment.
The future is not yet here.
There's only one moment for you to live:
The present moment.
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"Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded."
Be mindful of your thoughts and watch your life improve.
Be mindful of your thoughts and watch your life improve.
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"You will not be punished for your anger.
You will be punished by your anger."
Keep your emotions under control.
You will be punished by your anger."
Keep your emotions under control.
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Set your heart on doing good.
Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.
Aim at the highest possible good.
Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.
Aim at the highest possible good.
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Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
You are the most valuable thing you can know.
You are the most valuable thing you can know.
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Embrace open-mindedness.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
Be open to new ideas without instantly accepting them.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
Be open to new ideas without instantly accepting them.
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"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."
Logic is valuable - but know its limits.
Develop emotional intelligence.
Logic is valuable - but know its limits.
Develop emotional intelligence.
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Happiness is a choice.
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”
Accept the present moment.
“Happiness depends upon ourselves.”
Accept the present moment.
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"Excellence is never an accident.
It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."
Hard work leads to 'luck'.
It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives - choice, not chance, determines your destiny."
Hard work leads to 'luck'.
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To perceive is to suffer.
Get rid of labels to get rid of suffering.
Get rid of labels to get rid of suffering.
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To control your mindset:
• Be present
• Know thyself
• Ignore others
• Stay detached
• Do the right thing
• Control your feelings
• Control your thoughts
• Control your sensations
• Peace comes from within
• Control your interpretations
• Focus on what you can control
• Be present
• Know thyself
• Ignore others
• Stay detached
• Do the right thing
• Control your feelings
• Control your thoughts
• Control your sensations
• Peace comes from within
• Control your interpretations
• Focus on what you can control
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If you found this thread valuable:
1. Follow me @stijnnoorman for more posts on business, writing, and self-improvement.
2. RT the first tweet & check the link in my bio
1. Follow me @stijnnoorman for more posts on business, writing, and self-improvement.
2. RT the first tweet & check the link in my bio
Stijn Noorman@stijnnoorman
The most underrated skill in the world:
Controlling your thoughts.
I studied Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, Aristotle, Epictetus, and Buddha.
Here’s how you can control your thoughts to be 10x happier:
Controlling your thoughts.
I studied Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, Aristotle, Epictetus, and Buddha.
Here’s how you can control your thoughts to be 10x happier:
27
I made a little over $100K on Twitter last year.
By writing tweets about my interests.
This free ebook shows you exactly how.
45 pages of high-quality education.
Get it now while it's still free:
stijn-noorman.kit.com/b8f501dc54
By writing tweets about my interests.
This free ebook shows you exactly how.
45 pages of high-quality education.
Get it now while it's still free:
stijn-noorman.kit.com/b8f501dc54
