Don't Waste Your Training

“Every habit and capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running...”

...therefore, if you want to do something make a habit of it, if you don't want to do that, don't, but make a habit of something else instead. The same principle is at work in our state of mind. When you get angry, you've not only experienced that evil, but you've also reinforced a bad habit, adding fuel to the fire.

~Epictetus

     Steeling your mind against negative thoughts and not allowing external events to control your emotions is a skill. All skills require practice. Just as you would never go the to gym to practice bad repetitions in a movement, you also should not practice bad repetitions with your thought process. Every thought you have is essentially a practice rep; every negative encounter an opportunity to train your mind. Practicing negative self-talk or poor emotional control leads to low self-esteem and unnecessary emotional outbursts. The more you practice these undesirables, the more you reinforce a bad habit. Remember, you get to control your thoughts and reactions; don't let a "training opportunity" go to waste by practicing bad reps. 

Jonathan Poole