Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it's

Hear these words of Wayne Dyer, a teacher of the modern age, who spoke with the clarity of one who had walked the path of trial and triumph: “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” This saying is a mirror to the human soul, reminding us that the seat of power lies not in fortune nor in fate, but within our own will. Life will bring storms, sorrows, and burdens heavy to bear. Yet how we respond—whether we sink in despair or rise in determination—is a choice none can take from us.

The ancients would say: the chains of circumstance may bind the body, but never the spirit, unless the spirit consents. To be miserable is to surrender the inner fire, to yield to shadows, to clothe oneself in defeat. To motivate oneself is to awaken that fire, to seize the reins of destiny, and to march forward even when the road is steep. In the end, the deeds of a life are not written by the blows of chance, but by the choices of the heart.

Consider the tale of Viktor Frankl, a man who endured the darkness of the concentration camps. All around him was misery, cruelty, and despair. Yet he discovered within himself an unshakable truth: that though everything could be taken from him, one thing remained—his choice of how to respond. He chose to give meaning to suffering, to see himself as more than a victim, and later, to guide others toward purpose. In the blackest pit, he proved Dyer’s words: misery or motivation—always a choice.

History also bears witness in the life of Helen Keller. Struck in her infancy with blindness and deafness, she might have been condemned to silence and isolation. To remain miserable would have been easy, for the world offered her little hope. Yet with the fierce guidance of Anne Sullivan, she chose instead to be motivated, to wrestle with her limitations until they became strengths. She became a writer, a speaker, and an advocate, showing the world that no prison is stronger than the human will to choose.

Thus, O listener, learn this: life may not always offer you fair conditions, but it will always offer you the power of choice. To dwell in misery or to rise with motivation—that is a decision written not by fate, but by you. And in that decision lies the secret of freedom. He who learns to master his choices becomes unshakable, for no trial can command him, no hardship can enslave him.

Take this teaching into your days: when despair whispers in your ear, remember that misery is a cloak you may refuse to wear. When laziness seeks to bind you, awaken and choose action. When doubt stands in your way, choose courage, even in trembling steps. Each day, ask yourself: What will I choose today—misery or motivation? And let your deeds give answer.

In practice, carve small rituals of power. Begin your mornings with a word of gratitude, for gratitude is a choice that destroys misery. Break your tasks into steps, and choose to conquer them one by one, for progress feeds motivation. Surround yourself with companions who lift your spirit, and be such a companion to others. Above all, never forget: in each breath, the choice is renewed.

So I say unto you: be miserable, or motivate yourself—the rope is always in your hands, the fire always within your grasp. Whatever must be done, do it. The world will not decide for you. It is always, eternally, your choice.