Do you want to be Unconquerable? Then Read This!

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I recently watched a very good movie with Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman called Invictus. There are a few things that struck me in this movie. The foremost thing that I took away from this movie was the reference to the poem where the title of the movie comes from: Invictus by William Henley (I will post the poem and comment on it in a bit), one of the other things I liked watching was the vision and leadership qualities that Nelson Mandela displayed in the movie played by Mr. Freeman.

It is also interesting to see the underdog be victorious not only with the rugby team but in the life of Nelson Mandela. I find that in life, if one can go through pain and trials and be able to learn from those experiences, they are so much stronger and better for it. That brings us into a good introduction to the poem.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

I love this poem. I believe this is to be true for everyone, because my personal thoughts are that everyone living on this great planet will in some way or another “be covered by a black night, and in a place of wrath and tears.” But with your “unconquerable soul”, no matter what happens you ARE “the master of your fate” and you ARE “the captain of your soul. “

You might not be able to control the environment which you are in or some of the events that will happen to you but, you are the only one that can control your thoughts, your attitude, and your actions. When it seems like the world is falling down on your shoulders and darkness surrounds you with no way out remember, you are capable of being the master and the captain of you.

The Latin meaning of Invictus means unconquerable. What will you do today to be unconquerable in achieving your dreams?

Chris Mertz © July 2010