Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world.

Hans Margolius

Your value to the outside world is based more on your behavior than your thoughts, feelings, and attitudes. But those thoughts, feelings, and attitudes are vital, because they influence your behavior and help determine your level of happiness. Lets review the concepts discussed in this final section.

It is essential to be happy with who you are. Inner turmoil drains a lot of effort and energy that could otherwise be applied to more important pursuits (Lesson 86). Set your own agenda. If you dont, someone else will, and you probably wont like it (87). As you grow older, work hard to retain the open-mindedness of youth (88).

Learn to be content with who you are, where you are, and what you havebut never be satisfied. Contentedness gives you peace of mind, while dissatisfaction spurs you on to bigger and better things (89). Your self-image should actually go beyond contentment to real appreciation. You are your own constant companion, your own best friend. Learn to like yourself as a person; believe in yourself, and do it with feeling (90).

Inject as much energy as you can into everything you do. It will boost your performance and make life more fun (91). Live each day with a sense of joy so that you can look beyond the rough spots to the beauty of life (92).

Its easy to deceive yourselfeasier, perhaps, than deceiving othersbut the consequences of self-deception can be catastrophic. Work hard to honest with yourself at all times (93). There may well come a day when you find yourself acting like your parents. Try not to be alarmed; it doesnt mean that youll be just like them, and its not necessarily a bad thing to borrow a bit from Mom and Dad occasionally (94).

We close with these very important thoughts. Your life lies in the future. The past cannot be changed, so dont relive past mistakes or decisions (95). Instead, look boldly ahead toward a bright futurea future over which you can exercise a great deal of control (96). And as you travel through life, take time to give thanks for all that you have been given and for the marvelous opportunities you have (97).

In the final analysis, life is all about choices. It can be a grand adventureif you choose to make it so. And with the right choices, you can leave the world better off than you found it.

Something tells me that youre going to be just fine.

Excerpted from The Graduates Book of Practical Wisdom: 99 Lessons They Cant Teach in School by C. Andrew Millard, published by Morgan James Publishing, available in bookstores and online. &opy; 2008 by C. Andrew Millard; all rights reserved. For more information visit www.wisegraduate.com.