Control

Life can makes us feel like we have no say in our own lives. Family members may act in ways we don't agree with, exes may do things that make us want to pull our hair out, and sometimes life just throws random shit at us that knocks us back a few paces. It's maddening. It's frustrating. It's beyond our control. That's a difficult thing to accept - that some things are simply beyond our control. We may be able to tell people how to treat us, but we can't force them to follow through. What we can do is control 100% how we react to this seemingly random bullshit. "Why is this on my lifting blog?", you may ask. Well I'll tell you. 
Lifting has been proven to increase serotonin and endorphin levels in our brain. This helps boost our mood and makes us feel happy and content. But another thing that lifting does is give you a huge sense of control. You don't step under a bar and think "well, whatever happens, happens." Oh hel no. You step under that bar and will it to move. I have internal dialogues with myself when I lift. I command myself to perform in certain ways because I will not accept waffling in the gym. Waffling gets you nothing but hurt. You have to be determined and steadfast with your movements. I know that the only energy in control is mine. Me. I'm in charge, and I'll be damned if I'll let an inanimate hunk of iron run the show. 
The results I see or don't see depend directly on the amount of control I've shown. If I've done the work, put in the effort then I'll see the gains. If the gains don't happen, guess who's to blame? This chick right here.
That very physical example of cause and effect has a profound impact on my mind and mood. I admit, it's probably something I need to pay more attention to when I get into some low spots. 
Family can do what they want, exes can act like assholes, it's not my show to run. Only my life is under my influence, my life is my show to run. I have the choice to make it a flop that's canceled in the first season, or a show of bad assery and awesomeness that gets renewed year after fucking year. 
Sit back, grab a beer and some snacks, 'cause the commercial break is over and shit's getting meaty.