The important thing is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.

At first blush, given that this comes from one of the most famous monarchs in history, this quotation would appear brusque and arrogant.

But if you strip the ego out of the statement and instead look at it at face value, I think the statement has tremendous strength.

Does it really matter what somebody else thinks of you? The truth is, yes of course it does. There are countless instances in which it significantly matters.

But, turning the statement 180°, you are left with the realization that perhaps it is much more important what you think of others than what they think of you.

Someone who has their ego in a healthy stasis is able to view circumstances through a relatively neutral perspective. Some people are incredibly worthy of your esteem, others not so much. Working your way through life trying to sort people through these filters is a cultured skill.

In my lifetime, I have met several very talented sociopaths whose representations and warranties proved to be false and ultimately left people around me in trouble.

Perhaps the secret is to continually work on oneself so that in any circumstance in which you meet others, you are always able to hold your own head high and internally reserve the right to determine whether the other party deserves your respect.

Being a person of character is the high ground in this particular life lesson. As long as you are living your life so that you may hold your head high, everyone else is subject to your determination as to their validity of character and moral attributes.

Queen Victoria was one of the first advocates of use of marijuana, as she used it to battle her menstrual cramps. Maybe when she said this, she had just taken a big hit of Indica, who knows? Either way, I think it’s a good life lesson!

Happy Wednesday✨

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Written by Brian Weiner
When I was 5 years old, I discovered that the lemon tree in the backyard + dixie cups + water and sugar and I was in business. I have been hooked on that ever since. In 1979, I borrowed $14,000 to create a brand new product... photographic greeting cards with no text on the inside, called Paradise Photography. That was the start of The Illusion Factory. Since then, The Illusion Factory has been entrusted by all of the major studios and broadcasters with the advertising and marketing of over $7 billion in filmed, live, broadcast, gaming, AR, VR and regulated gaming forms of entertainment, generating more than $100 Billion in revenue and 265 awards for creativity and technology for our clients. When I took a break from film school at UCLA to move to Hawaii, my mother did not lecture me. Instead, she took 150 of her favorite aphorisms and in her beautiful calligraphy, wrote them artistically throughout a blank journal. That is the origin of the Lessons from the Mountain series. Since then, on my journeys to the top of a mountain to watch the sunrise, I have spent countless hours contemplating words of wisdom from the sages of all races, genders and political persuasions, constantly accumulating the thoughts to guide me on my life path. I hope you enjoy my books. Please let me know your thoughts, as I highly value your feedback!