Sure, you connect to the world with your eyes and ears, but it is your thoughts that give everything meaning. Without thought, your life would have no meaning and no feelings.

So how you think makes a difference to how you feel. Thoughts create meaning,  and as a result, feelings.

Your mind is a tool. You can direct it and focus it on solving your problems, on what you are doing and thinking in the moment. When you are not using your mind as a tool or focusing on something you are doing then random thoughts come in to fill the vacuum. You can never be not thinking.  Even as you sleep your mind does not stop as it creates dreams.

If you start to believe that those random thoughts are real, instead of just memories or imagination you can start to feel anxiety, depression, sadness and soon your thinking is out of control.

You can control your thoughts by directing your mind to give different meaning and beliefs about meaning.

Being philosophical about life means that you reflect on the meaning you give experiences. You accept that life just is what it is. You realize that how you think about something creates the feelings you have. The same experience can result in different feelings, both positive and negative, but also in simple neutral acceptance.

Life is not out to get you. Life is just the flow of experiences that happen to you, both good and bad. How you think about those experiences and what's important to you in those experiences and where you direct your thoughts in remembering those experiences can change how you feel about life right in this moment.

For example, if you were involved in a serious car accident that left you with scars and damaged your legs so that you always limped, your outlook on life could be either negative or positive. You could feel sorry for yourself to the point of not wanting to do anything or you could pick yourself up and expect everything to go on or be better than before. You could go out and counsel others on the dangers of poor driving; you could help those who have suffered more than you.

There are as many attitudes to life experiences as there are people. Your brain is as totally unique to you as is your outlook on life. Your mind is your private world. Your thoughts are your connection to life. No thoughts, no meaningful life.

This stresses how important thinking about how you think is to leading a peaceful and joyful life. You cannot bring feelings into your life without thinking.

Only your thinking can bring joy into your life.

So focus on what you are doing now and enjoying the moment. And, soon enough you will have a whole series of joyful moments to look back on!