By 
From the night that covers me, black as the abyss from pole to pole, I give thanks to whatever gods they may be, for my invincible soul. In the clutches of circumstances I have not flinched or cried out loud. Under the blows of chance my head is bloodied, but upright. Beyond this place of anger and tears looms the horror of the shadow, and yet the menace of the years finds me and will find me unafraid. No matter how narrow the door is, how loaded with punishments the scroll is, I am the master of my destiny: I am the captain of my soul.
The above poem, Invictus, was written by an English poet named William Ernest Henley in the late 19th century and was featured in a recent movie of the same name. The term Invictus has its roots in Latin, meaning undefeated. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela during his presidential tenure in post-apartheid South Africa, is essentially a story of unconditional forgiveness. As part of Mandela’s passionate quest to unite and heal a racially divided and torn country, the South African leader fought to organize the 1995 Rugby World Cup. A moving flashback shows Mandela during his period of imprisonment on Robben Island , reading the above poem from a piece of paper inside his prison cell.
In the film’s version of events, Mandela shares the poem with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar (played by Matt Damon) before the World Cup, when racial tensions are high and the chance of the team winning seems unlikely. dubious at best. The game of rugby had a largely white following and blacks (many of whom saw the Springboks as a symbol of apartheid), banded together to pull the plug on the team. During a private chat over tea in the Capital Building, Mandela’s passion to save the Springboks from imminent demise spurs Pienaar’s previously faltering inspiration, ultimately helping him lead his team to victory and unite. to a country on the brink of civil war.
Freeman, with his endearingly gentle yet commanding presence, makes us believe that he is the real Mandela, as he delivers memorable proverbs eloquently throughout the film: Forgiveness frees the soul was my personal favorite. A similar quote from Mandela offers plenty of food for thought as this dawn of a new year: For to be free is not simply to throw off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. How true is this! It’s not rocket science, and yet most of us tend to forget this simple truth.
We don’t get ahead in life by being judgmental, judgmental, or closed-minded. We do not prosper by harboring resentment or being vindictive. When we practice tolerance, compassion, and acceptance, we satisfy those parts of ourselves that yearn for the same. Forgiveness doesn’t even require a specific action or a personal encounter; rather, it is an internal process of spiritual healing. Through forgiveness we shape our destiny exchanging bad energies for good, releasing emotional toxins and expanding the heart. To forgive others we must first forgive ourselves. To forgive ourselves we must forget regret and embrace the past, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Without our past, we would not be who we are or where we are today. Everything that has happened so far, no matter how painful or unpleasant, had to happen to get us to where we are today.
Who is the captain of your soul? The New Year is a perfect time for self-reflection and brutal honesty. Where have you been and where are you headed? Is it moving in a positive direction or is it time to change course? Much of life is random circumstance, and yet our personal choices are endless. Chance moments and purposeful foresight are intricately woven through the fabric of our lives; a complex interplay of chance and intention that forms the colorful array of defining moments that shape our destiny. Where do we humans end and where does destiny begin? These questions baffle even the sharpest minds. Many famous poems, quotes, books, and movies reflect on these universal enigmas.
We live in a world of opposing forces: yin and yang, male and female, good and evil, dark and light. How do we find order in chaos? In a world where bad things happen to good people, where an innocent man is imprisoned for no crime greater than the color of his skin, where wars rage and planes fall from the sky and bloodshed forms the backdrop background of entire cultures, bitterness and cynicism lurk. Around every corner. And yet embedded in the chaos of our daily lives is the gift of the human spirit. Strong yet vulnerable, humble yet proud, beautiful yet flawed. Bad things happen every day, but it’s our choice how to respond.
I am the master of my destiny: I am the captain of my soul. As you embrace the promise of a new year, ask yourself: Am I the master of my destiny? I am the captain of my soul? If you find yourself holding on to past anger, resentment, or regrets, you haven’t yet experienced the liberating, life-affirming pulse of unconditional forgiveness. There is an old saying, forgive but don’t forget. It is important to remember the past, but if we spend too much time there, we lose the present moment and are not aware of our immediate surroundings. Tomorrow is already too late to capture the ephemeral essence of today, so take a deep breath, chart your course and sail towards a new horizon.