It is our thoughts or what is happening “inside us” that gives meaning to situations. According to Wayne Dyer, whether we perceive ourselves as living in a friendly or hostile universe determines the lens through which we view the world. Our thoughts and beliefs often reflect the lens through which we see the world. For example, if we feel like we can't trust others, then when something happens and another person lets us down, it reinforces that belief that people aren't trustworthy. However, someone with a more benevolent worldview might experience the same event but decide that everything the other person did was about their own beliefs and perceptions and that the act had nothing to do with them, nor was not intended for them. This latter perception allows you to make a conscious choice to respond rather than react to life events. It also allows the individual to maintain control over themselves.