Aw, come on! No takers on this one except for my favorite moog geek and fellow Missourian? Geez!
Part of my personal philosophy is based on Abraham Maslow's
Self-Actualization theory. He proposed it as a pyramid of sorts...each need must be met in order to achieve self-actualization, "to find self-fulfillment and realize one's potential" (from the above link).
Part of it is also spiritual. I believe that God has his/her mitts on everything that occurs in this world. He/she gives us the freewill to do things that we want, with the understanding that there will be benefits/consequences received later.
Lastly, there's the concept of time. I try as hard as I can to keep an eye on the past, grasp a firm understanding of the present, and maintain a view of not only the short-term future, but the long-term one as well.
Hey, it works for me.