July 7, 2009

Responsibility and You   Are you quick to blame others or life in general for all that is not working in your life?  It's just never your fault, you say.    Get real!  Unless you take 100% personal responsibility for your life, how can you ever expect to have what you want and live your life to the fullest?    You must take 100% responsibility for EVERY:             Thought you think.             Emotion that you feel.             Action that you take and the results that follow.             Yes, it all comes down to YOU!  You thought that thought, felt that emotion, or took that particular action which led to that specific result. You are responsible.   Underlying the above are the choices you are making.  "A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences.  You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make," said Denis Waitley.   You choose your thoughts which in turn influence your emotions which in turn influence the actions you take which in turn will determine the results you receive.  If you don't like the results you are getting, then take the responsibility to choose differently from the top.   What are you thinking?  Choose positive thoughts only and always.  I know, easier said than done, but really, make the intent to be the positive you.  Allow only the positive into your conscious mind so that it will then seep into your unconscious, which does not have the power to choose.  The latter will accept always what you feed it, so make sure it is positive from the get-go.  Visualize your success and see it in your thoughts.   What are you feeling?  Happy, ecstatic, creative, inspired, and optimistic feelings will take you further on your path to fulfillment than feelings of anger, envy, fear, worry, and doubt.  I'm not saying that you are never to feel negative emotions, only that you own up to those feelings and get real about the impact they are having on your life.  Staying down and/or blaming others or life for those feelings (and for that matter, your thoughts) will never serve you.   You must also own up to your actions and the results that follow those actions.  What got you to the place you find yourself in now?  What actions led to your huge credit card balance, the extra 30 pounds around your middle, your dead-end job, and your employees who keep coming in late?  On the other hand, what actions are keeping you on your path to success and how can you continue to stoke those fires?  Take stock of your circumstances.  Look in the mirror and you will see who is responsible for those circumstances. Is it time for a kick in the butt or a pat on the back?   Personal responsibility will make or break your satisfaction and success with life.  Nothing will change for the better until you change.   "Accept responsibility for your life.  Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else," said Les Brown.    Get to where you want to go by accepting responsibility.     "You must take personal responsibility.  You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.  That is something you have charge of."             Jim Rohn   "The price of greatness is responsibility."             Winston Churchill   "Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility...In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility."             Michael Korda   "No alibi will save you from accepting the responsibility."                       Napoleon Hill     All you need to get to where you want to go is to accept 100% responsibility for everything that is happening in your life, be it good or bad. When you can do that it, you set yourself free to live your best life.  When you remove the blame, complaining, and whining when your life gives you lemons, and own up to your part in the situation, the recipe for lemonade will come easier to you.  When life is good, reflect on how you got there, and how you can continue to be a winner.   I challenge you to take responsibility for your thoughts, feelings, and actions so that you can then reap the outcomes you so desire.  That is your responsibility.   Have a fantastic week and take 100% responsibility.   Stephanie   P.S.  I've been skyped, so if you want to speak with me over the internet, please add me to your contacts.  In addition, I do have a profile on LinkedIn.  If you want to connect, send me an invite.   P.P.S.  I will be inBaltimore,MDthis week for the Academy of General Dentistry Meeting, so if you will be there, stop by the AAWD booth and say hello.     We grow by "word-of-email" so please feel free to forward this newsletter to anyone whom you think might benefit from and enjoy it. Thanks so much! Contact Us: stephanie@7steps2abalancedlife.com