Take Responsibility- Before The Year is Over!
The year is already more than halfway over. As we enter August, we have five months left to make the most out of 2021.
There is no need to wait until a new year to make lasting changes. Just because seven months have passed, it’s not too late to start!
In January, we tend to look at the new year as the opportunity to make resolutions, adopt new habits, leave behind old habits, and welcome the possibilities of a new year. Here’s the thing: You can do this ANYTIME of the year. You can look back at the last seven months right now and decide what you want different for the next 5. There is still time to have an impact on 2021. You might feel disappointed in yourself if you haven’t stuck with the plan you made in January. But I can confidently tell you that life happens, and that’s ok. The most important thing to do here is to take responsibility for yourself and move forward. If you are blaming others, you need to stop right now. No one forced you to lapse on your commitments. No one changed your decisions except you. It might be a little harsh, but it’s the truth. You are responsible for yourself.
Knowing what you can and can not control is a great place to start. Often, people don’t take control when they can and blame others when they could have taken responsibility. There are many times when things are 100% out of your control. Don’t mix up the two!
Even when things feel out of control, remember that we teach people how to treat us, set boundaries, and enable others. If you think something is someone else’s fault, ask yourself if you could have changed it. (Sometimes walking away or closing the door to the relationship constitutes having control!)
It’s easier to pass fault rather than take responsibility.
Passing fault to someone else is a habit built up over time- it takes years and years. We watch our parents, mentors, teachers, etc., pass fault, and adopt these bad habits.
Giving power to others and none to yourself is a great habit to break over the next five months and beyond. Why not enter 2022 with the empowerment that you have taken control and responsibility for your life. You control YOU. You control your thoughts, you control your feelings (no one MAKES you feel a certain way), and you control how you respond and react to situations and other people.
For years in my early adult life, I blamed others and had a knee-jerk excuse for everything. If everyone else were better, I would be better too! It was a terrible philosophy, and I had to learn the hard way. I went from blaming the people in my life to blaming my lack of success to where I lived, to lies I told myself every day. Lies like “this is just who I am! I can’t help it!” or “this happened to me, and made me who I am! It’s not my fault”. Once I realized I was in control of myself, I realized my options and choices were endless- including my success. Success is a choice became my tagline.
So, right now, there’s no shiny ball dropping, no fireworks, and the calendar is awkwardly open to a forgettable spot. I am challenging you to make it MEMORABLE. You can take responsibility right now.
The first step is being aware you need to make a change and take control. The next step is to make the decision RIGHT NOW to take responsibility for your life. No one is to blame. No situation is to blame. You can make changes, go from victim to victor of your life and give yourself the life you deserve. Even if you are in a situation you cannot control, you control how you react. I am challenging everyone who reads this to commit to stop blaming and start taking responsibility RIGHT NOW. You got this. Leave a comment below and let me know you’re ready to take control.
Success is a choice!
Aaron
