| The man who complains about the way the ball | | | | the civil war and went on to struggle through one |
| bounces is likely the one who dropped it. Lou | | | | of the darkest periods of American civil rights |
| Holtz, only NCAA coach to lead six different | | | | history when blacks were treated as sub-humans |
| college teams to postseason bowl games and | | | | and denied almost any genuine opportunities. This |
| winner of the national championship and coach of | | | | man, who went on to teach thousands and to |
| the year honors. | | | | invent thousands of things, observed: "99% of all |
| There are two ways to go through life: blaming | | | | failures come from people who have a habit of |
| other people and circumstances for our failings or | | | | making excuses". This from the ex-slave who |
| accepting responsibility for our situation. You | | | | invented over 325 uses for the common peanut. |
| cannot change other people. You can rarely even | | | | Understand the power of response |
| influence them with any reliability. You cannot | | | | We all encounter events throughout our life that |
| change circumstances - we are all victims of our | | | | we do not control. They are caused by nature, |
| circumstances. The only thing you can change is | | | | other people, and other forces over which we |
| yourself. | | | | have no control. What we all have control over |
| Many people read those words and respond, "of | | | | and sole control over is our response. Once you |
| course, I know that, what purpose is there in | | | | understand that iron law of life you have |
| stating the obvious?" I suggest that while you | | | | conquered one of the most important challenges |
| may "know" it on an intellectual level few people | | | | of self determination. |
| have truly accepted this concept completely. | | | | All blame is a waste of time. No matter how |
| There are few people who do not blame others | | | | much fault you find with another, and regardless |
| or blame situations for their problems. To truly | | | | of how much you blame him, it will not change |
| come to accept that you and you alone are | | | | you. Wayne Dyer. |
| responsible for your responses in life and where | | | | Jack Canfield observes, "You either create or |
| they take you is a giant accomplishment. | | | | allow everything that happens to you".Think about |
| Accepting responsibility must be 100%. You | | | | that profound observation. If you do not create |
| cannot cheat on this. You cannot say that you | | | | your future it will happen to you. |
| are almost completely responsible for your own | | | | It is your choice. Decide to assume full control |
| life or nearly so or so except this and that. You | | | | over your decisions and actions. Plan and make |
| must come to understand that it is 100% or | | | | your own future. Choose to take responsibility for |
| nothing. Unless you accept it in its entirety you do | | | | yourself - the power in it is vast and you will find |
| not accept the responsibility to improve your own | | | | life far less frustrating and for more enabling if |
| life, for what possible purpose is there is working | | | | you take control of your own life. |
| on one's own life if other people and | | | | You decide. No one else can. |
| circumstances you cannot control have fouled it all | | | | Putting this into action for you: reflect on how you |
| up? | | | | make excuses and blame others for your own |
| What is your excuse? | | | | problems. How might you change this? What will |
| George Washington Carver certainly had many | | | | you do differently today to take full responsibility |
| reasons to blame others for his problems. Born a | | | | for your own life? |
| slave in the southern US he was later freed by | | | | |