Take Reponsibility for your Life - Part 1
So what does it mean to take 100% responsibility for your life? This post is the first of I-don't-know-how-many articles on this subject. I thought it would be fun to tackle one fundamental of personal responsibility at a time.
One way that it means to take 100% responsibility for your life is to read books that are written specifically to teach you how to grow yourself as a human being and live happier, healthier, and wealthier. Such books are basically called personal development books and are usually found under the "Business," "Health," and "Inspiration," sections at your bookstore.
It seems that for some people (or most people!), they would much rather complain about everything that's going wrong in their lives and feel like victims instead of reading a book that has the potential to help them create a new reality for themselves. When a person comes up with a remark like, "Oh, I don't like reading," then they have lost all right to complain...in my humble opinion. This makes me wonder how in the world such people expect to get answers, to find solutions, to make tomorrow better than today. It is as if they are waiting around for some one else to drop out of the sky and fix their lives for them. And this is definitely the opposite of taking personal responsibility. Did you know that over 65% of adults never go on to read another book after graduating? This is...ugh. Well, if I've had to read the types of books most high school kids have to work through, than I would probably not have an enthusiastic attitude about reading or learning either. Thank goodness my homework consisted of reading books like
How to Win Friends and Influence People, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and The Magic of Thinking Big.
Most people aren't even exposed to books like this. Still, there's something quite unsettling about a grown adult who would rather nurse their misery than crack open a book that can add years of problem-free happiness to their lives.
Answers to common objections excuses:
Excuse: But this book is so expensive!
Answer: To quote Jim Rohn, "Think not about what the books costs. Think of what it costs you if you don't read it." Aside from the fact that you can buy used books on Amazon starting at $0.01, why would you think twice about buying a book that can help you live the life you want? Are you telling me that possessing the knowledge and power to create your best life isn't worth $14.95? C'mon, I know you spent more than that at McDonalds yesterday.
Excuse: But I don't like to read.
Answer: Mark Twain said, "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them." Can you tell that Twain was more than a little irritated with people with such an excuse? We live in a time when anyone and everyone has access to wisdom that has been accumulated over thousands of years. People with this excuse are literally choosing ignorance. And when this is the case, then they probably deserve every one of the problems that they are dealing with. I do have a measure of understanding and patience for people with this mindset because of the likelihood that their experience with books and study in school was probably far from exciting or positive, but...well...I don't know what else to say other than it's time to grow up!
Read the book and I bet you'll find yourself pleasantly surprised.
Taking 100% responsibility for your life = Reading books for your personal development.
Lord! when you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book. ~Christopher Morley
I've never known any trouble that an hour's reading didn't assuage. ~Charles de Secondat, Baron de la Brède et de Montesquieu, Pensées Diverses
How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book. ~Henry David Thoreau, Walden
