Profound words from William Shakespeare, "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." 

Each day you have the ability to make the choice to take control of your life, or to let it control you. You can either be proactive, or you can let circumstances call the shots. Take 100% responsibility of your life. Yes, of course other people have an effect on us. But in every case, you have a responsibility for what you’re doing about it now. 

We blame our friends, boss or colleagues, relationships, family for making us stressed. You've got two choices: either you learn to accept the current status quo, or you take full responsibility for making it change. Yes, responsibility sometimes means admitting our part in screwing things up. But it’s also empowering: when you’re responsible for something, you can change it. This is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time. Take control!

I think there is nothing more important as a first step, than taking full responsibility for what happens in our life. A lot of what we describe as success in life flows directly from it. Many people think about their lives as something that just happens to them instead of something that they can control themselves. They drift through life reacting to the actions of others instead of taking steps on their own behalf. Such people are like rudderless boats on the ocean, completely at the mercy of the tides to take them wherever they will. People, who don’t know where they are going, usually end up where they don’t want to be. So to sum it up in one sentence: You are responsible!

In the case of a boat on the sea, sooner or later the shifting currents will run it aground or break it upon the rocks. Most people would agree that it would be much better if someone steered the boat past the danger and out into clear waters instead. People are just the same. If we don’t take control of the direction our lives will take we leave ourselves to the mercy of others, often with disastrous consequences.

Always remember the wise words of Irene C. Kassorla, "The pen that writes your life story must be held in your own hand."

Ashley D. Mwanza