DAY 2: Principle #1

Ok, so Here we are in day 2.

Poor Jen, Her sister-in-law isn't doing any better today. And now Jen has the flu. So it seems it will be just me today.

Success Principle #1

Take 100% Responsibility for your life

This one is not going to be too hard for me. I pretty much already live by that and believe it.

When I was a kid growing up one of my fathers favorite expressions was... I am not responsible for your happiness... You, Amy Beth are responsible for your own happiness.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY DAD! And although this bit of advice has served me well as an adult truth be told I don't know if I agree that it is the kind of thing you teach a 7 year old.

I remember how much it hurt and upset me when he said it for the first time... How could you say that to me... What? Dad, seriously, Don't you love me? don't you care about me? Don't you want me to be happy? Are you crazy???? Of course you Dad and mom are responsible for my happiness. I don't have an education, for Christ sake I am only in the 2nd grade!!! I don't have a job or any money, I can't drive, I can't even use the stove. Give me a break would ya here? I am pretty sure at that age you might be responsible for my happiness.

looking back, I think he might have told me that at such a young age simply because he wasn't the perfect dad... He knew he wasn't, and maybe it his way of letting me know ahead of time that I better not depend on him too much for my happiness because he might eventually disappoint me and let me down.

It wasn't up until I became an adult living on my own that I actually understood what he was trying to teach me. And although I still hold firm in my opinion that this is not a lesson meant for anyone under the age of 17. It is one of the best lessons anyone can learn and live by.

So today I feel fortunate and one step ahead of the game because principle #1 is pretty much in place for me and all I need to do is fine tune it. And I AM ON IT! this whole week...

I will...

Take 100% responsibility for my life.

Give up all excesses

Remember E+R=O (Event+Response=Outcome)

Remind myself that everything that happens to me today is the result of a choice I made in the past

Insanity is continuing the same behavior and expecting different results

Give up blaming and complaining.

Listen to my internal yellow alerts and trust my instincts

Now I am not going to lie to you here... The giving up complaining might be a little tough.

Why, you ask? Well, I am not actually a complainer... OK, OK, that is a lie!!! I LOVE TO COMPLAIN! But truth be told I do it for fun... I just love to make fun of myself by complaining about things I know are ridiculous. I know what I am complaining about is ridiculous.

I know it is completely inconsequential to my life. But I LOVE TO DO IT!!!! It is mostly for the humor. But I am not going to do it. That is it. If Jack says no complaining, then no complaining it is. No matter what the reason or how funny I think it is.

Wish me luck.

:0)

AA