When I was younger, I listened to societal standards that said to be successful, you had to be top of your class, part of the right family or hope luck may come your way.

I told myself, success was related to the grades I achieved in school, my ACT or SAT score or IQ. So, to put it simply, I had a lot of self-doubt regarding how successful I would be someday.

Though I was okay in school, I struggled testing for the ACT/SAT and was not in the top ranking for IQ scores. Therefore, my self-esteem and optimism to achieve was low.

I also felt I needed to be from a prestigious family or have the right lineage to inherit success. Which I didn’t have.

I came from a middle-class, hard-working family. Our family had a lot of love and happiness, but not much money. So, this was inhibiting my chances to success also.

Last, I thought I might achieve success with some luck. Like, winning the lottery, being in the right place at the right time for that big break or that somehow, a miracle would occur.

Well, living in rural Ohio, I’ve only known one person that has won the lottery, and getting a big break probably would not happen either.

Have you doubted your success in the same way?

Have you ever said the following?

I cannot go to a prestigious university because I am not smart enough.

I won’t be able to start a business; my family has never had enough money.

I will try something new when I get lucky.

However, over time, I realized that none of this was true.

I was believing all the wrong standards for success and doubting myself.

And you are, too!

All your success begins with responsibility.

It is time to take 100% ownership of your life in order to create positive outcomes.

I know, we all have setbacks and crap happens in our lives.

You are not producing the results you want.

You hate your job.

You are overwhelmed with bills.

Your relationship is strained with your kids.

You are thinking of divorce.

You have gained weight.

You are not joyful.

You have no energy.

I get it! Life gets heavy.

But, I am here to tell you-

It is not what happens to you, but how you respond to it through responsibility that creates success.

All of us have “negative” things happening in our lives. But, it is time to get up and take responsibility to change your path and become more.

Becoming More

How do you become more responsible in your life and achieve results?

1. Own the results in your life. Stop blaming circumstances and people for your outcomes. Own up to the mistakes you make or your faults, and do not give an excuse or blame someone.

For example: You need to complete a report at work by the end of the day. It is not completed, because you need information from a co-worker. The co-worker did not get you the information in a timely manner. You then don’t get the report completed until late. You begin to blame the co-worker for your failure to get the report in on time.Own the result and do not blame another.

2. Ask yourself, “What didn’t I do?” You are smart, lady! You know what you need to do to achieve results in all areas of your life, but you are choosing not to do it.

• The cake is staring at you and calling your name. You know you shouldn’t, but you get the fork out and dive right in.
• You know you should get out of bed early for your appointment, but you hit the snooze button one more time. You then come upon traffic and arrive late.
• You should remind your co-worker of the deadline for the report, but you choose not to send an email reminder.

Do what you know you should do to achieve results.

3. Decide you are going to respond positively to situations life presents you.

I get it. WE have drastic, life-changing events that happen in our life.

Illness.

Death of a loved one.

Sick children or parents.

But, the response to the event is vitally important.

I have had all of these occur in my life. I am not saying it is easy. But, having an attitude of victory, regardless of the event, defines success.

I will never forget going to a funeral of a young teen taken from this life by a car accident. I felt uplifted by the response of the family by her death. They had an attitude of joy and celebration for her life- not an attitude of mourning her death.

I also had a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. Instead of having an attitude of “why me?” she had the attitude, “why not me?”

I don’t know about you, but those responses blow my mind! I aspire to have that attitude!

Today is the Day to Take Responsibility for Your Life

No more blaming, excuses, taking the easy way out and choosing to have situations define you.

Control the outcome of your life by taking responsibility. This will be a very critical factor for you to rise to greatness and success and become more.

What negative thought are you telling yourself today? How are you going to change this thought today?

I appreciate you commenting and sharing with this community of women. My goal is that we are growing, helping one another and becoming better versions of ourselves.

Comment below!

Cheers!

Melissa