The anniversary of my mothers death is, Dec 2, 1982.  I was 10 years old.  She died of Leukemia. She had high blood pressure. She was very overweight.

At 10 years old I didn't feel I should be treated the way I was when she died. People said things like, “Oh these poor Avery Girls, what are they going to do?” or "How sad. I feel so sorry for them!”

We had clearly experienced a horrible loss, but I wasn't a poor little girl and I was fully capable, even at 10 years old, on how to cope with the situation. Looking back this is really the beginning of where I started to take 100% responsibility for my life.

See: “Surviving the Loss of my Daughter”

I look back at my mother and her health and it was pitiful. She would just complain and make excuses as to why she couldn't get healthy or lose the weight. She would blame her laziness on outside circumstances. She never took responsibility for herself and ultimately she paid the price with her life.  It sounds harsh, but truly, that is how I see it.

You may ask yourself, how can a daughter feel that way or say it so bluntly. On the surface I would agree completely. Let me explain. When my mother died my mindset shifted. I became a different person. It would have been easy for me to go down a road of blame and complaining to anyone who would listen about why it wasn't fair she was taken away from me. Don't get me wrong, even today I miss her. I came to realize, however, I am the only one who can change my outcomes in life. I am the one who has to make uncomfortable decisions. Take 100% responsibility for me and the outcomes around my life.

"You must take personal responsibility.  You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself"  - Jim Rohn

It takes a shift in your mindset and allowing your conscious self to arrive. It’s when this happens your decision to start taking 100% responsibility for your life will happen.  Again, this may seem harsh, but this means acknowledging consciously you create everything that happens to you, and then follow these 4 You Have to… Principles:

1.  You have to give up making excuses

2.  You have to quit complaining

3.  You have to stop Blaming others

4.  You have to change your response from a negative thought to a positive outcome

All of the experiences you have right now are solely the result of choices you have made in the past.  You need to start building your future on what is happening to you at this moment. The question then becomes is how are you going to change your responses in order to get the desired outcomes?

Think about it.  Are you really taking 100% responsibility for your life?  Changes must be made and your awareness level needs to be checked before you keep making the same decisions that get the same results.

You have control over 3 things:

1. How and what you think about

2. What you visualize and dream about

3. The action you take or the choices you make (your behavior)

As the years passed after my mothers death, even at a younger age, I came to realize that if I want a life full of health, wealth and happiness, it is 100% up to me to make the decisions, make the commitments, make the choices, and take the actions to create the life that I want.

Anyone can  find the support network keeping you stuck in the easy downhill path of complaining, blaming, and excuses. Just as easily anyone can make the decision to look forward to each day with enthusiasm, make loving decisions, and take on the challenges that will bring happiness, health and wealth into your life.

Everyday can be a struggle. I know this, but the road not taken is a life we created. The key to finally taking the less travelled path is taking the steps to making your NOW circumstances happen. Abandon what was created up to this point and when the choices that clearly affect the direction of your life arrive (and they will in abundance!) make the decision to take the next step forward and find your new paths.

Be Happy… Be Healthy… Be Wealthy…

Namaste