The hard truth is that most things in your life – good and bad – are your fault. The sooner you realize that, the better things will be. Here’s how to cultivate an active mindset and take control of your life.
What happens when someone repeatedly says it—whatever “it” may be—is not their fault?
“It’s not my fault I was late for the meeting. Traffic was bad.”
“It’s not my fault I lost money. I got the stock tip from a friend.”
“It’s not my fault I don’t have the skills for the job and was laid off. They should have trained me.”
I don’t want to get into edge cases. But most of the time these kinds of things are your fault. And if you don’t see that, you’re going to continue to find yourself in these situations over and over again.
You should have planned for traffic. You made a terrible investment and you have no idea what you’re doing. Stop waiting for people to teach you the skills you need to earn a living and go learn them.
When the passive mindset takes over, you say another phrase that drives me batty: “I can’t.” Actually, yes you can, you’re just not willing to pay the price. You’re not willing to do the work or spend the time. You’re not willing to do something hard. You’re not willing to sacrifice what’s needed.
The passive mindset is defined by an attitude, an assumption that life happens to you and you’re not responsible. People with this mindset also say things like, “Why does this always happen to me?”
When the language you use about things going on in your life is passive, you slowly convince yourself that nothing is your responsibility. This makes you feel good because it absolves you from responsibility. It means you don’t have to look inside yourself and change anything. It means you’re not in control.
Well I have news for you: you are in control. You’re in control of how you respond to the ups and downs of life. You’re in control of how you talk to yourself.
An active attitude means ownership. You own your failures. An active mindset means you are responsible for things you control.
“Sorry, I should have planned for traffic, I’ll consider that next time.”
“Wow, that investment blew up! I really don’t know what I’m doing. Maybe I should learn.”
“I got laid off because I didn’t make myself indispensable. I won’t let that happen again.”
The next time you catch yourself saying “I can’t,” say “I choose not to because….“
“I choose not to go to the gym because….”
“I choose not to learn something new because…”
“I choose not to eat healthy because….”
It’s not that you can’t do something it’s that unless you have literally done everything, you’re choosing not to because the price is too high. Stop lying to yourself.
Own your choices. Own the process. Take control.