Who is looking at themselves?

We live in the 'age of blame'. People are being taught that it is acceptable to place the blame for the ills in our lives on others. This concept has taken hold to such a great degree that it is a national epidemic. And, the powerful in the media and the government are only fostering this idea.

When was the last time a powerful person stood up and took responsibility for a failure. Consider for a second the political landscape. We are in the midst of the worst economic situation in a couple of generations yet nobody in power has taken any responsibility for it. Instead, they are blaming everyone else. The finger pointing is on at full speed.

I try to train people to look at themselves. This is crucial for success. I subscribe to the ancient belief that if I am responsible I can make a change; if you are responsible I have to wait for you to change. Personal responsibility is where personal power resides.

The best definition I ever heard of this idea is 'the freedom to create our own lives'. This sums it up perfectly. Yet, in this era, we are taught that is not the way to go. We are a nation of bailouts. People bought homes they could not afford so we bail them out. Automobile companies operate under a bad business model, thus we reward them with billions. The same is true for the financial institutions. Everywhere we turn, people are being 'propped up' for bad choices. This further enhances the blame others mindset.

My desire is not to discuss the political decisions of our government. The goal is to get you to understand how few adhere to personal responsibility as a virtue. They will tell you they are responsible only to blame others. This is not how I want you to behave.

The bottom line is that you are where you are because of choices you made. It is that simple. You are the one who created your life. Even if you left it up to others to decide for you, you are the one who made that decision. Nobody forced you to take a particular job that you were just laid off from. If you had gone and become a doctor, your life would be different. The woman who is now divorcing you wed you without a gun to your head. Those children who are a burden on you are the result of your sexual activity. Except in the case of rape, you were a willing participant.

It is so easy to blame others. Especially in this era where we see it happening all the time. Why should you take responsibility for anything when nobody else is? The answer to that resides in the idea of freedom. It is only through personal responsibility that one can truly be free. failure to take this step will leave one dependent upon others. In other words, you live in captivity.

So what do you want? For those who desire freedom, the time has come to adopt personal responsibility as a virtue. It is you only path to the promised land.
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Self Reliance

I do a lot of reading about world affairs and the events confronting people. Naturally, the economic chaos is at the top of everyone's list. We are seeing something that never took place in our history. The peril we are confronted with shows us how precarious things really are. Even when we think we are safe, we truly are not.

One benefit to massive upheaval is that lessons are everywhere for one to learn from. We are seeing what happens when people spend too much while living beyond their means. The Western world became a consumerism society with people looking for the next "toy". At the same time, they had little regard of how to pay for it. The concept of easy credit is imprinted on our psyches.

A few months back, that bubble burst. We see where all this lack of accountability gets us. This culture is possessed with the idea of doing little (or nothing) and gaining a lot. Now, when things go bad, people are looking to place the blame.

Naturally, there is a complex web of societal issues that got us to where we are. Nevertheless, at the core of each of these problems is a lack of responsibility. Regardless of who you look to blame, the simple fact is that your plight was created by you. If you took the initiative to take control of your own life, you would not be in this mess. Sadly, that was not the prescribed method to success.

Many came to rely upon others for their achievements. A fair portion of the population became government cronies, believing the government would take care of them. Oops. That did not exactly work out. At the same time, some felt their companies would provide. It only takes one pink slip to negate this notion. Still others put their life savings into investments without knowing what they were getting into only to lose it all. Now, they are forced to sue to try to recoup money which is long gone.

This was the common thread through the American mentality. Everyone seems to feel that a big screen television is their right. Of course, it is hard to fault anyone when the government took the position that home ownership is something that everyone has a right to. The truth is that after life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the rest is up to you. Those who fail to heed this idea will eventually pay the price.

I am not trying to ring a patriotic mantra here. The point that I am making is that personal responsibility is the key to all success and happiness. Those who give that power away are always disappointed. They believe in the safe route only to find that it was not so safe. The only true path to safety is freedom and that comes only when one is responsible for him or herself.

This is a claim which is terribly unpopular. However, if you look at the events that are taking place, you will see the validity in this idea. How many people are dependent or will come to rely upon Social Security? With the retirement of an estimated 50 million baby boomers over the next decade, it is clear that is going to be a healthy number. Yet, we know that the Social Security fund is empty. At the same time, there is a government spending unheard of amounts of money to rescue this economy. While their plans might work, it will leave us with a horrific debt load. What happens if the US Government goes broke? These people will not receive their Social Security. They will be let down.

The only true way to be in control of your life is to take responsibility for it. No matter what the arena, it is crucial that you direct the situations. Financially, it is your money. Therefore, it is up to you to learn about investing so that you have some idea when you are talking with a financial planner. Take responsibility for your career by learning all you can about what you do. Improving your skills is one of the best measures against being laid off. Make yourself so valuable so that your company cannot let you go. The same is true for your romantic relationship. Put in all the effort necessary to make it the most prized relationship that you both have.

Personal responsibility is the idea that is going to fix your life. It is also the concept which will pull this country out of the mess it is in. Start the process by being accountable yourself.
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Take Charge Of Your Own Life

This is the mindset that you need to acquire if you are going excel in these trying times. It is obvious that the world is in a turmoil like we never saw before. Economically, we might be confronted with the worst situation in the last 3 generations. There is little that is encouraging about what is coming down the road. The prevailing belief is that times will get worse before they get better.

That being said, I hope that most realize what the cost of depending upon someone else is. Everyday we are seeing lessons of people who put their trust in another only to be let down. Take all the people who worked in the financial sector. Hundreds of thousands of them lost their jobs because of the financial crisis. Even if they were superior employees, they are out looking for work. Another example is the automobile industry. People operated under the belief the union would take care of them. Sadly, if the companies go out of business, the employees are out of luck.

Now, we are being told by our political leaders that we should trust them. The government is in the process of bailing everyone under the sun out. How long can this keep up? Sadly, I believe a recession can outlast even the money printing power of the United States of America. There will come a time when we are told "there is no more".

Where does this leave you? For those who regularly read this blog, you know that "personal responsibility" is a quality that I value. In this era, it is the only trait that I believe will lead to success. The model we operated under for the past 30 years is dead. We cannot trust others to take care of us. Businesses lay people off. The government blows through the Social Security money. Economies go through cycles. There are a series of events all of which can alter our life. It is time to take back the control we passed along to others.

You recently established a few goals that you want to achieve in the next year. Part of your process is going to assume the responsibility for achieving them. This is your life we are talking about. It is yours to do with as you wish. However, if you want something better, get with the program of personal responsibility. It is the only thing which will lead to your success.

I am in charge of my life. That is a belief I have which is at the core of my existence. Whatever results I get are due to my actions and capabilities. If I experience a setback, then I have the opportunity to learn something. Every situation is built upon the previous ones. Utilize the knowledge gained from those circumstances.

Stop blaming everyone for your problems. This is one resolution that I insist you make for the New Year. It is not your wife/husband's fault. The government did not do it to you. Forget about blaming your race, religion, or ethnic makeup. The one who is responsible for your life is you.

Personal responsibility is a hallmark of all successful people. They are the ones who create their own success. Implement this model into your life for the upcoming year.
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Begin the process of making 2009 the best

Another Thanksgiving (in the United States) is past us. Next up on the calendar is the Christmas holidays. This will put the finish to another year. We are close to kissing 2008 goodbye.

With the end of this year, my question is "how did your year go"? Did you accomplish much of what you wanted to? Or did another 12 months go by that leaves you full of regret and guilt? If the later is true, what are you going to do differently now that another year is just around the corner?

I realize that the events of the last two months have made circumstances rather tough. People lost a tremendous amount of money in the stock market in the last 60 days. At the same time, job security is rapidly decreasing. The economy is in the tank. Basically, there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the next 12-24 months.

The regular readers of my work know that one of the basics of my belief system is personal responsibility. We see many touting the benefits of the government saving everyone from bankers to automobile makers to homeowners. While there might be some merits to this idea, it is best to take control of your life. Those who wait around for others to "save" them are often disappointed.

Over the next month, I will be writing many articles offering helpful ways to take control of your life over the next year. In every crisis there is an opportunity. Since we are in the middle of a major crisis, I see major opportunities everywhere I look. Now is the time to consider making those changes which will positively affect your life. The next 30+ days will help you achieve this. Check back regularly to join us on this quest.
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Lack of Personal Responsibility

Here is a story which epitomizes the mindset of people in the United States today. Notice how personal responsibility is not part of the equation.

Read Here.

As I watched the Presidential campaigns, I concluded that both candidates failed to promote personal responsibility as a value. Only once was it even mentioned, in a speech given by Sarah Palin. Instead, both Obama and McCain offered handouts to as many as they could.

Are there serious problems in this country? Absolutely. Will the government be able to solve them? In my opinion, not with the mindset our leaders have. Notice how they behave with regards to their own actions. The financial crisis is a prime example. Not a single person stood up and said, "I had a part in this". Rather, the "blame game" went into full swing.

So what is America voting for? According to the beliefs of this woman, we are seeking the person who will give us the most. I would overlook this statement if it was one rogue individual who wanted a "free lunch". However, I believe her attitude is more the norm. We are a culture that forgot what the principles of success are.

Personal responsibility tells me that I am responsible for the direction in my life. The decisions I make is what creates the results that I get. To alter my life, it begins with making different decisions. The choice to stop blaming everyone else is a wonderful place to start.

Will Obama pay this woman's mortgage? Unfortunately, I feel she will be disappointed if that is what she is expecting. A study of success tells me that those who put their dependence upon others are let down. This is true whether it is the government, a company, or other individuals. Personal responsibility is learning to be self sufficient in the face of changing environments. The reason why the statement "there are no free lunches" has stayed with us because it is true. Remember that as you move forward in the new political environment.
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No Limits

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Finish Each Day

By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt have crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely
and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with
your old nonsense.

This day is all that is
good and fair.
It is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on yesterdays.
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Do Your Own Research

This election cycle is really showing me how impressionable people really are. Consistently, I hear individuals talking about the political campaign and drawing conclusions without having a clue what they are talking about. They hear a talking point or a television ad and instantly believe what they hear. How foolish this is.

We are being taught a valuable lesson. Do your own research. Approach everything you hear with a degree of skepticism. If it is on television, bet the ranch that it is skewed. Everyone has an agenda. Find out what that is will reveal how trustworthy that source is.

Rush Limbaugh, America's favorite loudmouth, calls this situation with the media "drive-bys". I think that sums it up. A person draws a conclusion about a situation or a person based upon a few minutes of exposure. How do you know what you are receiving is the truth? You cannot.

Remember, there are always two sides to every situation. When people set out to distort the facts for their own agenda, they invariably present a slanted view. It might not even be on purpose. Nevertheless, this is what they do.

The way to avoid this is to get information from different sources. Researchers do this all the time. They uncover facts and then research in an effort to prove or disprove them. Hanging out with people who think exactly like you will not reveal new ideas. Businesses encounter this stagnation often when the same decision makers are allowed to exercise their power. Basically, nothing changes. New blood is necessary.

Put some new blood into your situations. Take everything you uncover at face value until you research it thoroughly. It is important to remember that everyone has a particular agenda. This single point will change you viewpoint of what they say.
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Blame In Action

Anyone who is a regular reader knows that personal responsibility is one of the highest values we promote here. Unlike the "handout" concept of society today, I believe it is the one way to happiness and prosperity. It also eliminates the ability to play the blame game.

I had the opportunity to witness how the societal conditioning of society affects people. I got discussing politics with a friend of mine yesterday. As you can guess, this particular individual has a different political outlook than I do. Naturally, we got into some cross hairs rather quickly.

To start, this individual is 62 years old drawing social security. It is his only means of financial support. He is presently living with his daughter (rent free) because he is paying child support for his three children (all under 10). He married and divorced 5 times leaving a path of destruction in each situation. By now you can guess which side he is falling on.

He claims that we need people in Washington who are going to take care of us. All the benefits for the rich are what hurts this country. This is his belief. Of course, nowhere in his life did he take responsibility for any of his actions. Thus, he feels the government should take care of everyone.

My issue here is not to create a political debate. Rather, I want to illustrate how a destructive outlook creates concrete results in people's lives. This individual believes in others taking care of it all with him being at fault for nothing. That played out in his life.

Personal responsibility is the only path to happiness and success. My friend is jaded because he was let down. That is the natural result when your dependence is upon others. They will fail you. Take responsibility for your own life and then you can take the corrective action when things go differently than anticipated. This is a much better result than waiting for the politicians to fix the government. That is a long wait.
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Motivation For The Day

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It Takes Strength

It seems people want to take the easy path. America's recent move to the left shows how this sentiment is becoming commonplace. How soon people forget the history that made the United States the world leader. The qualities that made us great are gone. It is replaced with the "handout" mentality.

This is what is turning us into a second rate nation. Nowhere is personal responsibility promoted. Instead, our leaders teach the blame game. Also, we are taught to look for what we can get from each situation as opposed to what we can give. Many feel they are owed something by society. My vote is that we owe them a good swift kick in the ass.

For those of you who visit this site on a regular basis, you know that we believe in people taking control of their lives. It takes strength to do this. As mentioned, most do not want to engage in this. It is easier to sit back and see what someone will offer. We want a handout from the government. Or we believe that we deserve a raise based upon tenure instead of merit. Or we want our parents to buy us a new car. The list is endless. Rarely do we see anyone promoting the idea of earning something.

I am a firm believer that there is an opportunity in every situation. The shift over the last 20+ years to the "handout" mentality means that the path for others is easier. Simply put, there is less competition. People adopting the outlook that others need to do for them enables the go-getters to stand out.

Pursuing one's dreams opens up the possibility of ridicule and ostracizing by others. It is far easier to pull another down rather than lift oneself up. Remember this as you travel down your individual path to success. Many who are close to you will become your biggest detractors. It is a sad but true fact.
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Get Off The Pity Pot

I hear so many complaining about how bad their plight is. Hold on, let me get my violin. I apologize for my sarcasm but this concept goes against everything that we promote on this site. People love to dwell upon their misery. They cannot help but throw themselves a pity party. "Woe is me" is the theme.

Get real. One of my closest advisers likes to say that "we live in the land of milk and honey". How true that statement is for anyone who lives in the industrialized countries of the world. If your life is pathetic, that is your fault. Until you accept this fact, life will continue to go as it is. Blaming others for our plight gives them all the power.

It is time to get off the pity pot. If you want to have something to bitch about, try living for a few years in Africa. There is a continent which knows poverty. Go and visit the roughly 3/4 of a billion people in India who are living in a state of starvation. Regardless of your situation, there are millions of individuals around the world who would trade places with you in an instant.

I heard of a man who was in the process of losing his $350,000 home outside Los Angeles to foreclosure. His response to this "tragedy" was to kill his family then himself. Are you kidding me? A family is wiped out because of the shame and guilt someone felt over losing a piece of real estate. This is insane.

Fortunately, few ever go to this length. Nevertheless, they will continually complain about how awful their life is. This is so childish. Stop the desperate cries for attention and grow up. If you need something to pay attention to you, get a dog. Other than that, shut up. We all have our troubles in life. That is part of the deal. We do the best we can while learning the lesson in each situation.

For those of you who cannot identify with the behavior I am describing, I have great news. Since the majority like to do this, it is easy for you to stand out. Resist any temptation to throw/join a pity party. Get off you duff and do what is needed to succeed. There are opportunities arising everyday if you will seek them out. Just be sure to wave to those who are wasting time bitching as you pass them by on your road to success and happiness.
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Two Choices

"Get busy living or get busy dying" -Andy Dufrane (Shawshank Redemption)

This is one of my favorite quotes. To me, it sums up the only two choices we really have. Many will disagree with this sentiment. Yet, when we break it all down, everything ultimately comes back to these two choices.

Sadly, many choose to "get busy dying". They allow others to dictate the type of life they will lead. This allows them to blame others when their life fails to turn out the way they desire. Of course, they will use all kinds of justification for the way things are. However, their deep-seeded resentment and unhappiness comes from settling for a meager existence.

Personal responsibility means that you take control of your own life. Too many want to cede that to others. We are taught that we need to conform to the ideas of others. Going to school, getting a career, marrying, and raising a family are the keys to happiness. Others whom we respect tell us that we need to be responsible by getting a good paying job. Everything revolves around the financial aspect of life. Pursuing one's dreams is often discouraged because of the risk involved.

Studies show that over 75% of the general population hates their job. This is an overwhelming statistic. It is no wonder that so many people are unhappy. They despise how they spend 1/3 of their total week. And how do these people respond to this situation: by complaining about it. Rarely does one take the initiative to improve his or her skills. They eke out a living doing something they hate so that they can get the paycheck.

If you want to change your life, the first step is to take personal responsibility for where you are. Nobody is forcing you to work where you do. Unless the law changed, it is illegal to put a slavery clause in an employment contract. Decide what your dreams are and lay a path to pursue them. This is what "getting busy living" is all about.

Settling for less than you truly desire is the path to death. There is no reason why you cannot attain all the levels of success that you crave. It does entail shaking off the limiting beliefs that hindered you for so long. Expand the possibilities of your mind. Let us all embrace life.
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Self Reliance

Who can you count on? This is an important question in this generation. The world that we live in is rapidly changing. Unfortunately, many are ill prepared to deal with the circumstances that are arising. What is one to do with things moving at such a fast pace? Where do we turn to seek the solutions?

We are in the midst of the greatest "responsibility absolution" program ever seen. The overriding tone is that "it is not your fault" regardless of what occurs. Governments all over the world are stepping in to save institutions from failure. Why? Because we simply cannot let them fail. At the same time, individuals are receiving assistance due to mortgage circumstances where they are not at fault. Again, today, nothing is your fault.

Sadly, the ones who are telling us they provide the rescue are the same ones who let us down in the first place. Our leadership failed to offer any insulation against corporate and governmental greed, institutional manipulation, and corruption. Now, they are saying "trust us, we will help". Sorry to burst everyone's bubble, but this is a lie. If you are looking for someone else to save you butt, you are holding a losing hand.

Self reliance is where you need to focus your attention. The economy is in rough shape. Many good employees will be let go due to circumstances. Companies do not have the loyalty to protect you. Even small business owners will decide on their paycheck over yours. This is a fact of life. Even union employees, those who supposedly are protected, will find how little the union does for them when there are massive layoffs. Imagine the position union negotiators are in when dealing with GM. "Take the layoffs or we will be out of business in 24 months when we run out of money". Notice how limited their choices are. Take something now or get nothing in the long run.

Here is a memo: there is nobody looking out for you. The politicians do not care. These people only care about getting re-elected and gaining power. Some will say this is a cynical view of the political process yet I challenge anyone to debate the opposing point.If they cared so much about our situation, how come none of them have mentioned cutting their salaries by 50% from $130K-$150K until this crisis passes.

Of late, I have written a great deal about personal responsibility. It is something that vaporized over the last 20 years. We are a generation that excels at the blame game. Watch the politicians. It is interesting to note how nothing is ever their fault. There is someone else who can always be blamed. They mention how we can look to them to protect us while failing at every turn. How many times are we going to fall for that?

The bottom line is there is nobody to care for you but you. People, by their nature, have a degree of selfishness. They are going to tend to their own interests first. Understand this and get on board. Tend to your own interests (and that of your family). Become a person who is self reliant. Take those actions which will improve the circumstances for your family. Personal responsibility is the attribute we all need more of today. If we can do that, there will come a time when we can tell those who are promising to take care of us "thanks but no thanks".

Begin this process today.
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Get Excited About Your Life

"Most people live a life of quiet desperation" -Henry David Thoreau

It is over a century since Thoreau uttered these words. However, never were they as applicable as they are today. People are struggling because they lost touch with what is important. There is so much more to life than what people are experiencing. Yet so many just trudge along hoping things will change.

We are a generation of instant gratification. The "MTv" generation grew up needing to be continually entertained. We were taught that "stuff" was important while holding the key to our happiness. To fulfill this quest, we went into debt praying that someday things would turn out right. They never did.

This left many people jaded. The prescription for happiness turned out to be flawed. In the end, many are confronted with the same misery each day. They exist in a comfort zone which they are accepting. The idea of venturing outside of this is incomprehensible to these individuals. They rationalize their plight by telling themselves that "it is not that bad". Nevertheless, they are living a life of quiet desperation.

I caught Dr. Phil's show over the weekend. He brought up an interesting point. His idea is that it is time to get excited about your life. If you are not, there is no one to blame but you. The choices that we make lead to the results we get. I wrote last week about the concept of personal responsibility. This is an example of it. The decision to be excited about the life we lead is a personal choice each of us can make. Failure to do so is not the fault of another. Now is the time to start.

Get excited about your life and exciting things will start to happen.
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Weak People

We are rapidly becoming a nation (and a world) of weak people. For most, the American Dream is dead. The concept of starting then building something up is no longer part of our society. Instead, everyone is looking for the handouts from the government. What can we get for free? Individuals are trained to get something for nothing.

The recent political statements are reflective of this. Barak Obama wants to give tax cuts to 95% of the American people. The fact that 45% of the population pays no income tax means they will actually receive a handout. John McCain wants to spend $300 billion to bail out the people who are facing foreclosure. Many of these people made the conscious decision to purchase the house without any fraud or deception. Yet the government feels the need to place the responsibility on the taxpayer. Finally, Nancy Pelosi mentioned yesterday that we need another stimulus package that gives everyone a check.

Most seem to feel that it is the government's responsibility to take care of us. If all goes bad, they are there to step in and make things right. This is how people become weak. It is the reason why welfare system is a miserable failure. People become second and third generation recipients simply because they know nothing else. Society conditioned them for weakness.

How can I make this assertion? The basic premise is that people grow from failure. It is only through repeated errors that we become stronger. Use the child learning to ride a bike as an example. He or she falls until eventually learning to ride the bike. The same is true for a toddler walking. That child takes a few steps and falls. This occurs until walking is mastered.

Life is the same way. Failure is a wonderful teacher. And this is something people are being sheltered from. Pain is one of the most powerful motivators. It is often one of the driving forces for success. Tony Robbins like to relate "people will do more to avoid pain than to gain pleasure". I agree with this assertion. Experiencing pain pushes us to avoid putting ourselves back in that same situation.

I would like to know how these government policies will make people stronger. My belief is that most of them will do the same thing in the future since they experienced no pain. There is a lack of growth occurring which would make someone better able to handle the situation in the future. This is a tragedy of life in this generation. Handouts are making entire sectors of our society weak.

It is time to take personal responsibility for your actions. If you are one in a situation I mentioned, stop playing the blame game. Take responsibility for being where you are. For example, being behind on your mortgage because you purchased "too much house" is your fault. Of course, if assistance does come from the government, I would suggest taking it. But, learn the lesson. It is a gift and be grateful for it. However, resolve never to be in that situation again. That is what responsible people do. And this world sorely needs people like this now.
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The Blame Game

Recently I wrote about taking personal responsibility for our lives. This is something that is not being done by our leaders. Instead, they want to place the blame for the current financial crisis on other people. It is sad to see those who are in positions of oversight claim that others are at fault. The political environment dictates that if you are a Democrat it is the Republicans fault. Of course, the reverse is true if you are a Republican. Nobody is accepting responsibility.

The fact that our leaders fail to take responsibility shows an epidemic that is present in our society. Someone else is always at fault. Racism is the reason. The education system is failing. My parents did not raise me right. Wall Street and the greedy CEOs are the cause. The litany of excuses can go on forever. People are programmed to automatically place the responsibility on another.

Take a look at your own life. How often do you look to blame someone else for your lack of success? Most people live the "if only" life. This is the idea that one would be a success if only ______________. Fill in with any excuse and you will feel better about your situation. We are not responsible since someone else is to blame.

Our present financial crisis contains many lessons. Personal responsibility is one of the biggest ones. You are faced with two choices. One, you can continue blaming everyone else while looking to others to fix your life. Or you can elect to take responsibility for the things that occur. These are the only two options that we are confronted with; both individually and collectively.

What is going to get us out of this mess? It will take millions of people starting to take responsibility for their actions. If our elected officials will not do it, we can vote them out. However, before this can occur, you must implement this idea in your life. Blaming others puts us in a position of powerlessness. It is time to regain our power and place the emphasis on our personal responsibility.
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Keep Moving Forward II

There was a surprise today. The United States House of Representatives decided to can the bill that would bailout the financial markets. If you listen to all the pundits on television, the end of the world is here. We are heading into the worst times since the Great Depression. Everyone ought to throw in the towel.

Well, I for one am not willing to do that. My last few posts emphasized the need for everyone to take control of their lives. The situation makes this more obvious with each passing moment. Basically, the government said that it is not going to stand behind the mistakes of the financial sector. We will omit going into who caused this problem. However, there are many who are in deep financial trouble as a result of what went on the last few weeks. It is time for these people to own up to their part in the creation of the mess.

Housing seems to be a point where there is a lot of difficulty for individuals. Foreclosures are up simply because people cannot afford their homes. The speculators were removed from the equation over a year ago. People who are behind on their payments now are the ones living in the homes. These are the ones who risk being put out on the street. The politicians like to point at these people as the ones they need to protect. Perhaps that is true, but the help is not coming.

My question to all those who are reading this who find themselves in this situation is "why are you behind on your payments?". This is something that most are unwilling to look at. Many are experiencing financial trouble because they overbought a couple of years ago. They were allowed access to credit that was beyond their means and they abused it. Again, perhaps the lenders had a hand by not being diligent in their lending practices. Yet, personal responsibility entails looking at our part in it.

This is not to imply that everyone who is facing foreclosure overextended. Traditionally, foreclosures happen as a result of divorce, loss of job, or some other financial devastation. Certainly, these factors are present for many today. In addition, there were instances of fraud and misrepresentation made by unscrupulous lenders. Personally, I hope these people are tracked down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Nevertheless, fraud is not the major culprit in this crisis either.

Getting honest with ourselves is the first part in getting past it. Playing the blame game gets us nowhere. The actions of our political leaders epitomizes this point. There is not a single person standing up and saying that "I failed the people". Each person is pointing the finger at the Administration, the other candidate, or the other party. "It is their fault" we are told. We that is horses***. Everyone involved is responsible for creating such a mess.

So where is your responsibility? What part did you have in creating your own financial circumstances? Even if you are not behind on your mortgage, how is you family savings account looking? Did you put away money with each paycheck in case of economic downturn? If you are like the average person, the odds are that your personal savings are almost non-existent. This is a situation that lies squarely on your shoulders.

Let us look at something else. How many of you have maxed out your credit cards? We are well over $1 trillion in credit card debt in the United States. Obviously, we all know how the outlandish interest rates affect one's finances. Who is responsible for that? Many want to refer to the new laws that favored the lenders. Or they point the finger at the lenders because they issued the credit. The bottom line is it was you who chose to use it. This is identical to taking all your equity out of your house. Too many thrived on credit the last few years without any thought as to how to repay it. Well, it is time to pay the piper and many cannot do it.

Is this offending some of you? Good. I want to get under your skin. This is a wake up call. Ignoring the problem means that you are going to repeat it. Stop living life like it is someone else who is at fault. It makes you weak as an individual and us weak as a nation. Own up to your mistakes while learning from them. That is the only thing that will make this experience of any value. It is turning a negative into a positive.

So where do we go from here? Individually, it is time to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. Take responsibility for it all. This is how we can begin to make progress.

Here are a few other facts that will assist you.

1. You are not the only one.

Get over the self-pity that comes with failure. You are not the only one who is in this situation. There are millions of people (if not tens of millions) from around the world who are in the exact same situation. Because of the scope of this problem, there is a slowed system at present. This will work to your advantage.

2. Things are not as bleak as the media makes it out to be.

The media sensationalizes everything. That is their job. They are experts at writing eye catching headlines. Fear is a wonderful method to capture your attention. This tactic is being exploited as we speak. Everyone is promoting doom and gloom. Chicken Little out in full force at the moment.

Along the same lines, there are two men who are both vying to become President. They will utilize whatever tactic garners attention. Minimizing the problem will not get either elected. Expect there to be constant talk about how bad things are (and how the other is to blame). While things might be entering an extremely difficult stage, bet the ranch it is not as bad as these two will make it out to be.

3. Banks only care about money and defaults hurt them tremendously.

The money you owe will bankrupt nobody but yourself. However, these institutions have millions of people just like you owing them money. They are not interested in your credit nor your house. The only thing that interests them is minimizing the financial damage. Use this to your advantage when negotiating with them.

4. You can get past this.

You are an incredible person. There are so many talents that reside within you. This is the perfect time to put your creativity to use. Regardless of your situation, there are a multitude of ways to solve it. Think of different paths you might follow which will help you. Perhaps it is time to start that new business. Many successful companies were started in economic down cycles. Find a problem and solve it. There are many to choose from at the moment.

This is not the end of the world. Tomorrow, the sun will rise the same as it always has. The human spirit is one that is unstoppable by anyone other then ourselves. You are the only one who can prevent yourself from succeeding. With each downturn there are many opportunities created. Go after them. Be responsible for your actions and take control of your life. Remember, the most dangerous person is one with nothing to lose. If you are totally broke, what do you have to lose? GO FOR IT!!!
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