December Mindset: 100% Accountable

 December Mindset: 100% Accountable 

December's Mindset is 100% Accountable.  100% accountability teaches us that we are not victims of our past, our future is not predetermined, and our lives are what we choose form this moment onward.  With a focus on recognizing fears and excuses, this mindset allows us to break down barriers, freeing our minds and focusing our energy to take the critical step towards our goals.  It's a perspective that looks inward and builds a sense of responsibility.  I thought the following "tips" were helpful for us as adults (or parents!), as well as some things we can share with our students.

1.  Accept responsibility

One of the first and fastest ways to own your life is to take responsibility for your life.  The good, the bad, the ugly - it's all on you!  Our perspectives, attitudes, reactions, feelings, thoughts, beliefes - these are all things that we control ourselves.  This is an amazing thing because it means that you can create the life you want since you are at the wheel.

2.  Stop blaming

It's very easy to blame sometimes, especially since most of us have some sort of experience of being treated wrongly or unfairly as children.  We can't let negative things from our past have any power over our today.  Every morning, you have a clean slate. No one can stop you from being the person that you want to be or living the life you desire to live, unless you grant them that power.

3.  Forgive

Forgiveness is a huge task, usually one that requiers a lifetime of repeating. By holding a grudge, you are harboring negative energy, which will only poison you.  And sometimes, the ones we hold the most grudges against are ourselves, for past mistakes and actions we deeply regret.  You can't live a happy life if at some subconscious level you don't believe you deserve one.  Everything we experience, even the bad, helps us grow in some way.  Forgive others and yourself, and instead be grateful for the lessons you've gained.

4.  Change your attitude

Your attitude plays more importance on your quality of life than you may think.  Ever notice when you have a bad attitude that your day just seems to be getting worse? It's because you're a ball of negative energy walking around collecting more nearby negative energy!  When you force yourself to be in a good mood (and yes, many days it does require force) and you look for the good things in your day,  you bring more good things to you.  Don't waste another day pushing the good things away!

5.  Decide what you want

Have you thought about what you really want in life?  Not what your mom wants fo ryou, not what you think is easiest to accomplish, but what you want.  If money or circumstances weern't an issue, what would your heart most long ot do? The magic of this universe that we live in is that it meets us more than halfway when we go after a dream.  When we really know what we want and believe we can have it, when we epect it to happen, we set magical forces in motion that arrange the people and circumstances in our lives necessary to achieve our dream. 

6.  Become intentional

Become intentiaon with your time.  Implement a daily routine.  Highly successful people are known for following morning routines every day.  A time that you prepare for your day first without letting the outside world bombard your mind, so you feel mentally prepared.  Also, become intentional about the kind of people and information you let come into your experience.  Negative people, stories, and articles that promote hate, fear or controversy only breed more negativity and drag you down.

7.  Compete with no one

When we don't focus on our own path because we are too busy looking around us to see where everyone else is, we start to stumble.  We start wondering if we're not good enough, or why good things are happening to others and not us.  Don't focus on anyone else but you.  Be grateful for where you are and the things you have achieveed.  Every day is a fresh start to go after your own dreams and improve yourself from your yesterday.

Owning our lives can seem a ibt overwhelming at first, but if you just start small and turn everything into a habit as you go along, in no time you will begin seeing the obvious and transforming things of living life with a different mindset.  There is no better time to start than now!