Three Ways to Ignite Your Business, Life and Relationships

One of my favorite movies is Good Will Hunting. There’s a powerful scene where a “brash, arrogant, know-it-all” young man is in the midst of a deep conversation with his psychologist about his past. Eventually, the psychologist tells the troubled young man:    

Yes, there are many things that happen to us and some are the result of other’s decisions that in turn shape our life. At some point, though: we must embrace fully the impact, gravitas and freedom of our decisions. We must hold ourselves accountable for how we lead our own life after it has been impacted by the actions or words of another. [Ah! #accountability, there’s that June Rising Above Community theme again. Let’s dig in!]

My family and I often recall the fire-experience that changed our life. The word we often use to describe it is “John’s accident” or simply “the accident.”  In fact, the term “accident” appears more than a dozen times in the book my mom and dad wrote.

Accident.

My friends, what do you think happens when someone holds a flame to a can of gasoline?

Yup. That’s not an accident; it’s a law of nature. It is the result of holding a burning object to highly combustible fumes.

Yes, I was a child. And yes, I certainly didn’t expect the massive explosion that took place, but to call it an “accident” cheapens my role in the event. Perhaps more importantly, it cheapens my – and your – ability to own what happens afterwards. [Tweet this.]

I spent several decades “accidentally” living. It showed up not only in the garage the day I was burned, but in school, in poor choices as an adolescent and as a young adult. It impacted the way I lead others at work as a weak manager in an earlier career and the way I navigated life personally.

Now my friends, we don’t need the antithesis of Robin Williams’ character to tell us repeatedly, “It is your fault. It is your fault. It is your fault!”

It may not be your fault, but the time is now to quit referring to things as accidents and to take full ownership in your relationships, business, personal growth, spiritual journey, health and life. The time to be accountable is now. [Tweet this.]

You may require a kick in the pants, you may not be able to sit for a month, but it will liberate you to realize that not only is life not a simple series of accidents, but also an absolute gift that reminds us we can’t always choose what happens, but we can always choose how we respond to it. [Tweet this.]

So that’s it — the “three tips” actually boils down “It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault.” into one simple guideline: be accountable. Choose how you respond to life.

Now have an awesome morning and week. It will be no accident. 

What  are you doing today to make it a purposefully awesome morning and week? Please share in the comments below.

Take back your life. Ignite your possibility. Change your world.