"The Secret of Life"

Would you like to know the secret of life?

Down through the years, there have been many stories and anecdotes about people who searched for the secret of life. The secret of life, according to the well-known psychiatrist, Dr. David Viscott, is that there is no secret.
I agree.

It is hard work, determination, and effective thinking, backed up by persistent action, that brings you success in life, not any magic lamp or winning lottery ticket.

I bet you knew that all along, didn't you? I will bet you also know that the purpose of life is to discover and develop your own unique gifts, whatever they may be, and that the meaning of life comes from sharing your gifts with others.

Pretty simple, huh? And the key to all this, the glue that holds it together and allows you to create something truly wonderful, is accountability - or responsibility - if you prefer.

While it is true that many things that have happened to you are not your fault, you didn't cause them, in every case you chose to react in your own way. Of course, accepting responsibility for your reactions to events means you have to stop blaming others for your problems, but it also empowers you to change what you need to change and move on.

After all, in the words of the Swahili saying, "It is not what name others call you that matters, but what name you respond to that truly determines who you are."

Lou Tice
The Pacific Institute