Much of the time we place responsibility for ourselves on external factors. We are sad because someone hurt us, we are neat freaks because that's how we were brought up, we are worried because of the economy, we are fat because of our genetics, we are tired because of our jobs, we are lonely because we are alone, we are stubborn because...well whatever the reason it's not our fault.

What many of us fail to realize that no matter what circumstances are presented to ourselves we are in control of how we feel about them, what action we take in response to them, and what we learn from them. We have complete control and responsibility for ourselves. It's easy to assign reasons and place blame, far easier than admitting that everything that you feel is because you choose to feel it and everything that you do is because you choose to do it.

Yes, everything that you feel is because you choose to feel it. This can be a tough one to grasp because we are lead to believe in our society that we are somehow not responsible for how we feel and others should be ashamed of "making" us feel a certain way. Others cannot make you feel a certain way, you choose to feel a certain way.

And yes, everything you do is because you choose to do it. It is not that you "have" to do it, you don't have to do anything. Everything that you do is because you choose to do it, everything, and you "have" to do nothing.

Only when you realize that you are in complete control and accept responsibility can you really be free of everyone and everything. You will realize that you are what you want to be. That no one makes you feel a certain way and you don't have to do or be anything. If you want to be sad, be sad. If you want to be happy, be happy.

Life is really truly very simple.