Looking Inward

Is there something that you want to change about yourself? Maybe it is a bad habit that you have developed over time. Maybe it is a pattern of behavior that you are currently in that isn't helping you to be all that you can be.
I am writing this article because I want people to start telling themselves the truth and start looking inside for the answers to questions about their behaviors or habits instead of blaming their past experiences and other people for their pain.
By no means am I assuming that this is going to be easy. On the contrary, I have personally been dealing with looking inward continuously and I am telling you that it will be one of the hardest things that you will do. Being honest with yourself and seeing the truth about ourselves takes a tremendous amount of courage. You may not like what you see. It is my opinion, that this is the reason why people don't look inward at their part of a situation. They may see the truth and as the old adage says "The truth hurts!". Yeah, it sure as hell does, especially when it is about oneself.
I believe that the first step in this process is to start taking responsibility for our lives. I agree that past experiences influence greatly your present behaviors but that doesn't mean that one cannot control oneself and conquer this. Just look inside and ask yourself what you can do differently and is this really what you want for yourself and your future?
If the answer to the question is "NO!" now it is time to ask "Why?". "Why am I/or why do I continue to do these things or act this way?".
Take control of yourself and don't be afraid to answer very truthfully.
I personally have blamed some of my current behaviors on past experiences. I realize that these past experiences have affected me BUT there comes a time in our lives, and the sooner the better, that we MUST STOP blaming playing the victim and start taking responsibility for ourselves and our lives.
For me taking responsibility means that you have to face the fact that each and everyday you have many decisions to make as to what is in the best interest of you and the ones you love. Being consciously aware and in control of our thoughts, is the best way to start taking responsibility. We can easily become consumed by negative thoughts that will lead us down a path that we truly DO NOT want to go down. This path of negativity will ultimately hurt ourselves and possibly the ones we love.
I urge everyone to look inside and start dealing with past hurts and take responsibility for your lives as soon as possible because looking inward at oneself and healing is what is needed in order to grow and have enduring happiness.