Do you believe that you are the author of your own destiny? Do you believe that you make your own luck and that only you can make a difference in your life? 

Or do you still believe that your chances of success are at the mercy of events and that your success is determined by your past and what other people will allow you to do?

Many people put themselves at the Effect end of the spectrum. They feel that their emotions just happen to them or are caused by other people. People like to use the following words to express themselves:

• She upset me
• He made me angry
• I don't know what to do anymore
• They are stressing me out.

By thinking this way you are handing power over how you allow other people to make you feel. This means that you are not taking charge of your feelings and you are using them as an excuse to not move forward in life.

Rather learn to take charge of your feelings and use them to a positive effect. 

Focus on the Present

When you decide to place yourself at the Cause end of the spectrum, things change. You are more likely to believe that the cause of the problem can be solved, and you focus more on what you want than on what you don't.  

When problems arise you should focus your attention by asking questions such as:

• What is happening here?
• What can I do to change it?
• What is it that I want to happen instead?

These questions allow your mind to focus on the present and the future. 

Take Decisive Action

Life often calls on you to act decisively. There is no such thing as a wrong decision. Every decision you make will come from your past experience and may be a way for you to learn from if things do not end up the way you thought it would.