Most people really enjoy playing the victim. It is a trait that is adopted at an young age which is then carried later into life. Early on, we seek comfort in the bosom of our mothers. The security and the assurances we receive in these moments leave a deep impact upon our psyches. It is these feeling that people seek after later in life.

As children, we receive a huge payoff by being the victim. It is a way for someone, a child, so often overlooked to become the center of attention. When we injure ourselves, we immediately run to mommy for help. It is at this point that she uses the magical powers all mothers have to “kiss it and make it better”. After a short period of time, we learn that we can use this technique anytime we want. Who among us has not run to have mommy kiss it when we really were not hurt? For many, it is the only way to get the care we crave.

When we get older, being a victim still gains us desired attention. People tend to find others who will engage in the “pity party” behavior. Ever notice a group of them standing around all complaining about how poorly they are treated? They all console each other thus solidifying the payoff for the behavior. Regardless of the circumstances, it is always someone else's fault. If someone or something would act differently, then their lives would be magically transformed. Naturally, even if this were the case, these individuals would find something else to commiserate over. The victimization mindset is so prevalent that it overpowers most other thinking.

Unfortunately, playing the victim also makes individuals powerless over their lives. As long as it is someone else's fault, creating change for the better is impossible. We become products of our environment and circumstances. The external influences are what shape the people that we become. Life is no longer a series of choices that we make but a result of bouncing from one circumstance to another like a pinball. Unhappiness is the common emotion in these instances. However, ask these same people what they can do to change their plight and they will tell you “nothing”. The powerless has invaded the psyche also.

If you are to change your life, you can begin by immediately adopting the premise that you created all that you have in your life. This applies equally to the good and the bad. Take responsibility for everything that occurs. When this is done, you are empowered to change your life as you see fit. You are no longer a helpless victim moving from one unenviable situation to the next. Instead, you are an individual that understands that the present spot you occupy is a result of the choices that you made in the past.

Life is nothing more than a series of choices. There are a few things in life that we cannot change. The family we are born into, our ethnic makeup, and where we were raised are all circumstances outside our control. So, too, are the events that occurred while we were children. However, everything that happened since we were of the age of conscious adult choice is our responsibility. If we claim this responsibility, then we are miraculously able to alter our reality.

It is important to realize that everyone has problems in their lives. The most successful people seem to be that way because they are better at handling these events than the unsuccessful. At the core of this ability is that they take responsibility for all that occurs. Careful reflection usually will yield the poor decisions that led to an equally poor outcome. Major catastrophes typically do not occur in a vacuum. There are a series of decisions made beforehand that led to those exact results.

If you are presently unhappy with some aspect of your life, take responsibility for bringing that situation into existence. The things people complain about such as family, jobs, co workers, are only being experienced because of choices that one made. Nobody is forced to work at a particular company. Getting another job is always an option. The people we marry is made out of our own free will. If anything we have in life is miserable. we need to decide to change the situation. This is what be empowered is all about.

Claim responsibility for all in your life to begin the road to success.