Who is in control here anyway?

"The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself." Mark Caine

A lot can be said about whatever situation, or environment in this case, that we are in. There is only one root cause that can explain why you are in that situation and how you got there in the first place. This root is split into only two parts. Part one is called "external locus of control", which means that you believe so strongly that everything around you is in control of you. You are a result of the outside forces. A great example is found right now in this economy. Is this bad economy ruining your home-life, your thought-life, your relationships with others, how about your giving? Part two is called "internal locus of control". This is where people who are successful in any area of life camp out. They, unlike the external types, control their surroundings and what happens in their life. Nothing just happens to them. They are not just letting things happen and run a muck in their life. This person will look at this economy in particular and see nothing but opportunity. For example, this person would know that prices on houses are down compared to the actual value of the house. That means it's on sale. Rents, however, are on a bit of an incline. They see that they can buy this property at a discount with very little investment of their own money and rent it out for more than the mortgage, taxes and insurance combined. Then, when the market comes up again, and it will, they can sell it and make even more profit. The same goes with many small businesses that are shutting their doors. All this person will do is go on craigslist and he could be in a new business by the end of the day. They make more money, because they decide to. They make a better home-life because they decide to. They give more because they decide to. They set things up according to the results they want to achieve.

In the words of the great Bill Cosby, "I said all that to say this. . .". If you are going to get anything you want in life, you have got to believe in your core that you are in control of everything that goes on in your life. Remember, things don't just happen to you anymore, you happen to things.