We are who we choose to be. It’s an uncomfortable fact, but hard to deny. Everyday, we chart the course of our own life through our choices.

I recently attended a fabulous summit filled with women who have rocked the world. Great thinkers, awesome visionaries, and accomplished entrepreneurs. By anyone’s standards, every woman there had achieved some level of success. Yet at one time or another, most of us had struggled to own our own choices in some area of our life.

It’s a little daunting to truly understand and appreciate how much responsibility we have for our own future. It’s much more convenient to believe that our lives are the way they are because of how our parents raised us, that the life we’re living is merely a by-product of our environment and that we must play the hand we’re dealt.

While I’m certain there is truth to the ideal that our upbringing has a profound impact on how we relate to the world, I have also come to understand that where we go from here is entirely up to us. Our parents, our spouses, our kids nor our friends are responsible for ensuring we experience a fulfilling life. Only we have the power to create the circumstances that we want to inhabit, and we do that through the choices we make – whether we make them consciously or by default.

Are there circumstances beyond our control? Absolutely! But how we respond to them is entirely under our authority.

I have grappled with this myself on more than one occasion. It’s so easy to abdicate our authority over our lives to someone else. Because let’s face it, running us isn’t easy and if we convince ourselves that the decisions are not ours to make then we don’t have to be responsible for the consequences, do we? So instead we take the easier route – letting someone else define our priorities, tell us what we can and can’t do, what we’re ready for or not, and what is “appropriate” for our lives. Before we know it we’re living someone else’s dream, walking a path that is not our own, and looking for someone to blame for how we got there.

I know I’m not the only one. Two years into college you wondered why in the world you picked this major. Last week you were sitting in a meeting wondering why am I here? This is not my project. Right now you’re pondering doing something that in no way supports your vision for your life, but you feel like you have to do it. All that misplaced guilt over saying no…

But the great news is we have the power – all we have to do is choose to own it! There is nothing wrong with taking back control of you from the ones to whom which we have mistakenly given it. God created us as creatures of free will. He has given us sound minds, and His spirit dwells within us. Trust that still, small voice within that is urging you to take that courageous next step.

We must be in the driver’s seat of our own life because where we end up is up to us! I challenge you today to stop and write a love note to yourself affirming your write to choose. Just 5 or 6 lines on something you can carry around so that you never forget that YOU are in charge of your life.

I’ve written 4 lines to get us started. Why don’t you add a line or two in the comments and keep it going?

 I choose to believe I am a beloved child of God, full of purpose and passion.

I choose to live abundantly, knowing that who I am and what I have is enough.

I choose to spread love and light, living each day with a spirit of profound gratitude

I choose to love on me.

Let’s not be afraid to make the hard choices. This is our life, and we are worthy to live it our way.

Loving on Me as I Love You. ❤