1. Unhappiness

2. Health issues (in the majority of cases this is a weight problem)

3. Money problems

4. Relationship problems

I live in Australia, a nation of 20 million people, in which 1 million are currently reported to be on anti-depressants. With such horrendous figures, why has no-one taught us “basic happiness skills”?

When one in two marriages lead to divorce, why are we not taught “basic relationship skills”?

When greater than 50% of people are considered overweight, with obesity rates continuing to rise, why are we not taught “basic health skills”?

With less than 5% of people at retirement age being considered wealthy, and with increasing financial pressure on families, why are we never taught “basic personal finance”?

Who is responsible for teaching us these things? Some people say it’s our parents. Others say it’s the responsibility of our school system, or the government, or the church.

Have our parents let us down? Have the schools, and churches and governments failed us?

Not at all!

The fact is that none of these groups are responsible. It’s up to us to take responsibility for educating ourselves!

If we wait for our parents to provide us with the answer, we will be disappointed. If they knew the answers, then they would have already taught us. Most likely they never sought the answers themselves, and instead waited for their own parents, or the school, church, or the government to provide the answers.

If we are to rely on the school system, or the government, or the church, then we’ll be waiting a long time. They have another agenda.

So what can we do about it? Assuming we don’t wish to just ignore the problem, there are two ways to approach the situation. One is directly and the other indirectly.

The direct approach is to try to change the agenda of the government, the schools, or your church, through the currently existing political process, or via protest or petition. This is a difficult path, as it involves trying to persuade others to our way of thinking.

The indirect approach is much easier. We accept full responsibility for our own happiness, our own health, our own wealth, and our own relationships. We rely on no-one else, but rather seek our own truth. We aim to be the best example we can be. We aim for constant and never ending personal improvement. We do not try to persuade or force anyone else to our way of thinking, but rather we are simply willing to share our knowledge with anyone who wants to listen. Others will see our example, and they will learn from us. The world will change. One person at a time!

This is the path that I have chosen.

I have taken it upon myself to learn what makes me happy.

I have taken full responsibility for learning how to build a strong, healthy relationship.

I have taken full responsibility for learning how to live a long, healthy life.

I have taken full responsibility for learning how to become independently wealthy.

I have taken responsibility for being the best example I can to my children, and for passing my knowledge on to them. I accept though that I cannot make them learn. They will simply see my example, and then judge for themselves.

And I have taken full responsibility for sharing what I learn with whoever will listen.

So, if you don’t have all the answers to health, wealth, happiness and great relationships, then consider accepting responsibility for finding them yourself.

Would you rather be happy or unhappy? Would you rather be wealthy or poor? Would you rather be healthy or unhealthy? Would you rather be in a good relationship, or a bad relationship? It’s your choice. No-one else is going to decide for you.

If you’d rather have the good stuff in life then accept full responsibility, find your own answers, and live as an example to the world.

That is the easiest way to solve all of life’s problems.

Stop waiting for someone else to save you. Save yourself!

And indirectly, you’ll also save the world! One person at a time!

Lance Beggs.

Copyright 2005 Lance Beggs. All Rights Reserved.