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Education

Release the past
The first step toward true choice is to know and internalize The first step toward true
that the past does not exist. It's over. The reason you get an
endless loop of the same results is that you are living from choice is to know and
the limiting stories you created in the past. I'm sure you've
heard one definition of insanity is doing the same thing internalize that the past does
over and over and expecting different results. True choice not exist. It's over. The reason
is having the ability to make a decision based upon the
here and now and the future you want to create. you get an endless loop of

You are a meaning-making machine. Your mind is the same results is that you
constantly giving meaning to everything in your
environment. The past is just that: the past. You assign a are living from the limiting
meaning or story to all the experiences of your life. You stories you created in the past.
determine what those experiences mean. If you think you
had a failed business venture, you are the one who gave it
that meaning, and you are the one perpetuating it.

Remove the word failure from your vocabulary. There is no
such thing as failure – only results. Learn from the results Responsibility does not connote burden, fault, praise,
you create in your life. Tony Robbins puts it like this: blame, credit, shame or guilt. In responsibility, there is no
"Success is the result of good judgment, good judgment is evaluation of good or bad, right or wrong. There is simply
a result of experience, experience is often the result of bad what is, and who you are willing to be in a particular
judgment." Any so-called failed business venture can be area of your life. When you live from a context of being
recast as a learning experience. responsible, you live from authentic freedom.

Have you heard the story about how they catch monkeys in If you are having trouble unraveling the past and are
India? They build a small, weighted box, with an opening unable to see how your stories and beliefs are literally
large enough only for a monkey's hand. They place a tasty, shaping every decision you make, I recommend looking at
ripe banana inside for bait. And we all know monkeys live The Work by Byron Katie. I had the privilege of attending
for bananas (just like many of us live for our excuses). The a workshop with Katie many years ago, and she really put
monkey smells the banana, hesitantly puts his hand in the the pieces together for me regarding honestly evaluating
box and grabs it, but his hand will not fit back thru the slot my thoughts and unraveling my false stories. I love what
unless he drops the banana. Now he has a dilemma. Does Katie says about arguing with reality: "I realize that it's
he release the banana and go free or hold on and live a insane to oppose it. When I argue with reality, I lose – but
life of quiet desperation at a zoo for eternity? The monkey only 100% of the time."
invariably holds onto the food.
Her website states: "A simple yet powerful practice. As we
Guess what? If you haven't released the past, you're living do The Work, not only do we remain alert to our stressful
your life like a monkey. So, the first step to true choice is thoughts—the ones that cause all the anger, sadness, and
removing the illusion of the past. frustration in your world—but we question them, and
through that questioning the thoughts lose their power
Take charge over us. Great spiritual texts describe the what—what it
means to be free. The Work is the how. It shows you exactly
Now let's go to step two of true choice: responsibility. how to identify and question any thought that would keep
Responsibility entails being answerable, or accountable you from that freedom." Katie offers all the training and
for something within one's power, control or management. material to do The Work free of charge on her website,
Responsibility begins with the willingness to be cause www.thework.com.
in the matter of your life. You are causing your life on a
perpetual basis whether you are conscious of it or not. Let So, here is the choice: you can decide to be a slave to your
me state it this way: you are creating intentionally or by stories or the creator of your future taking 100 percent
default; regardless, you are the creator. Responsibility is responsibly for your results. What's it going to be?
taking ownership in the cause of your life.

Being responsible starts with the willingness to deal with Marc Beauchamp is author of Survive and Thrive in the Merchant
a situation from the viewpoint that you are the generator Services Industry and founder of Bankcard Life, a community for pay-
of what you do, what you have and what you are. There ments professionals. He is offering a free copy of his book to all payments
is no middle ground in responsibility. You can't say you professionals at www.bankcardlife.com/greensheet. Marc welcomes
think you are responsible for your life; you either believe your comments and feedback at marcb@surviveandthrive.biz.
you are, or you don't.
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