You may have seen a “Rocky” movie or two in your life and if so, you may recall Rocky’s inspirational speech to his son in the 6th movie of the series, “Rocky Balboa.”

Rocky’s son was feeling the pressure of growing up in his father’s shadow in a life full of challenges. Rather than taking charge, his son felt victimized by the experience and was blaming everyone around him. Rather than let his son fall deeper into a state of powerlessness, Rocky pulled him up short, saying:

The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody, is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done ! Now if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers, saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that, and that ain’t you!

Life is in part the product of every human being on earth. It is so easy to blame others for your lot in life, given the statistics. With 6+ billion people on earth it is, in a way, you against the world, and the odds are not stacked in your favor. With every person doing what is right in his own eyes, there is bound to be conflict, turmoil and competing visions for what life should or shouldn’t be like.

Grounds for quitting? Hardly! “What can be done,” you ask? Plenty!

Here are a few starting points that come to mind this morning:

1. Accept the fact that life will have its ups and downs, no matter how perfectly you function. You harvest what others have sown more than you harvest your own planting.
2. Never use the less-than-perfect words or actions of others as an excuse for not doing your best in every situation. Don’t let yourself off on a technicality.
3. Approach all things with equanimity. Don’t just try hard with the things you like or want to do, give 100% in everything you do.
4. Recognize blame as the sister of complaint. Neither is interested in resolution and both tend to exacerbate, rather than resolve, the problem.
5. Every time you are inclined to blame, look instead for an opportunity to step up, to assume responsibility in some new way and to generate forward momentum.
6. Lighten up. Levity, rightly used, can bring much needed perspective in areas that are weighed down by pessimism, doubt and fear.
7. Don’t dwell on what you can’t do. Emphasize what you can do!
8. Forgive yourself and others as many times as is necessary to clear the way for a new beginning.
9. Let your friendships be ordered by virtue of a mutual centering in blessing, victory, and growth. Those that don’t align with these qualities will naturally dissolve and fade away (unless you remain “Friends” on Facebook).
10. Never underestimate the bounty and resiliency of life. If you get knocked down seven times, then stand up eight.

Move forward when the time is right. Don’t miss the opportunity by wallowing in past failures, current blame or future fear.

Have a great day!