JORGE RODRIGUES SIMAO

At some time or another every one of us harbors deeply ingrained hope that someone else will handle the difficult and important events, situations, and tasks that confront us throughout our lives. At the same time we would like the good things in life to come to us as a result of the efforts of others. This is a common phenomenon - it is also insane. Like it or not - and most human beings don't - there are few significant things that anyone will do for us in this world. Alas, reality continues to intrude into our lives and to make life difficult. You have undoubtedly noticed that the more important it is, the less chance that somebody will do it for you.

What's more, if it's extremely important, chances are virtually zero that it will get done by someone else.

Start with the premise that if you can influence someone to do anything important for you, you are setting yourself up for trouble. To avoid having to exert themselves, many aimless people in this world are more than ready to delegate the important aspects of their lives to others. If you get in the habit of relying on someone else, you will run into a serious problem the day that the person isn't around to help you. Besides, individuals who are most astute about helping you achieve something worthwhile know that the best way to help you is to insist that you do it yourself.

Leaving it up to others is inviting frustration and disappointment into your life. There are certain situations when someone may be willing to make certain decisions for you. The problem is that they may not make the right decisions. You must protect your own interests. Plain and simple, when something important needs doing, do it yourself. At least in the event things don't work out, you will have no one but yourself to blame for it.

You must blaze your own trail if you want to arrive at some important destination. As an unknown wise person concluded, "If it is to be, it is up to me." Big-time accomplishments won't just come to you without your making much of an effort. If you think you are being denied your share of the good things in life, you are going to have to do something to get them.

Most of us - above all - are committed to comfort, low risk, and stability. We don't want to work at anything important in life. On the contrary, we want all the important things in life to come without any obstacles, stress, or difficulty. When we are comfortable, we say we are "feeling no pain." Unfortunately, feeling no pain is not synonymous with any of the memorable experiences of accomplishment, satisfaction, and creative fulfillment that come from pursuing and attaining our dreams on our own.

You will attain your goals and your dreams when you are self-sufficient. It's best to take the initiative without expectations of help from anyone else. Friends and relatives have their own goals and dreams to pursue. Most people won't perform important activities for themselves, so what are the odds that they will do something important for you? You can't wait for someone else to get you the good things that this world has to offer. Take matters into your own hands and forget about help from anyone.

It's your life. You - and only you - will make significant things happen. The quality of your life may depend on a number of factors, but 95 percent of it depends on you. Ultimately the quality of your life depends on how much you are willing to put into it. A lot of important things can happen in your life - but only if you make them happen.