Situations of being blamed or hearing negative things about oneself are obviously challenging to the ego. And in waking up that beast, they present more subtle challenges to the development of our ultimate human potential.

The moment you accept responsibility for your reactions to anything that is happening around you, you have no way back. The moment you recognize that you are the one choosing your reactions, the blame and complain game ceases to have power over you.

Somewhere down the line people came to the conclusion that we were entitled to a great life. Like we're owed it somehow. But the reality is that there is only one person responsible for how the cards fall, and that person is you.

Rather than judge ourselves for blaming -- which most of us do at times -- why not look at what the blaming is covering up and learn to lovingly manage the feelings that we are covering up and avoiding with blaming?

A common problem that married couples encounter is what I call the "blame game." By the blame game, I am referring to fights in which each spouse insists on being right and that the other is wrong.

Why do we blame ourselves and others? What is the payoff?

If you can be flexible in how you assign responsibility for the rain that falls your life, you can ride the storm out with confidence and prepare for the next bright day.

Your ideas about what is going on in another person are stories in your world of experience. The stories you are telling yourself are not facts. They are your stories.

Think of someone you feel wronged by: can you find a case against that person in your mind? What's it feel like to go into that case? What does it cost you? And others?

"You are responsible for your life." At one time or another, you've probably heard this. And although it's true on many levels, it doesn't tell the whole story.

Last week, we talked about the myth of control and how the pursuit of control prevents people from making real choices. We built on the timeless advi...