When things go wrong, as they definitely do from time to time, why are so many of us so quick to point the finger and blame other people or circumstances for our failures or shortcomings? There’s a real easy answer: because it’s the EASY thing to do. Rather than taking the hit and accepting the blame, it’s sometimes much more convenient to toss the blame in every direction but ours. While it may be easy, does that make it right? No, it doesn’t.

One of the hardest things we’ll ever have to master in order to reap the riches life has in store for us is to openly accept personal responsibility for our actions — and our mistakes as well. While owning up to our mistakes sometimes hurt and can in fact prove very embarrassing on occasion, it is something we must learn to do if we’re ever going to realize our fondest dreams.

Hey, let’s face it; pointing the finger at others is never going to right any wrong, is it? No way. And can pointing the finger actually make our situation any better? Not really. Oh sure, laying the blame elsewhere may help us can feel better about ourselves in the short run, but sooner or later we eventually end up paying and paying dearly for tossing the blame on those around us.

If you have ever had someone else blame you for something that wasn’t your fault, you know full well how badly that person hurt you by laying the blame at your doorstep. More than likely you felt betrayed and quite likely lost a good deal of respect for that individual’s lack of character. So how do you think people feel about you when you casually toss blame around like a Frisbee in the park?

The unique individual that can stand up and accept responsibility is an increasingly rare sight these days. Instead of ducking for cover or heaping blame on everyone else in sight, this type of winner looks to garner something positive from his or her setbacks and mistakes. Hey, like it or not, we’re all going to mess things up now and again, making our fair share of blunders and goof ups along the way. But so what?

If you’re going to play the game of life at full throttle, the way it was meant to be played, you’re going to hit a ball out of bounds every once in a while. But that’s no big deal as long as you do not compound the problem by laying the blame at the feet of a friend, coworker or acquaintance.

It’s been said that if you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn't sit for a month. Now isn't that the truth? When you finally stop blaming and start accepting responsibility for where you are in life and for the direction you’re headed, you will begin discovering more and more doors of opportunity being opened right before your eyes.

Accepting the blame is just a part of the game of growing and getting better. If you don’t like where you are in life, don’t sit around moaning and groaning about the rotten hand you have been dealt. Instead of whining about what’s wrong, why not look for what’s right? Instead of looking for someone to blame, why not grab the ball and run with it and make the most of every minute you’ve been blessed with?

And for goodness sake, you’ve got to stop blaming others for your lot in life. Playing the blame game is a needless waste of energy, time and focus that could be more efficiently directed at making your life better. Maybe even a whole lot better.

If you are unhappy with your life, don’t look for something to blame but instead get busy and make some super charged changes right now. If you don’t like the life you’re presently living, don’t make excuses and crawl back into your hole, get off your duff and make some super sensational changes today.

By accepting personal responsibility for your actions — as well as your mistakes — you loudly and clearly put the rest of the world on notice that the buck stops here. If you are looking to acquire one of the sure fire traits of a full fledged winner, then look no further than your propensity for accepting full responsibility for your actions.

Isn't it about time that you got in the game? Instead of wasting your precious time looking for scapegoats and making up excuses, why not embrace the setbacks that accompanying the exciting life changing challenges you’re sure to encounter? Will it be easy? Probably not at first, but you'll quickly get in the swing of things. Will this new outlook prove rewarding? You'd better believe it! When you start viewing any and all setbacks as little more than stepping stones on your trip to the top, you will have uncorked all the power you will ever need to make your life everything you have ever imagined it could be… and more.

The Bottom Line: When you stop playing the blame game, you’ll start experiencing explosive growth in all areas of your personal development.