It is very easy to blame our failures on external circumstances. For most of us we always tend to take the easy route of placing the responsibility for something going wrong on other people, situations or external factors. In fact it is human nature to point the finger. Oh yes, we are all self exalting, never accepting that we can go wrong. Whether we aware of it or not, each one of us has an ego, and it is this ego which leads us to finger pointing behaviour.

However, there is no power in playing victim. Such behaviour always renders power to some external force. We lose the power inherent in us and become hostages to our ego. What is needed is higher level of consciousness and the knowledge that we are spiritual beings whose capabilities are immense.

In his book, the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey draws attention to the fact that between stimulus and response there is ALWAYS a choice. Whatever circumstances we may face, what other people may do to us, we still have the choice to decide how to respond to that. In trying times we can choose whether to overcome or to crumble. It is a choice available to all of us and we all know of people who have been thrown in difficult situations and came out stronger.

Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years and despite the tough circumstances, Mr Mandela came out to inspire all of us. Instead of crumbling, he came out a leader and the legacy of his courage and resilience will continue to be an inspiration today and for future generations to come. Clearly, Mr Mandela was aware of his power to choose his actions and responses, and as a result he was able to make conscious decisions and rise above the difficulties he faced.

However, many of us have fallen trap to what is known as the ‘‘Pavlovian'' behaviour of simply reacting to situations and events without being aware of it. Through social conditioning, we don't even question our actions. If someone says ‘horrible' things to us, we automatically get angry. But truthfully speaking, we have the choice whether to get angry or not. We have given up on our power of choice and just take things as given. Without even questioning, we take part in this herd behaviour of reaction. In other words, we are asleep and not awake to the power within us.

In the Wealth Within Ebook which I have written you will find some powerful principles to help you wake up to the power within you. We all have this power, the only difference between successful people and the unsuccessful is that the successful know of this power, and the others dont.

Hence the saying, ‘Knowledge is power'. You can find more about this book from www.ecanhappen.com We have a choice to use our power of choice. We can begin in any moment to adopt a proactive approach of questioning our actions, and making conscious decisions. By so doing we break free from being a hostage to the ego. Our inner being will guide us and this is the inside out approach, where all life's battles are fought within. "Life's battles are won in the mind."