We are continuously assaulted, not only by the noise and activity of the world around us, but also by the constant rant of our own minds.

The state of the world reflects the state of our mind, so how each of us chooses to live as individuals ultimately affects what we, as a society become.

When we are conscious enough to notice that our attitude or behavior is destructive, we have the ability to change.

Expanding our scope of consciousness to include a broader perspective than just living for the purpose of instant gratification or external validation will enhance and inspire the way that we live and work.

It also has the power to change the world.

Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now, contends that we are presently involved in a profound transformation of consciousness. Theologians say that at the heart of our unrest is a desire to know the meaning of life.

Psychologists whittle that down to a desire to at least know the meaning of our own personal existence. But it is highly unlikely that life’s purpose will be revealed in a divine vision while you are surfing the net.

It seems that as people become more secure and affluent, the quest for personal fulfillment is played out in a myriad of distorted forms, ranging from extreme sports to the relatively new pattern of having multiple partners.

Dissatisfaction, however, is pervasive. Therein lies hope.

Until we hold ourselves accountable for our own actions, feelings and attitudes, our lives will feel out of control.  It is easy, and even “normal,” to blame other people and events for the way you feel.

We often hear declarations such as, “You make me mad,” or “She drives me crazy.” It is less common to take responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings and even your actions and more common to attribute your dissatisfaction to a situation or someone else’s behavior.

Do you make a habit of excusing inappropriate behavior, whether yours or someone that you love? Are you a victim of an inappropriate system for coping?

It is true that you may not choose each and every situation in which you find yourself, but you can choose how to respond to those situations. The behavioral responses we choose depend upon the way that each of us chooses to think.

Inspire yourself to take responsibility for your own life. Become more aware of what you think, do and say.  Be more conscious of how you respond in any given moment.

Realize that your purpose is not really something to be identified, understood, found or even achieved; but simply lived every day.  And remember that what you choose to do as an individual ultimately affects what we, as a society, become.

Self-Counseling VIDEO

Sunny Massad, Ph.D. is the Founder and President of the Hawaii Wellness Institute and author of UnTherapy: A Positive Psychology for Enlightened Living.