The Buck Stops Here

By , SparkPeople Blogger
''The buck stops here'': many of us have heard this phrase in our lifetime. It basically means that YOU assume responsibility for your actions.

President Truman was known to make reference to this phrase from time to time. At the National War College on December 19, 1952, Mr. Truman said, ''You know, it's easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done after the game is over. But when the decision is up before you--and on my desk I have a motto which says, ''The buck stops here''--the decision has to be made.''

The decision has to be made, but have you really made the decision?  The decision to take your life back?  The decision to stop passing the buck to somebody else or some circumstance and take ownership of that decision?

Sometimes, as we move through life, we tend to pass the buck in order to make it easier on us, right?  There are times in our work lives that we pass the buck to our co-workers.  Other times, maybe we pass the buck to our spouse for whatever reason.  Why do we do that? When a decision has to be made, make it and go forward with that decision. The buck stops here, with you!

As we relate this phrase to our health journey, it’s time for many of us to ''own'' the situation and stop passing the buck to the next guy.  I have had many conversations with others on this journey about this topic.  Sometimes as we move along on our healthy living journeys, we get stuck in the past.  I’m sure you’ve set a goal and you’re working toward that goal.  Do you ever find yourself blaming your genetics for being overweight?  (''My whole family is overweight, so that’s just how I grew up.'')  Maybe it’s a circumstance that you’re stuck on that is holding you back.  (''I can’t find the time to work out,'' or ''I don’t know how to cook, so I eat my meals out.'')  Maybe your spouse doesn’t support the journey.  Whatever it might be, I want to suggest that you accept responsibility for where you are now and move forward.  Untangle yourself from that past and look to the future. You must forgive yourself for allowing life's circumstances to control you so you can be set free.  The buck stops here!

Let’s talk about decisions for a moment. The assumption is that you have made the decision to do what it takes to take your life back. What got you to the point of having to be on this journey in the first place?  You probably guessed it: decisions.  We’ve all made decisions in the past that got us where we are or where we were at the beginning of the journey.  We probably made poor decisions regarding nutrition, circumstances, emotions and any other host of examples.  Sometimes we get hung up on the obvious and need a third party to tell us that we are where we are due to decisions we’ve made!  I want to suggest that you change the way you think.  Will this be an overnight process?  For some, it will take longer.  Changing the way you think is where this journey starts.  It’s your journey, and you own it.  The buck stops here.

The self-destructive mindset must go—it's time to make a change. I challenge you to look for the positive in all situations; look for the constructive rather than the destructive.  You deserve the absolute best life.  Being constructive is the best way to build that life.  Look toward the future with an insightful eye, looking for solutions to any issue that comes your way.  I challenge you to stop passing the buck and to face life head on. The buck stops here!

Do you accept responsibility for your past?

Do you accept responsibility for your success?

Do you control your thoughts?

Do you control your emotions?

Does the BUCK STOP HERE?