My great friend and mentor Les Brown once told me that "you either act on life or life will act on you because you cannot get out of life alive". If you don't plan your life someone will plan it for you. It may be your parents doing the planning, your spouse, your boss or worst of all your enemies.

But trust me something or someone will act on you if you don't take responsibility for your life. I was having a conversation with one of my old friends. He was telling me about his divorce and how his ex-wife had ruined his life.

After I left my associate I started to think about his comment. That woman ruined his life, and then it hit me. In actuality for someone to ruin your life, you must first of all hand your life over to them.

In the same manner not acting on your dreams is like handing your life over to someone or something else. If you don't act on your dreams life, circumstances and events will act against you forcing in into a defensive posture.

For many years I was in the reactive mode. I had to work through whatever life threw my way. I would not take the bold action to do the things required to turn my life around.

I was swayed by the flavor of the day. I was on someone else's agenda and I couldn't quite figure out why I wasn't making progress.

I finally figure out why I was getting further and further away from my dreams. And the number one was reason I was reacting to other people's plans. I was helping people who were going in the opposite direction.

As Zig Ziglar says "you can get out of life what you want if you help enough people get what they want."

But don't take action with anyone who is not travelling in the direction you wish go. Act on life and your dreams or react to life, people and circumstances.

The test of a preacher is that his congregation goes away saying, not, 'What a lovely sermon!' but 'I will do something.' by Billy Graham

About the Author

Johnny is an award winning speaker and author. As a proud member of the Les Brown Speaker's Network and the John Di Lemme Millionaire Lifestyle Club he is committed to working with people who struggle with addiction, destructive behavior or any other form of bondage that is holding them captive. http://www.justastepaway.com