One key to creating a better life is to choose what you want to feel, and for how long you want to feel it.

This means taking responsibility for what you feel. No more “He made me so mad” or “Don’t make me regret this.”

The first time someone explained this to me was a revelation. I’ve forgotten this many times over the years and, thankfully, come back to it many times.

I find that as I’ve become older, it’s become clearer and easier to remember and implement. And the thing that impressed me most the first time was this realization … why on earth would you want to give someone else that much power over you and your emotions?

Being fully responsible for everything you feel isn’t an easy task. But it is well worth it in terms of control and contentment. And let’s face it, the more you perceive you have control over your life, the happier you will be.