The "Not My Fault" Game

The “Not My Fault Game” happens when you pretend you don’t have control over your own affairs. It often sounds like this, “You didn’t wake me up on time!” “You didn’t pack the toothpaste!” “You didn’t remind me that your crazy family was visiting this weekend.”

Here’s another example:

You look outside and say to yourself, “Hmm, it sure does look like rain.” But you don’t trust your instincts so you switch on The Weather Channel, but The Weather Channel is too busy playing scary music and pondering what would happen if a hurricane hit Kansas that they don’t mention your local forecast. At all.

So even though you think it looks like rain, you don’t “burden” yourself with an umbrella because the TV didn’t tell you to. Then, when you get drenched in a torrential downpour you’re mad at the weather person. You blame The Weather Channel because you were too lazy to think for yourself and take an umbrella on a day when it looks like it’s going to rain!

People, keep track of your own schedule. Balance your bankbook. Grab an umbrella. Follow your instincts and stop sloughing your responsibility onto other people. Step up to the plate and think for yourself.

Toilet Paper People

There are some folks who always have toilet paper in the house, and then there are those who are completely baffled when the roll runs out and they suddenly find themselves using bits of the Crate and Barrel catalogs to finish up business.

Based on my extensive experience with people of all walks of life I can pretty much make this snap judgment:

People who

A) live alone

and who

B) always run out of toilet paper

are also people who

C) forget to buy pet food, pay bills in a timely fashion and stuff their faces with junk food and chew with their mouths open.

I prefer to work with people who are prepared and aware, but usually I end up working with “Dude, what happened to the toilet paper?” types.

You know who you are. And you know you need to fix yourself so that you can become a marginally functioning person – they rest of us in this country can’t carry you forever.

So step up, grow up, and sign up for a Sandra O’Day workshop.

You can spend two intense days alone with me in my New York City studios – or you can sign up for a five week workshop at my retreat O’Day Camp.

Either way, you need to do something. People are starting to talk and it’s time you know what they’re saying.

I’ll tell you what they’re saying, and I’ll help you change it.

www.sandraoday.com