Enemy or Friend?

Most of last year I had a sign with the following quote posted over my desk:

You will always be your own worst enemy in every aspect of your life. It's never circumstances, lack of time, or other people, or the government, or the economy, or your parents. When you put external reasons in control of the realization of your dreams, you put those dreams further out of reach. That's a lousy way to live.

Only you are responsible for your success. And only you can allow someone or something to stop you.

~ Peter Bowerman, The Well-Fed Writer

I pulled it down last week. Not because I don't believe it anymore. I think it's spot on.

I pulled it down because I kept dwelling on it, and instead of feeling super-charged and driven, as I did when I first put it up, I was spending a lot of time scolding myself. I was feeling enormous responsibility for what I have failed to do up to this point in my life, rather than acknowledging all that I have done successfully. I was focusing on negative energy rather than positive.

I don't want to be my own worst enemy in life; I want to be my own best friend. I want a sign over my desk that makes me feel good about what I have accomplished, rather than bad about what I have not.

No offense to Mr. Bowerman (whose book is fantastic, by the way, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to make a living writing), but I've worked on revising the quote so that it lifts me rather than brings me down.

I'm thinking something like this:

You will always be your own best friend in every aspect of your life. You have the power to change your circumstances, make the time, and do it no matter what other people say or think. You will realize your dreams. That's the only way to live. You are responsible for defining success for yourself. No person or thing can define it for you, or stop you from achieving it.