This list is not all inclusive. One or many may have applied to all of us at one point in time, but by recognizing these 20 characteristics, you can do something about pointing your life in the direction you want to go. They're all inter-related but for the sake of argument, broken down into specifics. If you find your life is not what you want it to be, consider the following:

1. Your thinking is all wrong. When I say "wrong", I don't mean politically correct. I mean the balance of your thinking is negative or rooted in worrying about what has happened or what you think is going to happen. You fret over how events will make your life a living hell without ever stopping to think that they really don't have anything to do with your happiness. Your living hell is self induced. Make the balance of your thoughts positive.

2. Your imagination is limited. You've boxed yourself into a self image without even knowing it. You don't push the envelop and explore your potential possibilities. You feel stuck. You give up way too soon before you've given yourself a chance to succeed simply because you don't envision your greatest possibilities as a reality. Believe in your dreams.

3. You Have low self esteem. Deep down, you really don't think your worth a damn. Learn about the incredible power you have to create the life you want.

4. You don't have goals. You don't have a clue about what you want in life. Your rudderless... your ship is floundering. Put the rudder in the water and get some direction in your life. You may not know what you want but yet your responsible for what you are. Build a vision of your life.

5. You don't have an education. No education... no future, unless you like living under a bridge or in an apartment complex where the cops make it a point to cruise by every hour. Keep Learning.

6. Your not very kind. Self explanatory.

7. You don't have friends. Possibly because of number six.

8. You don't have money. Ok, this one is going to be controversial. Can money buy happiness?. On the whole... no it can't. But it can sure make life easier.... or make it suck even more... again, its all about how you decide to view life.

9. Your a negative person and complain all the time. You wreak negativity, everything you say or do is negative. No one can do anything right. Everybody else is at fault. You complain to the guy next to you in a long line.... you cuss out the red light for making you late... you get the idea. Like your mom said... if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

10. You believe and have come to expect your life to suck. You expect that events or circumstances will not work out....That life is out to get you. First of all, no its not and number two... everything, and I mean everything always works out.

11. You believe the world owes you - simply put...the world doesn't owe you jack. This is a self delusional trap guaranteed to hold you back from fully developing into a highly developed consciousness. Flip this around and give back to the world.

12. You believe life is not fair. Maybe it's not, so what. No one promised it was suppose to be fair. The sooner you realize life has nothing to do with being "fair", the sooner you can get on with creating the life you want.

13. You lack self control. This is the one trait that keeps in check those self-destructive, unacceptable behaviors. It is also the one trait that will enhance your sense of personal mastery and competency over your own life.

14. You have no discipline. Related to number thirteen. Self-discipline requires an understanding of yourself and an awareness of the ways in which you learn to deal with frustrations and difficulties.

15. You lack passion. It may not make your life totally suck, but it sure does make it better. Passion makes your days fly by. You wake up excited to work. You get more done in less time. Passion gives you a sense of empowerment. Improving this attitude affects everyone around you. They believe in you, trust you and want to support you.

16. Quit saying yes when you mean no. We hate letting others down. Many times we'll give in to a request even if we don't want to, ultimately making us feel like crap. Refusing to say no, when you really want or need to, usually ends up in damaging the relationship. You lose your self empowerment and sense of control in your life.

17. Quit fixing other people's problems. Detracts from your own well being and robs you of your peace of mind.

18. You don't take the time to smell the roses. Surrender to a moment of joy. Acknowledge and enjoy your successes.

19. You spend time and energy on things that suck. Does this one really need any explanation? I don't want to spend time and energy on this one.

20. Your not grateful. Timothy Dexter said, "An ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from." Being ungrateful can make you a miserable person to be around. It kind of sums up the previous nineteen reasons. If there is nothing else you come to understand, try to look for things to appreciate. It's the one great characteristic to connecting with who you really are.