Written by Dr Allen Lycka, Author, Speaker & Mentor
Dr Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity.
There were two brothers, born into the same home and raised by the same father. But their lives, as different as night and day, serve as a powerful reminder of one truth we all must face: you are the creator of your life. Their father was a criminal, a man plagued by alcohol addiction, a thief, and an abuser of both his wife and children. He terrorized their family, and from a very young age, the brothers witnessed unspeakable things. Despite the darkness that surrounded them, they were both given the same choice just as we all are: to decide how they would respond to their circumstances.
Their father was eventually arrested. Many years later, a reporter sought to uncover the fate of the two boys. He found the first brother behind bars. This brother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was serving time for theft.
The reporter asked him, “Why did you end up like this?”
The brother’s response was simple but telling: “With a father like mine, what did you expect?”
Undeterred, the reporter continued his search for the second brother. This time, he found something unexpected. The second brother was living a completely different life; he was happily married, had children, had a successful career, and had a beautiful home.
The reporter asked again, “Why did you turn out like this?”
The second brother’s answer was identical to his twin’s: “With a father like mine, what did you expect?”
But here's the twist: the key to understanding the power of this story lies in this: both brothers were exposed to the same abuse, the same trauma, the same horrific circumstances. Yet one chose to blame his father for his failures, while the other chose to rise above the past and take full responsibility for his future.
The first brother played the role of the victim. He believed that his father’s actions determined his fate. As a result, he continued the cycle of addiction and crime. The second brother, on the other hand, decided that no matter what had happened to him, he was in charge of his destiny. He made a conscious choice to create a different life, one that was not defined by the past.
This is the truth we all must understand: you are not a victim of your circumstances. Whatever happened to you in the past does not have to define who you become.
Right now, you have the power to decide. You can choose to blame your past, your parents, your upbringing, or your circumstances, or you can choose to take full responsibility for your life and create a new future.
The difference between these two brothers is the same difference that exists between a life of excuses and a life of extraordinary results.
So, ask yourself: who do you want to be?
The power to change your life is in your hands. It’s time to take full responsibility for who you are, where you are, and where you’re going.
You cannot change the past, but the future is 100% yours.
The choice is yours.
Dr Allen Lycka, Author, Speaker & Mentor
Dr Allen Lycka is acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world. In 2003, Dr. Lycka was diagnosed with ALS and given six months to live. After fighting the diagnosis, he is here today as a result of his courage and tenacity. Having been given a “golden ticket” Dr. Lycka used his experience to co-author the books The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life with Harriet Tinka, Pillars of Success with number 1 New York Times Best Selling Author Jack Canfield and bLU volume 1 with Corey Poirier. He is the host and executive director of How To Live a Fantastic Life show with 4 million listeners per episode. He is a sought-after speaker.
