By Martin Jimmink

Understanding the meaning of these words was a turning point in my life. I realised that there was a line of life. People operating below the line are using blame, excuses and denial in their lives. They go into “victim” mode saying things like “Why does this always happen to me” and “If only I was X” or “If only Y happened?” People using this life strategy let things happen to them.

On the other hand, people operating above the line are living their lives with complete ownership, accountability and responsibility. They make things happen. They are in complete control.

Before I understood this I was very reactive in my life. I thought life just happened to me – that I wasn’t in control.

I was in denial of my possibility as a human being. I had set up all this stuff that was “below the line”. One of them was my relationship with money which I used as an excuse that I didn’t have to perform. I was also a smoker and my attitude to that was, “If something happens it happens, if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen”. Even the relationships I had in my life were based on being a victim.

Now I recognise that everything around me is a reflection of how I live life … my computer, my phone, my money, my relationships and more.

What I also got was that when I was operating ‘below the line’ I was feeling zapped of energy every day and above the line I was feeling energised all the time. There was a clear distinction between the two.

Now I take complete ownership of my life. I am co-creator of where I want my life to go.

I recognised how I want to play life and it became my mission to make other people aware of the fact that they were ‘below the line’. I suppose, I became an expert at helping people live an ‘above the line’ life.

Living a ‘below the line’ or victim/blame based strategy often stems from how we relate to time in our decision making processes.

Let me explain …

Grab a pencil and draw three circles next to each other. Inside the one on the left write “past”, the one in the middle “present” and the one on the right “future”.

Before changing my life I always operated in a past/present loop. In other words, I was making decisions based on past behaviours or things that happened in the past.

Most people do that from time to time. When we have been hurt by something that happened when we were really young and now as adults we keep making the same decisions that we did as a hurt child all those years ago.

Life only takes place in the now. When people can forget their past and remember that there is only “now” and “now” and “now” and “now” their lives completely transform. Mine did and so have my clients’ lives.

Now I only operate in a present/future loop and choose to live my life being abundant and inspirational helping clients tap into their own greatness.

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Martin Jimmink is an executive coach operating in South East Queensland and New Zealand. He is offering an Emotional and Business Health Check (worth $395) free to InspirationalEveryday.com eletter subscribers. Just send an email to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it