Take something into your own hands
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Personal Initiative
The phrase often suggests action due to dissatisfaction with others' efforts. 
The community took the park's clean-up into their own hands.
Pro Tip 2/3Empowerment
Using the phrase can convey a feeling of empowerment from making one's own choices. 
To improve the neighborhood, they took the initiative into their own hands.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Criticism
It implies criticism of others' actions or inactions in a given situation. 
Unhappy with the service, she took the complaint process into her own hands.