“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
responsibility
It’s Your Job
“Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands.” ~ Roy T. Bennett
Today’s Thought: Owning Up is a Sign of Strength
There’s always time. . .to own up to things you’re ashamed of, to change them. There’s always time to start. And I think the starting is the most important thing. It takes courage. It takes a lot more courage than any vain feat of arms, let me tell you. It takes a lifetime to become a fool, and only a moment to begin to become wise. ~ Peter Danielson
Owning up to things that one has done wrong, failed, or hurt someone is the foundation to the 12-step programs. It takes courage to admit one is addicted. It takes courage to admit to others when it is one’s fault. Owning up is opposite of the much of the spin we see on news shows or read in the digital media. Instead, we hear convoluted explanations, denials, and lies. Rarely do we hear, “Yes, I did it. I was wrong. Forgive me.” Admission is seen as a sign of weakness. It is not weakness, it is a display of personal strength, courage, and commitment to right the wrong.
Thinking Out Loud ~ No Whiners Need Apply
Stand Up!
James Allen in his book, “A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself.” P. 25
As a Man Thinketh is available online at gutenberg.org under the Harvard Classics.
NOTE: those of us who have raised children may have asked them when they did something wrong, “Tell me what you did.” The child may blame sibling or denied doing it. Then it is the parents work to help guide the child to take responsibility. Do you know adults who act the same way? They blame others, they blame the circumstances, but they never take responsibility for what happened and blame themselves. It is difficult to trust people who don’t take responsibility and who whine and blame others for their situation. When we take responsibility and act accordingly we grow with integrity.
A Better Life ~ We All Have a Part to Play
Whether we like or not it, people depend on us. And, we depend on them. As poet John Donne said, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” When we each play our part and commit ourselves to being responsible and doing our duty, things tend to turn out well. It all begins with those closest to us and then reaches out like ripples on a pond.
Think About It
In this digital age, nothing is hidden, it’s all out in the open for public consumption. We’re recorded on videos with and without our knowledge. Our online behavior is tracked by countless agencies. Every time we use our credit card, change channels, or make a call, someone is listening or watching. Privacy is a thing of past. We can’t run away from it, it’s ubiquitous. We accept it as part of a new order. We may not be able to change it, but we can shape, to some extent, how we deal with it. If we live our lives in a way that upholds integrity, honor, and responsibility we can walk through the morass of the lack of privacy with our heads held high.
What If taking Responsibility Were Commonplace
What if taking responsibility were commonplace? Taking responsibility is easier said than done. It’s easy to point fingers at others and say, “He/she should take responsibility.” Responsibility begins when I own it. When I take responsibility, for better or worse, for my actions or duties in relationship to myself and to others. Responsibility means I recognize what is required of me as a man/woman and act accordingly. When society values responsibility families are stronger, neighborhoods are healthier and safer, and doing what’s right triumphs over self interest.
What If . . .
What if I did the things I know I should be doing? Wow, that question demands great responsibility from me. If I do the things I’m supposed to do, the people I live with, work with, and know can count on me. When I do what I am supposed to do, no matter how unpleasant or difficult, I make a big difference in my life and in the lives of those who surround me.
A Better Life ~ Change – It’s All Up to Me
I am the only one I can change. I waste my time and cause necessary friction with others when I try to change them. I can change my attitude. i can change my behavior. I can change my habits. It’s all up to me. If I don’t change, It’s on me. Not everyone will like my changes. They’re used to the old me. If the old me isn’t working, I want to change into a new me. If other people are unhappy with the new me, that’s not my issue. I have to move on.
Something to Think About
If we’re always asking permission or seeking approval are we really free? When ask permission or make decisions based on what we believe others like, we forfeit our freedom. We end up serving many masters and never serving ourselves. There comes a time in life, where one has to assert one’s independence. Asserting our independence is a courageous act. On one side of the coin when we assert our independence we risk alienating those close to us. On the other side of the coin we act independently and take responsibility for our actions. We have to live with the consequences. We can’t lay the blame for failure on others. Are you ready to be free and no longer seek approval or permission before stepping out?
