Personal Responsibility

Okay this is a touchy subject but I'm going to so tell on myself on this one. What ever happened to personal responsibility? We know that we have control over our thoughts, our lives, out attitudes, yet we still look for things or people to blame. Let me tell you, there is definitely many things out there you can find to blame but how about turning that finger around at yourself and get right down to the root of the problem, YOU!!.

When circumstances happen in life who decides how to react to them? You do. Who decides how to perceive those circumstances? You do. See a pattern here? It boils down to you and only you. Take a good look in the mirror. If you're not happy who's fault is it? Yours! Don't think so, then who will change it? Don't worry I'll wait....... Yep you're right again - YOU DO!

I do this to. Its so hard sometimes because we caught up in the moment or we get caught up in the rapid thoughts running through our minds, and then our emotions starting getting out of control. Then after you calm down you say to yourself what was I thinking. How could I be so stupid? I don't know what came over me. Sure you do, you were thinking about it while you were doing it but your attitude at that time was "I don't care" so you acted irrationally and now you come to this point where you feel bad about it.

I know this is hard to think about. Nobody wants to think that everything that happens to them is their own fault. But just try to contemplate this for a second. Who makes the choices to our you interact with the people in your life? Who is the one that is thinking on decisions before you make them and instead of logic, you act emotionally and then feel bad afterward?

Lets talk about a few examples. Is it your spouses fault that you cheated because you don't think they pay attention to you? Or could it be that you're upset and inside you could "get back" at them or "show them" so you cheat? Then you get caught up in the lies and cover up. Who's doing that? Certainly not your spouse.

How about deciding on taking a job? Is it you that makes that decision? So is it your bosses fault you're not happy? You made a commitment to them to do your job and they made a commitment to pay you for it. So can they say because they are not happy today so they don't want to pay you? No, so just the same, if you are having a bad day does that mean you don't hold up your end of the bargain? Again the answer is no.

So as we think about these couple of examples can you start to see a pattern of WHO makes the decisions? Its really simple, take personal responsibility for your actions, thoughts, attitudes, and every decision you make in life. When you start to grasp this topic, and really take it to heart, your eyes will open. And OPEN WIDE they will.

You begin to see things in a different light, a paradigm shift if you will. You will begin to appreciate life more because you will grasp the fact that you control your life. Circumstances don't control you because you are the ultimate judge of the circumstance. What someone else may feel about it doesn't matter. Its nothing until YOU call it what it is.

Remember this the next time you're faced with a decision or circumstance. Be cognizant of your feelings at that moment. Be aware that you are contemplating what decision to make and what the pros and cons are of each. Try to disconnect your feelings from the topic and review subjectively. Then with a clear mind make a decision knowing that you fully take ownership. If you screw up so what, everybody does.

I screw up so bad sometimes that I hate myself for a minute but I begin to realize my negative behavior, and then begin looking and analyzing the situation searching for the lesson that's buried in it. I'm very positive yet I have so much happen to me its ridiculous. The important part is that after the initial shock I actually invite the situation and embrace it. This is because I know that I'll learn something from it and in the end I'll be stronger because of it.

Problems begin to not seem like problems, they seem to be just another item on the to do list. Over time you gain strength, power, energy, and wisdom. You really do have control you just have to know and believe you do. Once this happens, watch out, you'll be energized just by the thought of it.

Copyright © 2008 by Dustin Swigart