What It Means To Take Personal Responsibility For Your Life
There is a pretty good chance you’ve heard people talking about the importance of taking responsibility for your life. Why has this become such a popular talking point? In all honesty, it’s about taking control of your life. When you take personal responsibility for your life you’re moving from victimhood to victory. That’s what life is all about.
Taking Personal Responsibility
Personal responsibility means that you become the cause, rather than the effect. Instead of reacting to what life throws at you and just accepting it, you are in control of creating your own happiness. Things stop happening to you and instead are happening for you. Taking responsibility means you have choices – you choose how you will respond to the challenges that life hands you. Instead of being a passenger in the journey, you are now firmly in the driver’s seat with the wheel in your hands.
Perhaps, most importantly, taking full personal responsibility means that your energy is changing, and it is that energy that will help transform your thoughts, emotions, words, and even your actions. You will reach the point where they act in concert to guide you through life, making the right decisions and facilitating growth.
6 Tips For Taking Responsibility
Tip #1-Thoughts, Words, Emotions, Actions
It’s difficult to take personal responsibility for your entire life if you don’t first start with thoughts, words, emotions, and actions. Remember, this is what creates the life you live, so this is the first step in taking responsibility. You need to first own your thoughts, how they make you feel, and the words that come out of your mouth because of them. It’s also you who controls your actions. Just because you blame someone for pushing your buttons doesn’t mean that you aren’t in control of your responses. No one is responsible, only you.
Tip #2-No More Blame
You blame your boss for missing out on that promotion. You blame your partner for not putting enough effort into your relationship. You blame the economy. You blame your parents. It might be someone else’s fault, but when you place blame it constantly forces you into the role of victim. This prevents you from changing the situation. So, stop blaming and start taking responsibility to change the record.
Tip #3 -No More Complaining
This is just another way to lay blame, complaining firmly casts you as the victim. It also suggests that you are prone to focusing on the negative, rather than finding the silver lining and moving forward.
Tip #4 – Don’t Take Everything Personally
We are all guilty of this – we think everything is about us, any type of disagreement is a personal attack. It isn’t. You can’t control how other people act toward you or respond to you. However, you can control your response. So, stop taking everything so personally. Stop making assumptions and start asking incisive questions.
Tip #5 – Live In The Moment
Planning for the future is good but living rooted in the past and failing to enjoy this very moment – is wrong. It’s a way to avoid responsibility, and if you want to really take control it’s time to start living in the moment. The only way you can redeem past mistakes and create the perfect future is by giving now everything you’ve got.
Tip #6 – Be Happy
Happiness is a decision and the key to unlocking its door is gratitude. Happiness isn’t external, other people can’t do it for you – only you can. So, go out of your way to do activities that bring you joy – head to the ball game, listen to your favorite band, and surround yourself with the people you love.
