JANUARY 2007

You Are Responsible 

Recently I read this in one book.

Perhaps the most important personal choice you can make is to accept complete responsibility for everything you are and everything you will ever be. This is the great turning point in life.

The acceptance of personal responsibility is what separates the superior person from the average person. Personal responsibility is the pre-eminent trait of leadership and the wellspring of high performance in every person, in every situation.

The acceptance of complete responsibility for your life means that you refuse to make excuses or to blame others for anything in your life that you’re not happy about. You refuse, from this moment forward, to criticize others for any reason. You refuse to complain about your situation, or about what has happened in the past. You eliminate all your “if only’s” and “what if’s” and focus instead on what you really want and where you are going.

This decision of yours, to accept complete responsibility for yourself, your life and your results, with no excuses, is absolutely essential if you truly want to succeed. From now on, no matter what happens, say to yourself, "I am responsible." If you are not happy with any part of your life, say, “I am responsible” and get busy changing it. If something goes wrong, accept responsibility and begin looking for a solution. If you are not happy with your current income, accept responsibility and begin doing those things that are necessary for you to increase it.

The acceptance of personal responsibility lies at the core of the personality of every outstanding man or woman. On the other hand, when you make excuses, blame other people, complain or criticize, you give your power away. You weaken yourself and your resolve. You turn over control of your emotions to the people and situations you are blaming or complaining about. You do not escape responsibility by attempting to pass it off onto other people. You are still responsible. But you give up a sense of control over your life. You begin to feel like a victim and see yourself as a victim. You become passive and resigned rather than powerful and proactive. This way of thinking leads you up a blind alley, from which there is no escape. It is a dead end road on which you should refuse to travel.

When you accept complete responsibility for your life, you refuse to make excuses. Instead, you make progress.