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Choice of companions. You can blame and resent others when they repeatedly hurt or disappoint you. You can feel sorry for yourself. Or you can recognize your responsibility for choosing with whom you spend time... and make different choices.
Actions in response to feelings and emotions. When you're angry, you have
urge to lash out. When you're hurt, you may feel like sulking. When you're impatient, you may want to drive too fast. But you don't have to act on every feeling or urge. When you accept responsibility for actions you take, you act more thoughtfully... less impulsively... and with better results.
Happiness. If you believe your happiness is primarily in your own hands, you give yourself enormous power. You don't wait for events or other people to make you happy. If something is wrong, your response is not, "Someone's got to do something!" but "What can I do?"
One's own life and well being. In taking responsibility for your life, you will recognize other people's rights to do same. Other people do not exist as means to your ends, any more than you live in service to their goals. People may choose to help me another -- voluntarily. Life is usually more pleasant when they do so. But no one is born with a right to other people's assets or energy -- despite attitude of entitlement that is so prevalent today.
Learning self-responsibility. You can become more responsible by asking yourself two powerful questions several times a day...
What possibilities for action exist?
What can I do? Instead of just saying, "I want...," try asking yourself, "What am I willing to do to get what I want?" To become more aware of whether you are acting responsibly, ask yourself, If I wanted to be fully self-responsible right now, what would I be doing?
Try this exercise: Every morning for one week, write six to 10 endings to each of following sentences...
If I operate a little more self-responsibly today, I will...
If I am 5% more self-responsible in my relationships, I will...
If I accept responsibility for my choices and decisions, I will... Don't worry about what you should say. Just write first words that come to mind. Over weekend, reread week's sentences. Then write six to 10 endings for this sentence...
If any of what I wrote this week is true, it might be helpful if I... Done consistently, this exercise helps to shift your mental focus. Changes are often quick -- and dramatic.
Dr. Nathaniel Branden Phd, is the author of over 20 books, including "The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem" & "The Art of Living Consciously. Click here for more information about Dr. Nathaniel Branden
