I picked up a new-to-me Andy Andrews book this weekend entitled
The Seven Decisions: Understanding
the Keys to Personnel Success, of which the first step is to accept responsibility.
Anonymous
Writes: A Part of My Life I Don’t Talk
Much About
In a particularly dark time in my life, I had a job I hated,
a boss I hated more than the job, and money problems that to this day put a
huge knot in my stomach when I think about them. I couldn’t see a way out, and
I had lost all sense of hope that things would ever change for me. At some point during my despair and
self-victimization, I asked myself, “Why do all these terrible things keep
happening to me? What am I doing to deserve all this?”
The question answered itself. The primary cause of all my
problems was, in a way, what I was doing to myself. Whether I succeed or fail – whether I am happy or miserable – it’s very likely the
result of a decision I have made. (i.e. I had a horrible job with an
evil boss. I chose to accept the job offer. I had money problems. I chose the life of indebtedness).
The Cure: Find the nearest mirror to see the cause of
99% of your happiness or misery. When
you do this, things will began to change for the better.
Caveat of Random
Occurrences
Random bad things do happen. Unfortunately, sometimes
murderers randomly kill, hurricanes decimate cities, and planes, cars, and
trains crash. So yes – there are real-life innocent victims. It’s a real thing.
Do Not Play the
Blame Game (Quack! Quack!)
Within yourself, your personal and professional life, do not
blame others. Do not blame your parents,
spouse, boss, employees, society, or the church for your present
situation. Do not blame the weather, the
economy or the President either. (Yes, I had a relative blame her mom and dad’s
financial woes on the fall of President Obama’s stock market.) Do not let your education nor lack of one,
your genetics or circumstances affect your future in a negative way. Do
not let your history control your destiny. The buck stops with you.
Accept Responsibility
If decisions are choices and one’s thinking dictates our
decisions, then we are where we are because of our thinking. The beginning of wisdom is to accept the
responsibility for one’s own problems.
If you do not accept responsibility for where you are right now, you
have no hope of changing your future. Responsibility
is about hope and control. You can control your future.
Think Positively
Allow your thoughts to be constructive, not
destructive. Fill your mind with solutions
of the future. Do not dwell on the
problems of the past. Associate with
those striving to bring about positive change.
Do not seek comfort from those who have decided to be comfortable. Make decisions and stand by them. Do not waste time on second thoughts. Do
not let your life be an apology. Let it
be a statement. You control your
thought. You are in control of your
emotions. Do not ask, “Why me?” Ask, “Why not me.”
Hold Others
Accountable
If you are principal, teacher, bus driver, CEO, supervisor, or any person in-charge: demand that those of whom you are responsible accept responsibility. Nothing substantial will grow from denial. Problems will persist and not be resolved. The irresponsible child and/or adult cannot move
forward until they accept responsibility.
In all that you do, accept responsibility and hold others accountable, as well.
