Motivtion: The Power of Responsibility

One of the things I've noticed about successful people is that they have a clear understanding of the relationship between cause and effect in their lives. Successful people understand that if they want something, they have to do all the necessary things to get it.

"If I do this, then that will happen. If I don't do that, then this will happen." This important skill allows successful people to anticipate and plan for the future.

Our culture teaches the opposite of responsibility

Unfortunately, we live in a culture that teaches the opposite of responsibility. If something good happens, it's luck. If something bad happens, it's definitely someone else's fault, certainly not mine.

The belief that we are not responsible sabotages all the power that can be found in taking responsibility for our lives.

When it comes to understanding the power of responsibility, there are three main areas we need to understand. The first has to do with the concept of maturity, the second involves something I call "the ability to respond," and the third has to do with four things for which we are always responsible.

Maturity

We are born male or female. We must choose to become men and women. One of the best definitions of maturity I've ever heard is that we become a man or woman when we take responsibility for our lives. This involves taking responsibility for our attitude, choices and actions. More on this later.

Author and speaker Edwin Louis Cole offers us five characteristics of someone who is immature and/or irresponsible. See if any of these sound familiar -

demanding your own way

insensitivity to others

believe and act like you are the center of the universe

temper tantrums

unreasonable - can't be reasoned with

If you notice yourself in any of these characteristics, read on, because here come two ways to begin to take responsibility.

React vs. RespondSo What Are We Responsible for Anyway?

So what are we responsible for anyway? I'm glad you asked. In all but the most extreme of situations, we are always responsible for these four things -

Our attitude - Even in really crummy situations, we can still control our attitude. If you are stuck in traffic, you can yell and curse, honk your horn and rail against whoever built the roads. Or you can listen to music or a tape, have a conversation, or watch other people react. Either way, you're stuck in traffic.

Our choices - Each of us is given the power of choice in our lives. Yet we so often and so easily give it up. Seizing control of our choices is one powerful way to take responsibility for our lives.

Our actions - Because we have the power of choice, we have control over the actions we choose to take. I realize that what I am saying may be heresy to some in our "victim mentality" society. That doesn't make it any less true, however.

The consequences of our attitude, choices and actions - Here's the scary part. Many times we don't have control over the consequences. Once a cause is set in motion, it can be difficult or impossible to stop. We are still responsible for the consequences. That's why it's so important to take responsibility for our attitude, choices and actions.

Maturity, responding instead of reacting, and taking control of our attitude, choices and actions.

That's a prescription for accessing the power and strength of responsibility in our lives.

Visit SecretsofGreatRelationships.com for tips and tools for creating and growing a great relationship. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-program on how to enrich your relationship today, from relationship coach and expert Jeff Herring.

---

Motivation: If Today Were the Last of All Days

"If today were the last of all days........" - Marilyn ScottIn this article, I invite you to ask your self the question asked by Marilyn Scott in... Read More

Selective Perspective

Picture this: A mother and daughter are looking at the snowfall from the front widow of their home. The daughter thinks: "Great, No school tomorrow." While Mom... Read More

8 Super Ways To Avoid Procrastination

We are all guilty of delaying what needs to be done at sometime or another; so learning ways of how to avoid procrastination is beneficial to everyone.Although... Read More

Christian Gladiators? Athletics as a Metaphor for the Christian Lifestyle

When Paul first arrived in Corinth in the middle of his second missionary journey, Acts 18:2-3 reports that he joined Aquila and Priscilla in the occupation of... Read More

The Ultimate Kick-butt Motivational Lesson

How often have you struggled with yourself over the work that needs to be done? How many times have you put off performing some task or other... Read More

Recommendations for the Best Personal Growth Books

I can't stress this enough: You've got to motivate yourself in order to motivate your team. You don't motivate people, they motivate themselves (or they don't). If... Read More

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

It is not just new age hype, studies in the area of quantum physics are leading to a growing acceptance of the theory that we can control... Read More

Develop Guts to Achieve Glory

It is just amazing the amount of people who don't have the courage to go after their dreams.They sit around living a life they are not happy... Read More

The Loneliness of Personal Growth

The cream rises to the top. That means that it separates itself from the milk. Perhaps that is what the New Age Movement is really all about.... Read More

Come Alive!

As many of you know I have a passion for helping people identify their dreams and go after them. What you may not know is that (much... Read More

Making Decisions

You lost your job. Your partner left you. Your car was re-possessed. You find your life barren like the desert.Your self-esteem plunged. You don't think you are... Read More

10 Things To Do This Summer

Looking for a summer project? How about working on who you are, and what kind of life you really want to live? Here's some ideas.1. Focus on... Read More

Book Summary: If Life is a Game, These are the Rules

This #1 New York Times bestseller offers some useful and understandable advice that can be applied to many situations. The idea of life as a series of... Read More

Self-Limiting Beliefs: The Inner Enemies of Progress

What are they?Self-limiting beliefs are those things you believe about yourself that place limitations on your abilities. They may be conscious or unconscious. They may be founded... Read More

Motivation By A Challenge

Many humans are motivated by the thought of doing something they or others think they cannot do. They don't want to do what they already know they... Read More

Death by Overwork: Motivationally Speaking Its a Zero

The Japanese have a word for death by overwork: Karoshi. A recent survey said 40 percent of all Japanese workers fear that they will actually work themselves... Read More

Trust Your Intuition!

How many times have you been faced with a decision to make and all of a sudden you get this feeling of instinctively knowing what you must... Read More

Comment on Extra Ordinary Men of Our Time

Remember during the missions of Apollo. And others we knew every astronaut by name, we made them heroes. We celebrated their bravery. And they were brave too.... Read More

The Power Of Purpose

The manifestations of motiveA man is captive within himself. He dwells in a freedom which is confirmed to bounds, he breathes in an ambience ensnared to limits,... Read More

Instant Willpower

We've all heard people say "I have a system". Ever since I was a little girl and watched my mother put together a grocery list, I've known... Read More

Victorious Living

How are things going for you? Are you sitting on top of the world or at the bottom of a pile of problems? Were you born with... Read More

212 Degrees

At 211 degrees, water is pretty darn hot.But at 212, it's boiling, and making steam.Only one degree, but there is quite a difference. While hot water is... Read More

Does Your Battery Need Recharging?

A technical support person in a pager company tells the story of a customer call to the customer service center from a man who repeatedly complained he... Read More

The Conversation of Recovery - Part One

Transformational Counseling is all about assisting another human being to live a life that they love and to live it powerfully. Transformational Counseling is about creating a... Read More

Fear Emotions - Positive or Negative?

What is fear's purpose? How do you handle it? While I am working in my pest control business, I meet people on an almost daily basis who... Read More

Information Age: Knowledge is King

In our information age, having the right knowledge at the right time can make the difference between failure and success. Knowledge, gained through experience makes one an... Read More