How taking responsibility can take you higher

“Victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan”– John F Kennedy

What Does It Mean To Take Responsibility For Your Actions? Importantly, it means acknowledging the role you play in your own life – the good bits and the bad bits.

Instead of scapegoating someone or something else for the problem, you accept that you are in charge of what is going on.

Although others might have contributed to the outcome, the fact is that you are responsible for your own actions and anything that happens within the circle of your control.

Now, what is the word for taking responsibility for your actions? It’s Accountability. If you take responsibility for your own actions, you show accountability. Stepping up and admitting it when you break something shows accountability.

Accountability is a noun that describes accepting responsibility, and it can be personal or very public. (vocabulary.com).

For example, a government has accountability for decisions and laws affecting its citizens; an individual has accountability for acts and behaviors.

Sometimes, though, taking accountability means admitting you made a mistake. Punishment may result, but accountability shows ownership and a willingness to admit mistakes.

You can’t blame others for your mistakes, and you can’t use excuses all of the time to pass the buck. You must grow up by being accountable. Nothing more, nothing less. That’s showing personal leadership! Accountability is crucial to having a good relationship with people around you, as well as with yourself.

Knowing this is key: winners are people that are self-aware about their own mistakes, they understand that it’s their choices and decisions that brought them there. Winners don’t use excuses, they find solutions.
Accepting that your actions have consequences, you can find ways to make those consequences positive.

The number one way people mess up is by telling themselves that there’s nothing they can do about the problems life gives them.

The fact is that you can always do something about the problems life gives you. Face it head-on by waking up from your deep slumber.

When you decide that there’s nothing you can do to solve a problem, you immediately limit your possible reactions to distractions. And if you limit your responses to distractions enough, pretty soon you will build a life that is made up of nothing but habits of distractions. You’ll be running away from everything, and everyone, all the time. And you’ll probably turn into a grade-A selfish prick at that.

Two things to note: first, accepting responsibility means you know that you’re not perfect. So, no matter how foolproof our plans are.. mistake does happen. Just admit the mistake and start remediation of the error. Secondly, get all you can get to remediate the error and ensure it never rears its head again in your journey.

So, stepping up and taking responsibility for what’s going on in your life is one of the most important things you will ever do – and one of the best.

When you own what’s happening in your life, you can really start to shape your future.

According to “A Conscious Rethink”, ways to start taking responsibility include stop blaming others, cease giving excuses, stop bemoaning your situation (you’re not in control of everything in life), know what you really want in life, and ensure you follow through on promises and commitments (let your YES be YES and your NO be NO).

Others are: forgiving yourself when things go wrong (because they will go wrong), and taking action because only action takers win, not thinkers.

Break and deal with your bad habits (note that it’s a mindset that you create and strengthen through repeated execution), identify those areas or life triggers responsible for your denial, recognise your choices (although Identifying bad choices you have made is not an easy thing to do. No one wants to admit that there was a better option they did not take).

Lastly, put it down on paper or on your PC. Always journal to know the part you played, and what went well and otherwise. Such constructive feedback will help you to become more responsible for your actions and seek help as necessary.

Why is accepting responsibility very important in your life? First, accepting responsibility helps you grow to become a confident individual who has no regret, shame, or guilt about decisions you’ve taken.

Secondly, when you accept responsibility, it is important to your mental health as it lifts the weight off your mind and shoulders.

Thirdly, acceptance of responsibility means you are willing to fix the mistakes on the ground as it is an opportunity to correct what went wrong. Fourthly, accepting responsibility can help you connect with others, i.e. building great relationships.

Fifthly, accepting responsibility can help you grow in your career and profession.

Sixthly, accepting responsibility can help you to be a good friend.

Others are: Accepting responsibility help others feel better, can be rewarding, allows you to be the author of your own life while taking responsibility makes you a better person.

Conclusively, if you accept responsibility in this life, it will surely make you become a better person, and have peace of mind.

AND MY THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Taking responsibility is essential because it allows you to accept your flaws and work upon them promptly.

If you don’t take responsibility and engage in blame games, you miss the opportunity for learning and improvement.

Shalom.

© Dr. Oyewole Sarumi
Coach. Trainer. Speaker

TCN@LIFE-LEADERS COACH