Accountability For The TakingBy D Anthony, New Destiny Life Coaching, June 2003
A co-worker reluctantly delivered a message to me. In a semi-joking manner she complained that while she understood I was busy with a company critical project, it didn't mean that we (the caller and myself) could make her my personal secretary. She delivered the message and laughingly headed back to her desk. Thinking about the interaction, it struck me that, although brief, this simple scenario was a microcosm of the erosion of what once was two of the most prevalent critical resources our society had to offer - personal responsibility and self determination. In reality, while neither the caller nor I had made the decision to answer the phone, take the message, and make the trip to deliver it - somehow we were to blame for both the process and results. Sometimes I wonder where I was the day taking responsibility for your actions lost relevance. Am I, as it sometimes feels, simply one of an ever shrinking contingent of misdirected souls who continued to reject the otherwise seemingly nationally accepted precept that 'responsibility is the responsibility of everybody except me'? Think about it... Virtually whenever, from casual conversations to the afternoon talk shows, there is a problem in someone's life - somebody or something else is typically blamed. Whichever the named culprit, whether it's parental shortcomings, insufficient time, absence of opportunity, gender, physical constraint, color of skin, financial status, age, educational limitations or other - the stage is set for a cycle of excuses to begin. Excuses, over time, produce a psychological zone of comfort, inducing the individual to willingly accept otherwise undesirable outcomes and circumstances. Uncomfortable realities such as inadequate effort, lack of passion and commitment, fear and avoidance can be readily discarded because better simply wasn't possible. While creating an immediate coping mechanism, a sedative of sorts, it is accompanied by the far greater side effects of muted spirit, passive acceptance, diminished expectations and complacency. Each new accepted excuse offers further confirmation to the sub consciousness that self-determination is an unattainable concept - that in the chessboard of life you are merely a pawn. A recent news report addressed a man who had simultaneously proposed to numerous women. The women hadn't actually met the man - as each courtship and proposal had been via the Internet. One woman suggested the Serviceman should be Court Marshaled for his actions. Watching the report, I couldn't help wondering what percentage of the jilted fiancés recognized their shared accountability. After all, adult women, accepting an Internet proposal for marriage to someone they've never met - would seem ill-advised to say the least. Thus, isn't being shocked and even feeling victimized, over a false Internet proposal somewhat akin to be surprised about being mugged during a 3 AM jog alone in the park. Whether we appreciate it or not, ultimately we are all accountable for the decisions made, and circumstances in which we place ourselves. Once we begin to reject the excuses and accept accountability for our actions we begin to empower ourselves to find solutions and alternatives... we begin to lay the foundation for the adoption of an enhanced, positive, motivating message to our subconscious. And, as our actions are certainly within our sphere of control, accepting accountability for our circumstances lays the foundation for maximizing our capability to improve each situation - and thus our lives overall. During a business trip I came across a hotel cable TV offering, a motivational speech by W. Mitchell. In spite of traumatic events experienced, including massive burns sustained in a motorcycle accident, excruciating pain, major life-saving/body-altering surgeries, not to mention a subsequent partially paralyzing plane crash - bound to a wheelchair, his message was a simple one. His message was not only the basis for overcoming seemingly more than his fair share of tragedies, but also for fostering an empowering, 'get up and do something about it' attitude within himself. The simple message, which he wanted to help the listening audience understand, was... It's not what happens to you, it's what you do about it that matters. Given the philosophy's effectiveness against such overwhelming circumstances in W. Mitchell's life, imagine the potential influence in the daily trials and tribulations of our lives. Ultimately we simply need to realize, once we eliminate the excuses and embrace accountability, the choice is always ours. Or, more plainly stated... While we may not be able to control whether it rains, we can control whether we choose to bring an umbrella - thus altering the probability of whether wet clothes are in our immediate future. In the end, the choice is always mine and yours...
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
Core Life Coaching Program: Empowered Living About Us Topics | Coaching Topics | Services Topics | Resources Topics | Life Coaching Progams
Like Us On Facebook To Get Free Uplifting Insight, Inspiration & Advice © 2011 - New Destiny Life Coaching, (www.NewDestinyLifeCoaching.com), All Rights Reserved
|
