I’m reminded today that responsibility is really just response-ability.

Problems will rise up. Inconveniences will happen. You and I can’t control much around us, but we can control our response to those things. So here’s a trick.

When something goes wrong, ask yourself ‘how much of this am I willing to take responsibility for?’ 50% of it? 80%? ?

Because when you take responsibility, you have response ability. It may not be your FAULT, but it can be within your ABILITY to change it. But ONLY if you have response-ability.

For example, say I lose my job this year. It’s a tough time and things are terrible. So, how much response-ability am I going to take to change the outcome. Again, I’m not taking fault or blame… I’m only deciding not to see myself as a victim and take 100% response-ability in the outcome. I can simply decide that I have the ability to respond in the best possible way. I have the response-ability going forward to learn and grow and change the outcome of an otherwise terrible situation.

If I can do that, I am no longer a victim.

Here’s the downside: If I don’t take response-ability, I don’t have any power to change my situation or solve the problem. I’m at the mercy of another person, another company, another entity that doesn’t have my best interests in mind. And why would I do that?? Why would I give control of my one-and-only life to someone or something that doesn’t have my best future at the top of their priority list?

My encouragement to you is this: when life comes at you, when problems come (because they will), hold on to faith and hope. And take 100% response-ability to adapt and overcome. To learn. To grow. To serve. Make it your mantra to respond to struggle with the words, “I have 100% response ability in this situation.”

It could just change the trajectory of your life.

#impactivist#tgim#thankgoditsmonday