Thursday, February 12, 2009

Be Responsible

Taking responsibility, Being Responsible, responsibility -- we have all heard these words very often in our life. And we use them quite liberally too. But, how many of us are actually doing it?

If you are thinking that doing your job properly makes you responsible -- then you are wrong. Politicians who claim to take moral responsibility for accidents and tragedies are simply faking it. No one take responsibility of other people's actions. And this is precisely the problem of 95% men/women/children.We equate responsibility with care, effectiveness and efficiency.

We as a society has been taught to take responsibility for everything except ourselves. But we do not take responsibility of our own actions and emotions. Everything is blamed on someone else or something else. For us, the government, the politicians, the rich, the bosses, the neighbours, the in-laws, the spouses, the kids -- everyone is to blame but our own selves.

Why is it so hard to look for shortcomings and faults in ourselves? We all know we are not perfect -- but still we all struggle to accept our faults. No wonder the, without acceptance, there is no way we can move forward to correct them. And when we learn to look at our own shortcomings and try to improve upon them -- we are being responsible.Let us look at some tips on how we can be responsible to ourselves --

1. first of all, acknowledge the fact that you are not perfect. And you can make mistakes. And there is nothing wrong in making mistakes -- but it is wrong not to own them up.

2. When confronted with a conflict, think about your own role before analyzing others. Most of the time you will find, that you could have done things differently.

3. Do not blame others for your problems. Look for solutions. Blaming others will not solve the problem.

4. Take action to improve things you are not happy with. Do not expect others to do it for you.

5. Fulfill your promises to yourself. Take time out for your own self and treat yourself with respect and you will find others will follow suit.

6. Do not allow others to make you feel bad. You are not what others think you are. You are what you think you are.

The idea is to be responsible first to your own self and then think of taking responsibility for others.