“A Person is buffeted by circumstances so long as he believes himself to be the creature of outside conditions” – As A Man Thinketh

These wonderful words were written by James Allen over 100 years ago, and yet they resonate as strongly today as they did at the turn of the 20th Century. A person who believes they are at the mercy of external conditions and events, and that they are the ‘victims of circumstance’ has given up their power. They have handed the power of their life over to circumstances.

How often have you heard someone say “If only the company I worked for provided more benefits…” or “if only that red sports car had not cut me off this morning, I would have had a great day!!”? Interesting isn’t it, that some people choose to have a bad day based on what happens to them?

In order for us to take control of our circumstances, and if we are to live the life of our dreams, it must start by us taking personal responsibility. First and foremost it is personal responsibility for being where we are, and recognising and understanding that we are where we are based on the choices and decisions we have made up to now. There is no point blaming others for the situation we find ourselves in because the reality is is that the situation we find ourselves in is the direct result of the thoughts we have and the subsequent decisions and choices we have made and the action (or lack thereof) we have taken! So a fundamental component of taking responsibility is taking control of our thoughts. To quote James Allen: “You are not happy because you are well. You are well because you are happy. You are not depressed because trouble has come to you, but trouble has come because you are depressed. You can change your thoughts and feelings, and then the outer things will change to correspond, and indeed there is no other way of working”.

What responsibility are you taking today?

Are you taking personal responsibility for the position you are currently in?

Are you taking responsibility for the decisions you are making today?

Are you taking responsibility for the way you are responding to opportunities and/or challenges?

Are you taking responsibility for the quality of your thinking, and is that thinking filled with possibilities or is it filled with challenges and obstacles?

Are you taking responsibility for further developing important relationships, including the relationship with yourself?

Are you taking responsibility for helping others, to guiding and mentoring others, and helping them take personal responsibility?

Are you taking responsibility for designing the life you have always dreamed of?

And are you taking responsibility for the actions required to reach your potential, and actually doing something about it?

The responsibility rests with you. You need to be the one who takes the first step, then the second step, then the next step, and not rely on someone else to take it for you. Taking responsibility is a choice – it may seem difficult at first, but that may be because it is the habit you have formed, and like any habit, it can be transformed into a new habit by changing your thinking. And when that new habit is formed, and you find yourself taking 100% responsibility, it will be like a whole new world of possibility has opened up for you.

And what a wonderful way to live your life.

If you would like to explore responsibility in more depth and understand how important it is to Unleashing Your Potential, send me an email at Darren@potentialunleashed.com.au We would love to help you Unleash your Potential!

To your success

Darren