“EVERY minute you spend wishing you have someone else’s life is a minute you spend wasting yours.”
Personal responsibility is when one takes full accountability for one’s actions, decisions and thoughts.
This means being accountable to yourself.
This takes self-reflection, discipline and a general sense of holding oneself responsible.
When we do this, we leave little room for blame games and we develop better control of our lives.
This article will talk about why it is important for us to hold ourselves accountable and why we should avoid comparing ourselves to others.
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Your success or actions determine your worth, not the actions or worth of others.
Our growth, fulfilment and ultimately success are in your own hands.
Personal responsibility is acknowledging that the outcome of your life is in your hands.
Focus on yourself and embrace your personal responsibility.
Shifting the blame to others takes away the power we have to change anything.
When you take responsibility, you stop waiting for others to tell you what to do.
Give yourself permission to act and take risk.
It is up to you to decide what success means in your life and to take the necessary steps towards attaining it.
Naturally, the journey will not always be a walk in the park.
For great change to occur, we must overcome many obstacles and challenges.
Instead of cowering in the face of change, we must see challenges as opportunities for growth.
As we embrace our personal responsibility, it is important for us to be disciplined. Discipline is consistent deliberate action.
When we have discipline, we can stay focused on our goals even in the presence of distractions or obstacles.
This allows us to overcome any hurdles that we may face.
“Self-discipline is the ability to organise your behaviour over time in the service of specific goals.”
Although you cannot control what happens to you, you can control what you do from there.
We should not be victims of circumstance, but rather, we should take the initiative to pursue our goals and dreams in spite of our situations and backgrounds. Sadly, oftentimes we wait for external validation.
Personal responsibility means holding ourselves accountable.
This takes self-refection and honesty.
Take responsibility for your actions and hold yourself accountable.
Acknowledge the role you have played in your own suffering.
Be accountable for how you spend your time.
When was the last time you learnt something new?
When was the last time you exercised?
When was the last time you actively took care of your health?
When did you last go over your list of goals?
Are you still on track?
Take time to answer these questions and reflect on where you are on your journey towards your personal success.
Finally, how we spend our time is important.
Engaging in comparison sets us up for frustration, envy and self-doubt.
Everyone has a different journey with completely different circumstances, a different purpose and a different destination.
Shift your focus away from comparison and focus on yourself.
After all, the external image that people give rarely tells the full story.
Comparison creates a false standard.
Instead, compare yourself to the person you were yesterday.
Jealousy clouds your vision making it difficult to see the opportunities and blessings in your own life, while resentment can leave you bitter and demotivated.
You are unique, no one else has your exact talent and experiences.
When you compare yourself to others, you diminish the value of what makes you special.
Focusing on yourself allows you to embrace your individuality.
Instead of judging and criticising the lives of others, make a conscious effort to focus on yourself.
Recognise your strengths and weaknesses.
Don’t go through life on autopilot, instead make conscious decisions to guide your life.
Evolve as a person and embrace change.
In conclusion, personal responsibility is the key to unlocking our true potential and living a life of purpose and fulfilment.
By taking ownership of our actions, decisions and thoughts, we can break free from the shackles of comparison and victimhood.
It’s time to stop waiting for external validation and permission to pursue our dreams, instead we should take the initiative to create the life we want.
Remember, every minute you spend wishing you had someone else’s life is a minute spent wasting your own.
Focus on yourself, embrace your uniqueness and take responsibility for your life.
You are the architect of your own destiny and it’s time to start building.