The Power of Responsibility
Last week we saw that when bad stuff strikes, the first step is to take responsibility. This week, let’s examine why this is so.
Why should we take responsibility for what happens to us whether we believe we were involved in manifesting the “bad” events or not?
Philosophically, you either believe that you’re at the affect of circumstance—that life is random chance and that God does indeed play dice—OR you come to believe that there is inherent order beyond our perception (although on rare occasion we may get a glimpse of it).
If you believe in the former (random chance) then you have little power—you are at the affect and there’s nothing you can do about it so don’t bother trying. If you believe in the latter (intrinsic order, divine justice) then you have power: the power to make changes, to grow, to let go of false belief systems, to adopt higher understandings.
One path brings fear and anxiety; the other brings acceptance. One path narrows our perceived choices; the other provides ever-growing possibilities for transformation.
Taking Full Responsibility
So what does it mean to take responsibility?
Realizing that we’re manifesting everything in our life (consciously or unconsciously)—attracting what we perceive to be desirable and undesirable—we now have the power to change. Taking full responsibility, we maximize our opportunities for growth. Every time we deny responsibility, projecting it outside of ourselves, we limit our growth.
This is true for every area of your life: You are where you are financially, for example, because of you—your resistance or lack thereof, the quality of your decisions, your level of education and creativity, and so on. You are where you are—professionally, in your relationships, emotionally, psychologically, physically, and so on—because of your own decisions. With the acceptance of this (and we all have an inherent resistance to it) comes a profound level of empowerment.
Responsibility in Action
As soon as an unpleasant event (the bad stuff) occurs, ask yourself: What am I doing to manifest or attract this? What within me is bringing about these events?
Note that these questions are not asked from a place of self-blame or guilt. Mistakes are par for the course and the primary mistake is almost always ignorance (and karma too). If we don’t continue to question—to find ways to development in multiple areas of life—we tend to remain in ignorance.
Then, having put forth these all-important questions, be patient. Stay quiet. Listen to your intuition. Pay attention to your dreams. Consult a mentor. Pray. The insights will come.
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