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Daily Question, October 30

If I take full responsibility for my part in any difficulties, how might this change my experience of the day?

  • Helene

    By realizing that one of the causes of the difficulties, is me having had higher expectation of the other person’s competence, I can find space for softness and empathy rather than explode in anger, in a similar future situation. Small piece of wisdom from this exercise which gave me some much needed peace within right now. Thank you. 🙏

  • Malag

    I can only do what I can do, so when I’ve done that, and taking responsibility is part of that, it can allow me to let go and let the situation unfold.

  • Don Jones

    If I treat everything around me with reverence, including my mind, every activity will be fruitful and joyful.

  • Hot Sauce
    Right now, I'm a little bit stressed by someone in my family who is stressed. The stress, anger, and negative vibe is rubbing off on me a bit. It also stresses me out because I worry that the person will snap at me if I do one little thing. If I take responsibility for this, however, and know that this person is not at fault for "rubbing off on me," I can pay more attention to my need to stay positive even when others have a negative vibe. It can be a lesson in learning to let go of the fear of ...

    Right now, I’m a little bit stressed by someone in my family who is stressed. The stress, anger, and negative vibe is rubbing off on me a bit. It also stresses me out because I worry that the person will snap at me if I do one little thing. If I take responsibility for this, however, and know that this person is not at fault for “rubbing off on me,” I can pay more attention to my need to stay positive even when others have a negative vibe. It can be a lesson in learning to let go of the fear of being hurt by someone, even when it’s hard to let go of that fear.

    Read More
  • Shellan

    might draw me closer to my husband

  • Zenith

    It would keep me humble. However, there are circumstances for which we bear no fault and the key there is to find what we can be grateful for.

  • Rosemary

    I have noticed that when I let down my defenses and take responsibility for my actions, those around me soften because they’ve been acknowledged. Peaceful resolution becomes possible as our hearts open toward each other.

  • Carol

    My favorite definition for the word “responsibility” is the “ability to respond.” I spent a lot of my life reacting instead of responding. As today’s quote says, “We don’t know what life will bring, so it is what we bring to life that matters.” To take full responsibility for my part in any difficulties is to understand and accept that no matter what my role may have been in the situation, I must own my response to the situation. If I don’t, the situation will own me!

  • Javier Visionquest
    Pain in life is inevitable. Suffering (writing ourselves into the story behind pain) is optional. That of the victim has become one of the most coveted roles in our society. Those people that told us as kids that “attitude is everything” didn’t mention that our shifts in attitude take a lot of time and practice to have a lasting effect; those attitudes being seeds we sow in the questionable soil of circumstance. It has been part of my practice now for many years, in any situation, to trace...

    Pain in life is inevitable. Suffering (writing ourselves into the story behind pain) is optional. That of the victim has become one of the most coveted roles in our society. Those people that told us as kids that “attitude is everything” didn’t mention that our shifts in attitude take a lot of time and practice to have a lasting effect; those attitudes being seeds we sow in the questionable soil of circumstance. It has been part of my practice now for many years, in any situation, to trace back my own culpability to any credit or liability that contributed to its consequence and own that. Freedom and responsibility are one and the same.

    Read More
  • Journey

    If I take responsibility for my part in any difficulty, it means I have analyzed the situation and accepted my role. This helps deepen my understanding of myself and I can ask why I did what I did and what I need to do differently next time or maybe even what I need to do immediately to help improve that very situation. In general I think accepting responsibility propels us towards action. Like Howie below voiced.

  • Carla

    Grace leads me to take full responsibility of my actions today. I find I’m able to walk a little taller, as I’m not carrying shame from an event. I also don’t have the feeling of being a victim enveloping me. Dialogue comes easier.

  • Mark Piper

    I suppose it would be less me, less victimhood of me, and more others and what I ought to do to help, ease, or end the difficulties of others.

  • Patricia

    I can see and know my heart more clearly, instead of being self-satisfied and deluded. It also makes me take a gentler and more loving posture toward others.

  • kimthompsen
    As a family, we are going through some difficulties right now. My nearly 90 year old father is in the hospital for the first time in his life. He is being well taken care of by staff and by my brother. I am truly helpless in doing anything for them right now. And that's ok. Life would be so much more difficult if I were to play the victim right now; if I were to be angry at the hospital, governor, pandemic for not allowing me to see Dad in the hospital. I would be losing sleep and be anxious ...

    As a family, we are going through some difficulties right now. My nearly 90 year old father is in the hospital for the first time in his life. He is being well taken care of by staff and by my brother. I am truly helpless in doing anything for them right now. And that’s ok.

    Life would be so much more difficult if I were to play the victim right now; if I were to be angry at the hospital, governor, pandemic for not allowing me to see Dad in the hospital. I would be losing sleep and be anxious throughout the day.

    But that’s not how this drama is playing out.

    Instead, I get to keep my wits about me.
    I get to be available emotionally to my brother who has called me and sobbed on the phone.

    I get to see my Dads bravery as he has a phobia of doctors and hospitals.

    I get to tell my Dad how proud I am of him.
    I get to say the same thing to my brother.

    When I take myself out of unnecessary victimhood, I get to see the gifts that abound.

    Read More
    • Michele

      Stunning response! Healing prayers to your dad and strength for both you and your brother. Wonderful positivity:)

    • pkr

      Blessings and prayers for your dad kimthompsen. I pray for his good health. Prayers of strength & courage for you & your brother. 🙏❤️

  • Trish

    When I blame someone for their behavior, I carry that heaviness inside of me. It robs me of overflowing joy and taints my entire day. I’ve been reminding myself a lot lately, “Trish, it’s just life…..chill & fill” (fill with joy)🙂

  • devy
    I try to look at the difficulties as life experiences (even though I am still working on that view). My reaction to the difficulties is my responsibility. No one or nothing can create the negative or these red light feelings that arise. When the anxiety comes up I try to say stop it, look at what inside me is bringing up these feelings ( often created by past experiences that keep on resurfacing). I also try to take responsibility by applying more gratitude for what is in my life and be thankfu...

    I try to look at the difficulties as life experiences (even though I am still working on that view). My reaction to the difficulties is my responsibility. No one or nothing can create the negative or these red light feelings that arise. When the anxiety comes up I try to say stop it, look at what inside me is bringing up these feelings ( often created by past experiences that keep on resurfacing). I also try to take responsibility by applying more gratitude for what is in my life and be thankful. This thinking brings my mental thinking more into my perspective and my real life.

    Read More
  • EJP

    Taking full responsibility opens my heart and soul to new possibilities and acceptance.

  • Howie Geib

    This allows me to shift from a position of victim to one of volunteer. To become author instead of reader, actor instead of a member of the audience. And yet, it is important that I am part of a team. I am not alone.

    • Journey

      Beautifully written.

    • kimthompsen

      Love this! That simple shift in thinking allows me to respond rather than react.

      • Michele

        I’ve learned from this website one should reflect before reacting … which can be difficult especially in the heat of the moment when reacting comes naturally.

  • Kevin

    “If” I don’t address the problem honestly and I continued dodging the difficulty, then the elephant in the room just grows larger and larger and obscures whatever good remains left in the day.

  • Dusty Su

    Empowerment to heal, deal, make amends, forgive, move on, and not give more power to the problems than needed.

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