Each Friday, I usually choose one of your questions and do my best to offer guidance and support to help you along your journey.
But this Friday is different – I’m instead asking each of you (and myself) a question. And I would love if we could all look within our souls and find the answer. If you feel comfortable doing so, I would love for you to leave your answer below.
I was watching Oprah’s lifeclass tonight, and the topic was about the importance of taking responsibility for our lives.
This subject is one of my biggest lessons, and it’s truly only been in the last couple of years that I have really begun to do this myself.
Oprah summed up the class so eloquently and beautifully, and I would like to share her wise words with each of you now:
All of the time I was praying to God, asking for God to do something, God was waiting on me.
I am responsible for what happens to me.
I am responsible for the energy that I give, and I’m responsible for the power that I give over to somebody else.
I am the only one who can bring change to my life.
While I’m waiting on something to happen, that something is waiting on me.
This is so powerful and so important for each of us to apply to our own lives.
Our lives can only truly begin when we actively take full and complete responsibility for them.
This means no more giving away our power.
No more blaming others for a less-than-perfect life.
No more being the victim.
No more waiting to be saved.
No more waiting period.
It’s time to stand up for our lives – we are each here for a reason. We are each here to be powerful and make such a difference in this world.
And it all starts by taking responsibility.
So here is the question that I am asking myself and also each of you:
How do you begin to take responsibility for your life?
Take a look at your life – a long, honest look.
Is there any part of it where you are giving away your power?
I get it – I know firsthand that it’s so much easier (on one level) to let someone else make the decisions, to allow someone else to be in the driver’s seat. But this is truly not helping your spirit – it’s not helping you live your best life.
Is there any place in your life where you are blaming someone else for your current situation? How can you step up and take responsibility in your role in this situation? How can you change it?
Are you waiting for someone (a partner, a parent, God, the universe, etc.) to save you – to make things better – to fix your life? If we are here to learn lessons (which I completely believe), how will you learn these lessons if you are waiting for someone else to handle it all? You won’t learn anything until you step up and take action.
So let’s all spend some time thinking of the ways we are giving up our power. And then let’s think of all of the wonderful ways that we can become empowered and begin living our best lives by taking completely responsibility for them.
I am going to give this question some thought myself, and I’ll post my answer soon. I truly hope that you will feel comfortable enough to share your answer with each of us. We are here to learn – and learning from each other is a wonderful way to do exactly that.
This my first visit to your blog and I love it! Will be visiting regularly! 🙂
Hi Vanessa – thank you so much for stopping by! I’m so glad you’re here! I think your blog is great, too! 🙂
Hi Jodi, big question this week! I’d say that not giving our power away to someone or circumstances is a constant personal growth process. That is, to get to a place of being happy without needing things and people to be lined up a certain way. I know I’m still challenged when it comes to being able to do that. Yet, I always try to remember that whatever my reality happens to be, it is the direct outcome of the beliefs I still hold, and that I have the ability and free will to change them in order to change my reality. It’s important to remember that it’s a process.
I love your line, “…whatever my reality happens to be, it is the direct outcome of the beliefs I still hold, and that I have the ability and free will to change them in order to change my reality.” So well put and exactly what I needed to hear. So much love to you, my dear friend. ♥
I will take responsibility for the way my children were raised. I will proudly take credit for how well they turned out and also take credit for the ways I failed them. I will love them the same even if they are not perfect.
Thank you for commenting, Linda. Unconditional love is so special. ♥
Being a Unitarian, we are all about taking responsibility for our own lives. When I was ill with a catastrophic illness, I discovered that it wasn’t about looking for the light at the end of the tunnel, but instead, casting my internal light upon the path before me to help illuminate the path so I could find my way.
That is such a beautiful way of putting it – I love that visual of shining your internal light to lead the way. Thank you!
I have been watching Oprah’s Lifeclass too, and blogging about it… I’m a few days behind but planning on doing some more entries. I love that you are blogging about what you are learning. I’m going to have to keep in touch to see how you are growing in your journey… it’s fun to meet someone who is doing the same.
I have been pondering a whole lot about the responsibility lesson. I have to change how I speak and even how I write… instead of “they did this to me” victim perspective… I have to remember… “I chose to move, I chose to talk to them, I chose to go to that place”… life is full of choices.
Although we can’t control what other people do or say, we can choose how we respond. I love how Oprah talked about being responsible about the energy we bring into a room… powerful concept.
Anyhow, I found your blog through Lady Blogger’s Society. Check my page out at http://mrstoriecooper.blogspot.com
~TORI
Hi Tori,
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful comment. I am like you and a bit behind on watching the shows – but I am always amazed at how much I learn each time I watch. I’m going to have an entire notebook filled by the time they are finished. She is giving each of us such a gift.
You’re absolutely right about choosing how we respond to a situation. That’s the only thing we can control.
I’m off to check out your blog now. ♥
I agree with this post. I think God/universe is answering my prayer through it. But Im still doubting.. after reading, Im wondering if there are exceptions, if sometimes one actually *needs* help to be responsible for ones life. I see myself ‘waiting’ for a therapist to assist me, instead of taking action, simply because I’ve tried for years on my own with little success. Is something the matter with me where I need extra help or do I just need to use more willpower? I just dont know/not sure. I go back and forth on this one.