- Understand that responsibility is earned. It's not something you're entitled to. If someone is hesitant to give you additional responsibility, it's probably because you've been nonchalant with the responsibilities you already have. You might think, "But the responsibilities I have now are so petty/boring/stupid/etc., and if I'm given more of a challenge, I will take it more seriously," but that's a characteristic of irresponsible people; they do things as long as they're challenging, fun, and new, and when that fades, they lose interest.
- Understand that sometimes being responsible is facing and dealing with difficult issues that are forced upon you. Good examples of this could include dealing with an unplanned pregnancy; caring for a disabled child; or helping family members when they need help. Succinctly put when life gives you lemons you juice-'em and make lemonade.
- Tackle whatever is in front of you. A responsible person does what they said they'd do because they said they would. Period. If you want to be seen as more responsible, think about the responsibilities you already have and take them more seriously, no matter how pointless they might seem. Consider it a way to pay your dues.
- Stop making excuses. In any situation, there are always some factors we can't control. Irresponsible people tend to shift the blame onto those factors, and vocalize them as excuses. Anytime you make an excuse, it's like saying "I am not responsible for this because..." and what you're really saying is "I am not responsible." Pay attention to how you think and talk: do you find yourself making excuses? Excuses come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common is "I would/would've, BUT..."
- Start small. As with most other tasks, acting responsibly works best when you can get a bit of momentum going. If you feel crushed under a backlog of responsibilities, start with a few small or fast tasks. Being able to cross them off your list will make you feel as though a weight has been lifted, making you more enthusiastic about moving on to bigger responsibilities. Before you know it, being responsible will make you feel good and add value to your day.However, avoid the temptation to distract yourself with small tasks. There’s a difference between starting a load of laundry before tackling that homework assignment and cleaning the entire house so that you end up “having to” put a project off for another day.
- Learn from your mistakes. Making the most of a mistake is a double-whammy of responsibility: not only does this transform time that was otherwise wasted into a valuable, course-altering experience, but it keeps you from wasting future time by ensuring that you don’t repeat yourself.
- View yourself as a creator, not a victim, of circumstance. When you see something that needs doing or needs to change, don't wait for somebody else to do it; be the one to make a positive difference. Taking charge will make you feel powerful, which will spill into and improve many other aspects of your life.
Avoid burnout. If tackling life’s challenges is new to you, you might overdo it, exhaust yourself, and use that as a reason to justify taking further action. Pace yourself and keep your sights set on the long haul.
Remember that life is not fair. If you truly are persecuted and abused because of your race, class, beliefs, what side of town you live on, etc.. you may not be able to completely correct the situation, but do not give up just because you have bad luck. There is always a choice. How far you will go to right a wrong is up to you, but remember there is always power and dignity to be had, if you earn it. Do not give up on yourself and no one can take that from you. You may start from a bad place, and you will make mistakes. But you are not a mistake yourself. Forgive yourself and earn trust and respect, the world will only get better bit by bit if you make it so.
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Responsibility finds a way! Irresponsibility makes excuses!
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Responsibility finds a way! Irresponsibility makes excuses!
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