The Journey To Accountability Begins With How To Be More Responsible

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”
 Noam Chomsky

We're attempting a sort of round table discussion on this page about how to be more responsible. This topic is essential in lining up our core values. Responsible people are accountable citizens. Accountable citizens bring about positive change.

Hopefully you've noticed a progression in the subject matter of our previous pages. We're building a roadmap or perhaps a more descriptive word is a blueprint for simplifying leadership development. We'll give you some actions steps in the journey toward how to be more responsible which include embracing maturity and honesty.  Being very direct, that means get over it.  Whatever "it" is that is keeping you in the "feel sorry for me mentality" is wasted effort.  We have the ability to lift ourselves up.

We can never be responsible citizens if we don't believe in our own abilities and value. Responsibility is a learned skill. We aren't born with it.

Since different personality types look at the same ideas a little differently, we're going to offer viewpoints from our editorial team based on those unique personalities. An idea from our most creative editor was to color code the paragraphs of the varying perspectives, but as we learned from listening to experts, multiple colors are distracting to readers.  We'll try it this way. It could be very good, or it might flop. We're expecting good results, but recognize that failure is all part of success.

So here we go with those action steps beginning with self control, then moving into leading with passion, followed by some simple, measurable goals to maintain focus. We'll finish up with a story of a group of high school students embracing the concept of how to be more responsible and then putting that concept into action.  Responsibility is a key component of accountability.

“The moment you accept responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you gain the power to change anything in your life.”  Hal Elrod

Actions Steps in Learning How To Be More Responsible

"I've been asked to lead off this discussion as a follow up to my page about how to stop being codependent. Any hope of understanding how to be more responsible has to begin with self control. Human emotions control our actions. I've lived through this truth and have seen both sides of that truth. It is imperative that we believe in our own self-worth. If we don't have this part figured out, we'll be giving our personal power away to anyone who knows how to push our buttons to control us. Prove to yourself that you are a responsible citizen.

Emotion is a great thing when channeled in the right direction. I'll hand this off to our most energized editor. Miserable attracts more misery. Detach from those who bring you negativity and misery and find your passion. But that can only happen when you take the first step. You are worthy of good things and you will help people find their value."

"This is a challenging spot. Reading that page about how our co-editor worked past codependency was inspiring. Now I'm tasked with following on that very important step that is recognizing self-worth. I suppose of the four personality types, I am in that 'I' category.

This next step in the process of how to be more responsible might come across as vague or an oversimplification, but bear with me, please. Do everything with passion. Approach life with a positive vibe and an impenetrable belief that we can do great things with the talent we already have or will develop.

If miserable attracts more misery, then it is also true that passion and energy attract more passion and energy. That means no complaining, and no excuses. Responsibility demands that we don't blame other people when we drop the ball.

Stop complaining and nagging about life. 'Woe is me' saps energy and encourages inaction and victim mentality. (Yes, I learned that term from the page about how to stop being codependent.) In the next section, our very much 'C' personality editor will give you some concrete methods of putting this passion and positivity into motion in the drive to know how to be more more responsible.

We believe age is no determination of leadership ability or accountability. Age is not always a determining factor in maturity. Becoming a mature person is a learned skill in becoming more responsible.

I'll leave you with this truth. (Notice that honesty is intertwined in this page because honesty is imperative in becoming more responsible which leads to more accountable citizens.) I was not a fan of some of the things you will read next. I knew they were correct, but details are not my strength. Ideas are what I'm good at, passion and joy are what I live for, but since responsibility is a learned skill, I learned something. I can spread more passion and joy if I follow these steps you will read next."

"Set goals. I know that beginning my paragraph with those two words might cause some people to want to click out right away. But the truth is that goals keep us focused on getting better. Maturity means understanding that there is no static. We are either green and growing or ripe and rotting. Setting goals keeps our passion and energy levels high.  Setting goals keeps us in control of our emotions so we cannot be manipulated by negative forces. Goals drive us to increased self confidence. Increased self confidence allows us to shine our light to more people.

No procrastination. This is a tough one for me. I have the written goals, but I used to fail to act. Analysis paralysis holds many of us back. Do something positive every day. If you get bogged in the negative, break way by doing something good for another person. Or for yourself, even if that means a quiet walk to clear your head.

Be consistent and persistent. I'm good at setting goals, but my reserved type C personality used to sap my belief in my own abilities to the point that I lost the will or courage to keep working toward goals. Seeing how breaking away from toxic relationships can empower people and watching first hand how exuberant passion can lead people has helped me keep focus. More learned skills.

Respect other people's opinions. Listen with the intent to understand first, then to be understood. We have a full page about this important step in being more responsible. Respect for other people is a character trait of maturity.

Become a lifelong learner. Another truth is that we are placed on this earth to do things. We will be given opportunities to help people. Setting ambitious goals will lead us to learning new things and sharing them with passion.

Grow up. The world doesn't owe us a cushy life. Pay your bills. 'Forgiving' student loans is the perfect example of politicians efforts to block young people from becoming more responsible for their actions. The taxpayers are still on the hook for those debts. Politicians fear responsible citizens. They like sheep who follow the empty talk. Responsible citizens ask too many questions.

When you say you will do something, do it. If you fail, admit it, apologize, and get better."

There is no static.  We're either green and growing  or ripe and rotting.

Duties of a Responsible Citizen 

Be honest. Set pride aside and keep your promises.

Know your role. Don't overcommit.

Use your time wisely. Have a plan, don't procrastinate.

Apologize if you are wrong. Accountability means accepting the results of our actions.

Become financially literate. Being responsible with money is essential.

Live your life with passion.

Reflect and give thanks for the good things in your life.

Citizens of Humanity

"If we want them to be trustworthy, we need to trust them."  That is the message given to the parents of a student-led service group that was started to teach teamwork, giving back to others in need, and building character.

Our team was built on the premise that all are welcome and anything was possible if they work collectively and focused on a shared vision.

We put very high expectations on them, higher than many older people thought was possible for such a young group. But they surpassed those expectations and made a huge difference in the lives of people who needed a helping hand. Not a perpetual handout, but a helping hand to allow them to get back on track.

It was a small example of how to be more responsible, but great things start with small examples. Set your course in place and live your life with passion, with commitment to be honest, to do what you say you will do and to apologize for any missteps.

Be compassionately courageous in holding people accountable by helping them become more responsible. Show them the way by doing it the right way. Detach from the negative, set a clear plan, then act on that plan with passion and enthusiasm.

You'll start a tsunami of responsibility growth. Can you imagine how that could change our nation?

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