Creating Success from the Inside Out: Develop The Focus and Strategy To Uncover the Life You Want

IV.1. Responsibility and Power versus Blame and Powerlessness

The Professional Victim is really saying, "Other people or other events derailed my plans, and I'm incapable of overcoming these things. The failures in my life aren't my fault." If it's not their fault, then they are not responsible for their own life.

Responsibility is at the bottom of what we're talking about here. Most of us would say we're responsible, but are we? The ultimate responsibility is taking charge of our own life. Other people and other circumstances cannot keep us from our goals, unless we let them. And whenever we try to pass the blame on to some person or circumstance in our life, we give up our power. Responsibility is where our true power begins.

To whom much is given, much will be required. —— Luke 12:48

It works both ways: With power also comes responsibility. The two go hand in hand. There are people who don't like that, who are scared to death of taking on more responsibility, even when it means more power in their life. Even when it means more recognition and more wealth. We've talked about the fact that there is a price to pay for success. Part of that price is carrying the responsibility that comes with your success.

Some people don't want to pay this price. They may want what success can bring them, but they want to be able to be irresponsible with it, to do what they want, when they want, with their own selfish self. In fact, for many, their whole definition of success can be summed up ...