Taking Ownership

Accepting total responsibility; not placing blame, not making any excuses, holding oneself accountable

Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else. Les Brown

A man, as a general rule, owes very little to what he is born with – a man is what he makes of himself.  Alexander Graham Bell

 

 Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses. George Washington Carver  

We have a tendency to avoid personal responsibility for the quality of our lives; spending time and effort making excuses, blaming others and putting forth mediocre effort. Successful living requires taking ownership for what we do or do not do with our lives.   

    Being born into the best or worst of circumstances; regardless of parents, upbringing, environment, education, including all other factors; the end result is the same; we are responsible. Some of us may have had disadvantages, or a poor start, but we are still responsible for what we do with life. We have to step up and raise our hand as the one who is responsible for ‘us’. Our life is our responsibility. It will be what we make of it.

  There are two aspects of adulthood. There is adulthood associated with chronological age. Typically, at age eighteen to twenty-one, we are considered to have achieved basic adulthood. Then there is the level of adulthood associated with how well we function as mature adults. There are individuals considered adults who are very marginally efficient at functioning. They are immature, irresponsible, unreliable, and likely underachievers. Many of these are capable but do reject taking ownership for themselves. They operate at a low level of adulthood. There are those who are marginally able or perhaps challenged in their ability to function as mature adults. They do the best they can but will always be somewhat limited. They may be living life successfully when we consider they are living life at a high level according to their capabilities and abilities.

  Many fall into a grouping living at some level of mediocrity or underachievement. Few would deny that we are more capable than what we have done so far. Some fall woefully short on our ‘capability scale’ while others might score considerably higher. We have heard that we get out of live what we put into it, there is no gain without pain, and many such witticisms that empathizes that successful living comes with responsibility and ownership. It is about our attitude and commitment and not measured in things. It is about developing and using our talents and abilities.  Taking ownership, accepting responsibility, holding ourselves accountable are all requirements in developing the kind of attitude that results in living life successfully. We should consciously take charge of our lives instead of letting life control us. We should always do our very best.

Challenge:  We will tend to become what we think about and put our efforts into. If we put little thought and effort into the process, we will not likely go very far in our journey. Take ownership and commit to living life based on using your talents and abilities. Develop self-discipline and motivation and take responsibility for your attitude about everything. Do not be a victim, be the victor. Be the driver, not the passenger. Take control.

Wisdom:  A sign of wisdom and maturity is when you come to terms with the realization that your decisions cause your rewards and consequences. You are responsible for your life, and your ultimate success depends on the choices you make. Dennis Waitley      

Spiritual: (NIV)

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6               

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make your free. If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:32,36

 

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ephesians 6:13

 

A very necessary step in entering into right relationship with God is taking ownership and responsibility for the sin in our lives. When we are consciously able to do this; we are able to see our weaknesses, shortcomings, fears and all the things which have held us down. Turning our life over to God frees us from the burdens of our sin. We are free to grow and to become the person that God designed us to be. We must choose to do this.

 

Prayer:  Help me to be take ownership for my life and help me to live life up to my potential.