The Tribune

By MICHELLE MILLER

MANY are saddled by the common habit of avoiding responsibility. Whether it’s for themselves or for those to whom they are responsible.

Although this habit of ducking and dodging responsibility may seem like you are getting away with something, in time it catches up with you and actually depletes your capacity to own your life.

Eventually you find yourself lacking the confidence and preparation to meet your life challenges; not because you don’t have the power to meet them, but because you don’t know that you have the power. Your mind is your greatest asset. Fail to develop it and responsibly protect it from would-be losers and you will live a loser kind of life.

Not knowing you have the power is just as bad as not actually having the power. Directing your life forward in the midst of major challenges is only possible with quality information.

This is why I say that it’s not just the choices that you make but the information you have about those choices that matters most.

The premise here is that you can become whatever you believe you can. If you believe that you can’t do it, you will not get it done.

The harsh truth is, no matter how hard you try, you cannot ‘duck’ life. Life knows all things. The good thing though is that everything is possible, if, and this is a big if, you are willing to take responsibility for your life. You are the sculptor and your life is the clay. You get to choose what kind of life you create. This is happening whether you know it or not. So make it a deliberate act.

Finding the courage to take responsibility for your life enables you to live your life by design, not by default. It is said that with great power comes great responsibility, but I believe what is more is that with great responsibility comes great power.

Responsibility is an incredible source of power, quite possibly one of the most potent power sources. Taking responsibility means having the audacity to take charge of how you show up in the world. It empowers you to meet life fearlessly, no matter the challenge. On the contrary, the avoidance of responsibility keeps you a prisoner in your own life.

See yourself as worthy enough to take responsibility for your life. In so doing you no longer crave approval from others but instead you approve and validate yourself. Responsibility is a function of elevated thinking. It’s about being more honest with you, but where to start? How do you begin to take responsibility for your life?

First, remember this is your one life; you must focus on what matters most to you. Get out of the blame game, because it only keeps you staying the same. Instead, get into the game of owning your life.

It all comes down to your willingness to change your thinking. Change at any level is a process of commitment and discipline. Nothing can change until you change. The best place to begin is in the mirror. Ask yourself some bigger questions about who you are, what you want for your life and why you must want it.

As a leader, you have responsibility to others, whether you are a parent, teacher, employer, or like me, a ‘big sister’, others are looking to you to lead. Taking responsibility means letting go of the excuses. Stop hobbling and begin to hopscotch with confidence. When it comes to your life you are the gatekeeper. Whatever lives inside your life entered on your authority. You let it in and you can get it out.

Leader to leader, make today the day that you accept the power of taking responsibility for your life. In so doing, you give yourself the best chance to live the life that you love.

What do you think? Please send your comments to coaching242@yahoo.com or 429-6770.

• Michelle M. Miller is a certified life coach and leadership expert. Questions or comments can also be sent via snail mail to PO Box CB-13060 or visit www.michellemmiller.com.