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With Choice Comes Responsibility
Choice is a powerful thing. Every choice that
you make creates the life you live. However, choice does not
come without a price, and that price is responsibility, a word
I fondly refer to as the "R" word. We all love choice,
but when it comes to responsibility, well, that's another story.
In the on-line university classes I teach, the
students are assigned a group participation project. It is not
mandatory to participate, but it is impossible to achieve an
A grade if the student does not participate. I am very clear
with my students that no individual grades will be given for
the group project, and they have four weeks in which to complete
the assignment. It never fails that several students in each
class will choose not to participate, reciting numerous excuses
to explain why they couldn't work with the group. However, they
are always able to complete the project on their own and want
credit. I give them the grade I promised when they chose not
to participate with the group, a zero. All of the students have
a choice to participate or not, but with that choice comes responsibility.
They must take responsibility for earning a zero if they choose
not to participate. Most are not happy with this consequence
and a few have complained to the Dean. The students want the
choice but they don't want totake responsibility.
With choice comes great power. With choice, freedom
is created, but with freedom comes great responsibility. As
Spiderman said, "Great power comes with great responsibility."
You have the freedom to make the choices that you desire, but
also the requirement to take responsibility for those choices.
I am very willing to take responsibility for the choices I make
that turn out well, but not so enthusiastic to lay claim to
the choices that don't turn out favorably. When you are able
to take responsibility for every choice you make, you truly
embrace the real power that comes with choice and the freedom
to live your life as you choose.
The world doesn't always provide great examples
of taking responsibility. We see politicians passing the buck,
people suing companies for spilling hot coffee on themselves,
and executives blaming everyone but themselves for the failure
of their companies. Pointing the finger at others might seem
like the easy way out, but it comes with a price, and that price
is the loss of personal power. Whenever you blame someone for
a choice you have made, you give your power away and are rendered
helpless.
Learning to take responsibility can be a challenging
lesson, but once you learn the power of taking responsibility,
you will not want to go back. Choice enables you to create your
life, and taking responsibility for all of those choices enables
you to enjoy life on your terms.
Coach Rachelle Disbennett-Lee, PhD provides daily motivation,
information and inspiration to thousands of busy self development
enthusiast who want to stay focused and on track to their goals
through her award winning e-zine 365 Days of Coaching. For a
free report, "The Power of Daily Action - How to create
more Wealth, Health and Happiness by Tapping Into the Power
of Daily Action" go to http://www.365daysofcoaching.com/daily_action.htm.
Copyright©
2005 True Direction, Inc.
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