Responsibility is one of the most important aspect of our life and a first step to building a positive personality. It means that a person is able to take some duties and to face certain consequences of the action that may occur. It is commonly accepted idea that the person who is not taking responsibility for he has done should not and cannot be trusted, that he is not truly a human being. It is responsibility for one’s action that makes a human. The real meaning of responsibility is the ability to respond.
People should accept responsibility as it is the first step towards positive personality. When people accept additional responsibility they are actually giving themselves a promotion. Responsible behavior is to accept accountability. That represents maturity. Acceptance of responsibility is a reflection of our attitude and the environment we operate in. Most people are quick to get credit for what goes right but very few will readily accept responsibility when things goes wrong. A person who doesn’t accept responsibility is not absolved from being responsible. The main objective for human being is to cultivate responsible behavior.
To cultivate a responsible behavior the blame game should be stopped. Such phrases should be avoided:
- everyone else does it,
- or no one does, or
- It is all your fault
Ancient Indian wisdom teaches us that our first responsibility is to the community, second to our family and third to ourselves. When the hierarchy is reversed, a society starts degenerating, social responsibility ought to be the moral obligation of every citizen. A sign of a good citizen is that he is willing to pull his own weight.
People who don’t accept responsibility shift the blame to their parents, teachers and genes. God, fate, luck or the stars. Responsible behavior should be inculcated right from childhood. It cannot be taught without a certain degree of obedience. People who use their privileges without accepting responsibility usually end up losing their privileges. Responsibility involves thoughtful action.
