We hear the phrase “personal responsibility” a lot these days. Sometimes it can have a negative connotation to it, but it certainly doesn’t have to. Being personally responsible for yourself and your actions is actually an incredibly empowering decision. There are a lot of nuances to this concept, but I think it can definitely be applied to the idea of striving to become a more content person.
About Personal Responsibility
Personal responsibility has a lot to do with deciding to be more positive in your life. There are tons of negative outcomes that go along with constant griping. However, taking responsibility comes with all sorts of positive things. You’ll feel more in control when you consciously decide to make a change. Personal responsibility involves owning your actions, avoiding the placement of blame, and understanding the impact of your action.
What Complaining Does
When you complain about something, particularly without having a strong reason or a solution to the problem in mind, you’re essentially giving away your control. As I’ve shared with you in past posts, there are ways to lodge a legitimate and productive complaint. However, many times, complaining is used as merely a way to vent our frustrations. These pointless complaints put us in a position of loss. We give up control and think there’s nothing we can do about the issue but whine and moan. We also place the responsibility for a problem and the cause of our frustrations outside of ourselves. That’s not always fair.
Own Your Words
You must learn to own your words and take full personal responsibility for your complaints. When you’re frustrated by something enough to want to complain about it, you need to decide whether making the complaint is worth the fallout. Remember, constant complaining hurts your reputation, brings down your mood, and holds us back in life. Therefore, each time you voice your frustrations, you should consciously take ownership of your words. You can’t take them back. Once they’re said, they’re yours forever. Choosing to complain only with a valid reason and with a potential solution in mind is far more empowering than letting yourself fall prey to constant whining about things you can’t change.
Keep these tips in mind when you feel like complaining. Choosing to own your words rather than to mindlessly complain will bring you much more power and control. This is definitely a case in which personal responsibility is beneficial.
