In many ways, responsibility comes down to Response Ability.  A question to ask is, “Am I utilizing an ability to respond, as opposed to reacting?”

This concept applies in each given moment, as well as on a more macro scale.  In each personal interaction, do we have an activated ability, to respond with intention to what someone is saying or doing?  On the macro scale, do we cultivate our ability to respond to the external world so that we can provide food, shelter, and comfort for ourselves and our families?

Response-Ability in Personal Interactions

As we develop a grounded and heart-centered State of Being, our ability to respond, rather than react to others, is greatly improved.  Some people are quick to blame others in tumultuous relationships without recognizing their own reactive ways of relating.

The D2KS Responsibilities Statement speaks of taking full responsibility for one’s own thoughts, emotions, words, and behaviours.  To look at that statement in the context of this piece about Response-Ability, we could ask ourselves, “Do I want to continue my habitual thoughts, emotions, words, and behaviours in relationships?”  The moment we answer “no” to that question, AND change, is the moment we take personal responsibility in our personal interactions and relationships.

Response-Ability to Provide in Life

The external world can throw the metaphorical “curveball” at us and as we intentionally develop a plan AND take action on that plan, we are able to live a responsible life.

There is a phrase that has truth behind it, but also can be overused as a way to avoid responding and taking responsibility for life.  The phrase is, “It’s out of my control.”  As I say, there is truth to this statement because of course, there are many things that we do not control.  However, as we are honest with ourselves, we can actually see how much we DO control in our life.

This statement, “It’s out of my control,” can have an effect of shutting down the mind and leaving us in a state of inaction.  Alternatively, we can ask ourselves a question of, “If that’s out of my control, what CAN I control in this situation?”  This question initiates the mind to start brainstorming other ways to respond to that external “curveball”, and take responsibility for our life.

Developing Response-Ability

A mindful awareness of our own habitual ways of thinking, speaking, and acting in this world, is an incredibly significant step in developing Response-Ability in life.  As we become aware of habits, such as a snarky text reply that generates conflict, or exhibiting a learned helplessness regarding the state of the external world, we are able to change these habits to create the life we actually want.  To change the external world, it all starts from within each one of us, changing our own thoughts, words, and actions.

Honesty with ourselves is imperative to developing Response-Ability because we then stop gaslighting or fooling ourselves into believing we haven’t created our own life.  We actually DO create our life situations and whether it happens consciously or unconsciously, that is what WE get to CHOOSE moving forward.

Think about that for a moment and feel any excitement that arises. 

Your True Self is smiling.

May we all focus on the ways in which we can develop our abilities to respond with intention, both in relationships and in our grand life journey, such that we take full responsibility for our life.

Lots of LOVE,

Kiyoshi