Who’s Responsible for…?
John Stevens
If you want powerful content that draws clients to you, book a call. We'll help you build trust with your prospect (no salesy "pitching") while he's considering working with a coach. (It's a new, scary idea for many!)
Each month, I write a message of inspiration for the department managers of La Estancia de Cafayate. That’s the beautiful community in northwest Argentina where I’m fortunate to live. This month’s message seemed like a good topic for The Unity Community. Here’s what I offered them, and now offer you.
How are you getting along in the current state of the hysteria over COVID-19?
Here’s a concept that may be new for some.
You are responsible! Whether or not you choose to accept it, YOU are responsible.
COVID-19 got you down? You can’t change the virus and the restrictions resulting from it. Accept responsibility for how you deal with it!
Dry weather, wet weather, hot weather, cold weather interfering with your plans? You can’t change the weather. Accept responsibility for how you plan, and function, around it!
Does a person, an event, or an obstacle make you angry?
No! YOU make you angry! Decide not to! It’s always possible to decide how you’ll react to things. Make the decision not to get angry. Only you will be hurt by it if you get angry.
When you are angry it eats you up inside. It damages you more than anyone. Anger, and hatred, are harmful emotions – to the person who is angry, or who hates. Not only that – you usually make poor decisions when you’re angry or feeling hate. Poor decisions may compound the damage.
When it’s a person, forgive them! You don’t even have to tell them if you don’t want to. Truly forgiving releases the negative emotion within you. To help assure your forgiveness is genuine, write a message to the person. Send it or not, as you choose. The biggest benefactor of that message will be you, whether or not you send it to the other person.
Do you like to complain about:
Weather?
Your aches and pains?
COVID-19?
Other people?
Whenever you do that, you are seeking to avoid, or shift, responsibility. If it’s something you can fix, fix it. (This might include discussing it with someone who can control it). If it’s something you have no control over, get along with it the best you can – quietly. No one else wants to hear your complaining. It just makes you unpopular, and signals that you view your life as controlled by outside influences – a pessimistic view. Avoid complaining!
Here’s a slightly different slant on these ideas from Jim Smith, a coach I’ve recently connected with.