The Sensibility Of Responsibility

Responsibility is something no-one can avoid. We can try to ignore it, we can hide from it and we can even deny it but, ultimately, we must face it.

The problem is that responsibility has two extremes – celebration or condemnation. We seek the former but do our best to avoid the latter.

We prefer to be praised rather than pilloried. We seek distinction over disgrace. We want to win.

It’s responsibility that grounds us and that weighs heavily on the human spirit and is at the root cause of so much mental anguish.

Knowing what is expected of us can often be a considerable distance from meeting that expectation.

But there will always be consequences and that truth is inescapable.

The load can be lightened by prioritising responsibilities. There is much that is beyond our reach and over which we have little or no control. If restraint is not exercised guilt can overwhelm. Doing what we can and doing it to the best of our ability is far more important than trying to do what we cannot.

The greatest responsibility we have is that which we have for ourselves.

No-one can know us like we know us and no-one can care for us like we can care for ourselves.

Conversely no-one can be a greater enemy to us than we can be to ourselves.

Responsibility starts from within.

Recognised and nurtured it can be a powerful force.