Maturity is Responsibility

The foundation of self-leadership

Self-leadership can transform your ability to act on what you want in life because it’s founded on responsibility.

Who is responsible for your life? If you’re a free person living in a free country, take a look in the mirror.

Albert Schweitzer once said that “man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will, his personal responsibility.” In other words, don’t blame your circumstances; take responsibility for yourself.

Have you ever stopped to consider what personal responsibility is? Many years back, in Edwin Cole’s Maximized Manhood book, I read, “Maturity doesn’t come with age but begins with the acceptance of responsibility.” I deeply considered this statement, and it continues to ring true to me today. My level of maturity is directly related to my acceptance of responsibility.

This means my growth as a human being is my responsibility and isn’t dependent on circumstances or people or whatever else there may be. The more I become responsible, the more I mature.

What are some ways in which we can grow? Let’s apply the S.T.A.R. (See Think Act Reap) Approach to it and find out.

First, I must See that there is a direct link between my ability to accept responsibility and my growth as a person. If I don’t take responsibility for it, who will?

Perhaps when I was a child, my parents had some say — but I am an adult now. Why would I want to become a child again and allow someone else to force something on me, essentially taking away my ability to grow?

Once I See (uncover or discover) the link between maturity and responsibility, I can engage in Thinking to study and understand (make meaning of) what is important to me. As my thinking expands, so does my ability to understand what Actions I can take. Then I can choose those actions that are best suited to who I am. As I act in these new ways, I will Reap new results.

Think about this. When you take responsibility for yourself, you put first things first. This might require you to put off some of the things you desire in order to spend that time on something else.

If a young man puts aside personal recreation time so he can spend more time with his wife and children, for example, he is not only becoming more mature, but he’s investing in the most important thing in his life: his closest relationships.

At the end of your life, the reward you reap will be great, because you saw what was important, considered (thought about) what was best, acted responsibly by doing what you knew was right, then reaped an outcome different than most.

When a young woman discovers (sees) that if she studies (thinks) hard, goes to college (acts on it), and lands a promising job (reaps), it started when she took the responsibility to apply herself and to do the work required to learn. She made the right choices, resulting in a great job with a promising career.

It might not be that the two people I just wrote about are necessarily smarter than everyone else. It is that they accepted responsibility, saw what was important, and applied themselves to do the right thing. They were diligent in their efforts, realizing results that matter on which they can continue to build.

Sometimes, taking responsibility can be a joint effort. When a husband and wife notice (see) the value of what they do not spend, requiring them to be thoughtful (think), and what they save that makes the difference, and they become diligent (act) with their finances throughout their lives, being responsible with each dollar, the results they receive (reap) can be significant.

As a result of their collaboration, they can end up retiring when they want, comfortably, rather than joining the majority who will struggle or barely get by. This husband and wife saw what was important to them, considered it thoroughly, made the necessary plans and budgets, and reaped the results they desired. It could only have happened because they took responsibility.

How do you choose to live your life? Responsibly, maturely, or not?

©2020 BillAbbate.com

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