top of page
Search

Own your own Sh#t – Personal Responsibility


One of my mom’s favorite sayings to my brothers and me growing up was, “Own your own shit.” Essentially, she was telling us to take responsibility. When you screw up, own it. You are responsible for your choices and actions. This principle has been a cornerstone of my life. I believe it’s fundamental to live by. I don’t always get it right—I mess up, blame others, and struggle with the idea.

In today’s world, I’ve noticed a decline in personal responsibility. It’s evident in both youth and adults, at work, and at home. So, what are the causes of this decline in personal responsibility? And more importantly, what are the impacts on our society, and what can we do about it?

There are many causes and impacts of this decline, and I believe they are interrelated. These include a culture of entitlement, social media, blaming others, an erosion of family and community, our need for instant gratification, the economy, our education system, and our approach to parenting.

I’m going to discuss three of these: entitlement culture, blaming others, and parenting, as they are the most relevant to me.

Entitlement Culture:

I see the entitlement culture as a significant issue. This is where individuals believe they deserve certain privileges or benefits without having to work for them. This mindset can erode personal accountability because if I’m “owed” something just for showing up, then why is it my responsibility if I mess up? I know I’m guilty of this at times. Maybe it’s my ego or the idea that I’m more important than anyone else. When I start thinking this way, I have to remind myself that while I’m important to my friends, family, and colleagues, it doesn’t guarantee me anything. Therefore, I try to manage my expectations.

Blaming Others:

Blaming others is a major issue. Life is chaotic, and humans make mistakes. However, blaming other people, the government, or society for our actions and choices results in us giving away our power. We are happy to be rewarded and recognized when our actions result in a win or good choices, so we also have to resist the temptation to blame others when our actions and choices fail. For me, I focus on what I call the problem mindset versus the blame mindset. I can solve a problem if I keep my focus on it instead of blaming others when I mess up.

Parenting:

Our parenting style directly impacts how our children develop and evolve as they grow. Inconsistent discipline, overprotectiveness, or relying on media to occupy our kids can hinder the development of a strong sense of personal accountability. As a parent, I’ve always struggled with letting my kids fail. I try to teach my children to “own their own shit.” I also want them to be happy. However, an absence of struggle, pain, and failure is unrealistic. I reward them when they succeed but also point out that they will screw up. When they do, they need to own it and try to make it right. My love for them is not dependent on their success or failure.

I believe we have a lot of power in how we respond and react to situations in life. Choosing to own our own shit does not make us weak; it makes us responsible. There is untapped power in responsibility. When you screw up, own it. It is yours. Conversely, when you win, celebrate it!

Peace,

Steve

24 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Black logo - no background_edited.png

©2024 Winning Chaos

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Whatsapp
bottom of page