Words From The Master: 17 Oct 2007

RESPONSIBILITY – the way to expand

Some time back, there was Tuberculosis all over Tamil Nadu. They found medicines and cured it. The officials responsible for eradicating it proudly claimed that they were the ones responsible for curing it. But did they take up the responsibility for the fact that it was allowed to spread all over town? No! They were actually responsible for the spreading of Tuberculosis also, is it not? They should have prevented it. Likewise, in our lives, we claim responsibility for any good that happens but don’t claim responsibility for anything bad that happens. We take up responsibility with discrimination. For anything bad that happens, we feel someone else is responsible; and mostly that someone is God! The biggest garbage can in our lives is God! For anything bad that happens, we blame Him. Poor man – He can’t even talk back!

Only if we take up responsibility for everything that happens in our lives, we will start expanding. When you start living with the attitude – I am responsible, your whole life will change. If you sit and analyze each and every incident in your life, you will see clearly that only you have been responsible for them. But we normally pass the buck and blame others for what has been happened in our lives. Those who do not wish to progress at all in life may do so. Those who wish to blossom should feel responsible directly or indirectly for everything that happens around them.

Most of us wait for the status to come in order to take up the responsibility. Be very clear, it doesn’t work that way. Only if we take up responsibility, the status will come. Those who wait for the status will not take up responsibility even after they get it. They will simply find another reason or excuse, that’s all.

You are currently living like a slave. You work 8 hours in your office. The same 8 hours, if you take up responsibility and work, things will become very easy for you. Take for example a doctor who is practicing privately and a doctor who works for the government. The former will appear to be flowering and happy all the time with no grudge or grumble. But the latter will appear to be under some load all the time. This is because the former stands up with responsibility while the latter does not. If he too stands up with responsibility, the whole scene will change for him. Else, he will keep looking at his watch to see if it has struck 5pm for him to leave. For him, only the 1st of every month will be sweet since it would be payday! From the 2nd to the 31st, it will be sour. He sacrifices 30 days for that one day of joy. A sense of personal responsibility can help turn around any situation and achieve great things.

When you collectively stand up with responsibility, you become a solid force. Until then, you remain a burden for yourself and for others. We often think that we are after all in an ordinary post and that when our higher authorities at work are not taking up responsibility, why should we take up. Let me tell you, in an office, when a sweeper does all his duties perfectly, he will inspire people. You see, the head of the organization has to be responsible. No credit is given to him for that! In the same way, a leader has to be responsible. No credit is given to him for being so; whereas if a sweeper is responsible, he can inspire an entire institution. So drop these kinds of ideas. There is a higher chance of people at a lower post inspiring others through their sense of responsibility than people at a higher post.

Therefore, firstly, don’t wait to get a post to become responsible. Secondly, don’t think that you are in a lesser post and therefore you need not be responsible. Thirdly, allow the cognitive shift to happen in you. Allow a change in the mental setup to happen in you.

This (the cognitive shift) will happen when you stand up saying that you are responsible. For just 24 hours, if you stand up with this feeling, things that were lying unfinished for which you blamed others will get finished and your entire life will change, and blossom with a new sense of happiness. The habit of looking at the time will leave you; a new kind of ecstasy will engulf you. You will become a natural leader and life will become a celebration!

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This excerpt is taken from the book: "A comprehensive guide to Nithya Spiritual Healing"