In our daily lives, being responsible is often seen as a burden or a price to pay for a mistake. “You are responsible for this mess.’’ “It is our responsibility to take care of the planet.” “This is not my responsibility but yours.”. Who has not felt stressed, angered, or even powerless when hearing similar statements?
Is having to be responsible so troublesome? Is there an alternative to either suffering from or ignoring our sense of responsibility?
FINDING MEANING
“where does our responsibility start and end”?
Originally, the notion of responsibility was positive. In Latin, “respondere” means “answer to, promise in return”. Basically, having the capacity to hold oneself accountable. What shall we be accountable for?
Shall we still be held responsible if the requests we face are unrealistic? When your boss asks you something impossible considering the resources at your disposal, should you try to turn the impossibility into a possibility?
Is it a person’s responsibility to take care of others’ irresponsibilities? For example, should Greta, a 15-year-old child, be responsible for fighting the climate change crisis created by previous generations?
The growing awareness of our human responsibility, for climate change and epidemics like the Covid19 pandemic, illustrates a shift in the people’s perception of their sense of responsibility. Whereas pre-industrial societies thought that natural catastrophes were caused by forces external to humans, modern society holds a different understanding.
If it is important to face reality, putting the job of changing human behaviors on the shoulders of individuals’ may be too overwhelming. Rather than being empowered, our reptilian brain tends to activate our “fight-or-flight” mode in front of such a monumental task. Could we see our responsibilities as a trigger for our expressing our humanity and sense of creativity?
FreeDOM to Determine our responsibility
We are neither omnipotent nor powerless. If we can't change the many circumstances of our world, we can change our perception of it, by tapping into our superpower called consciousness.
If we are conscious about what we think of a situation, we have the power to decide what we want to do about it. In doing so, we regain the ownership of our responsibility.
As Victor Hugo said, “everything that increases freedom also increases responsibility”. Yes, it is scarier to be accountable for our choices. But isn't it also exciting to see we have the power to act upon our environment and control its effect on our lives?
What impact do you want to HAVE?
When facing a situation, thinking about the reality you want to shape (rather than the effects or causes of that situation) may help you shift your mindset around the notion of responsibility.
Let’s escape from your rational brain for a second. Let’s imagine you’re diving in the Indian Ocean. You are enjoying being immersed in another dimension and being surrounded with nature. You’re peaceful… until you see a plastic bag on a coral reef.
Here, you have a few options:
You may think: “What a shame! Nature is getting destroyed! People are irresponsible!" You most likely feel pretty angry, ashamed or depressed.
You may decide to do nothing because, you have nowhere to put this bag, and there are so many other tragedies in the sea that it’s useless to take this singular action.
Alternatively, you may become enraged, pick it up and spend the rest of your dive being infuriated with human society.
Another way to think could be: “This is unfortunate and terrible for nature. We need to change the way we produce and consume on the land. In the meantime, since I saw it, I can pick it up even though it’s not convenient. It will at least be one less threat to fish.” Proud of your sense of responsibility, you enjoy the rest of your diving experience.
Some will say this reframing of the situation is positive psychology’s brainwash. Others will think that we will not save the planet by focusing on an individual’s small actions. Someone else may simply wonder what is the “right” attitude to have in this situation.
Honestly, this question is too complex for a simple singular answer. It’s up to you to decide what you want to think and do in relation to a given circumstance. Your impact depends on YOUR CHOICE.
actualizing your change
A SIMPLE TOOL
When facing either an obstacle, a fear or a rejection, what about taking a step back and asking yourself:
What are the facts?
What thoughts are generating a negative emotion within me?
What do I want to be like instead?
How may I act the way I want to feel?
Here is an example:
Facts: a business leader is explaining “sustainability is, at best, a cherry on the cake that shall be tackled only once the rest is taken care of and if time and resources allow”
Thoughts & emotions: “This is so wrong. With this kind of thought, our world will end pretty soon. I can’t work with people like that. I am feeling hopeless, exasperated & drained”
Ideal me: responding with empathy, trying to understand the real needs of the person and the smart ways to demonstrate sustainability’s added values
Aligned action (amongst many others): “do you feel overwhelmed and pressured with all business development & cost savings targets you are facing”? If yes, “what about discussing your challenges and seeing if we come up with some sustainable solutions?”
A MANTRA TO ACCOMPANY YOU
““If you own this story you get to write the ending.” ”
Now, back to YOU! How do you want to be responsible for your story today?
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Feel free to share how such an article resonates with you, I’d love to know. Besides, if you want support to find (or refine) your purpose and boost your impact on society and on the planet through professional activities, feel free to contact me in using this form (English / French)