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Quotes about Taking Responsibility

    “There was no better decision I could have made than the discipline I put on myself of having responsibility, having another human being—my wife—that I have to answer to.”

    J. Cole, via Stillness is the Key (Page 145)

      “Perhaps our environmental problems are not best construed technically.  Maybe they’re best considered psychologically.  The more people sort themselves out, the more responsibility they will take for the world around them and the more problems they will solve.  It is better, proverbially, to rule your own spirit than to rule a city.  It’s easier to subdue an enemy without than one within.  Maybe the environmental problem is ultimately spiritual.  If we put ourselves in order, perhaps we will do the same for the world.  Of course, what else would a psychologist think?” ~ Jordan Peterson, 12 Rules for Life (Page 364)

        “We aren’t victims of life—we are life.  We have power over our efforts, which gives us power to adjust our sails depending on which way things are blowing.  Self-pity serves as a barrier to those sails and sets us on a one-way path downward.  Our problems may not be our fault, but they are definitely our responsibility, so ask yourself how well excessive self-pity and seeking pity help with that responsibility.  The more we exercise our power to turn our days around, the more the tools to help us will find us.” ~ Humble the Poet, Things No One Else Can Teach Us (Page 261)

          “Power and blame go hand in hand, so if we want to find the power to improve our situation, we’re going to have to take responsibility, no matter how much others did us dirty.  Taking the time to see how we contribute to our unfortunate circumstances is the first step to turning things around.  Comparing ourselves to others and spending excessive time on social media only fuels our self-pity, and the more aware we are of those triggers, the better off we’ll be.  Pointing fingers and taking offense are also the language of self-victimization, and we need to recognize when theirs becomes a habit we can’t kick.  The secret to dealing with much of the bullshit life throws us is self-sufficiency, which means finding ways to own the bullshit, even when there are plenty of other people who should be sharing the blame.” ~ Humble the Poet, Things No One Else Can Teach Us (Page 220)

            “The world doesn’t stop for our tragedies; it keeps moving, and we have to keep moving with it.  Stop handling your tragedies like a child, and deal with them like an adult.  Adults show up for work, children stay in bed.” ~ Humble the Poet, Things No One Else Can Teach Us (Page 62)

              “No one will ever tell you how great you can be.  You will never be asked to do something incredible with your life.  You will never get a letter in the mail that says, ‘Dear you, please, do something important with your time.’  Even if you do it quietly you have to give yourself the life you want.” ~ Iain Thomas, Every Word you Cannot Say (Page 72)

                “We have to accept responsibility for the state of our own mind; it doesn’t work to blame others for our confusion or expect them to encourage or confirm us in our practice.  We have to look to ourselves as the source of our own confusion—and our own enlightenment.” ~ Sakyong Mipham, Turning the Mind Into An Ally (Page 98)

                  “If we want to undo our own bewilderment and suffering and be of benefit to others and the planet, we’re going to have to be responsible for learning what our own mind is and how it works, no matter what beliefs we hold.  Once we see how our mind works, we see how our life works, too.  That changes us.” ~ Sakyong Mipham, Turning the Mind Into An Ally (Page 5)

                    “Once people stop making excuses, stop blaming others, and take ownership of everything in their lives, they are compelled to take action to solve their problems.  They are better leaders, better followers, more dependable and actively contributing team members, and more skilled in aggressively driving toward mission accomplishment.  But they’re also humble—able to keep their egos from damaging relationships and adversely impacting the mission and the team.” ~ Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Extreme Ownership (Page xii)

                    Extreme Ownership [Book]

                      Extreme Ownership Book
                      By: Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

                      From this Book: 22 Quotes

                      Book Overview: In Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin share hard-hitting, Navy SEAL combat stories that translate into lessons for business and life. With riveting first-hand accounts of making high-pressure decisions as Navy SEAL battlefield leaders, this book is equally gripping for leaders who seek to dominate other arenas. Jocko and Leif served together in SEAL Task Unit Bruiser, the most highly decorated Special Operations unit from the war in Iraq. Their efforts contributed to the historic triumph for U.S. forces in Ramadi. Through those difficult months of sustained combat, Jocko, Leif and their SEAL brothers learned that leadership–at every level–is the most important thing on the battlefield. A compelling narrative with powerful instruction and direct application, Extreme Ownership revolutionizes business management and challenges leaders everywhere to fulfill their ultimate purpose: lead and win.

                      Buy from Amazon! Listen on Audible!

                      Great on Kindle. Great Experience. Great Value. The Kindle edition of this book comes highly recommended on Amazon.

                      Post(s) Inspired by this Book:

                      1.  18 Quotes from Extreme Ownership That Will Help You Lead and Win
                      2. A Navy SEAL’s Checklist for Planning—from Jocko Willink and Leif Babin [Excerpt]
                      3. Jocko Willink Quote on How Your Greatest Strength Can Also Be Your Greatest Weakness (Beyond the Quote 165/365)

                        “You must determine where you have been in your life, so that you can know where you are now.  If you don’t know where you are, precisely, then you could be anywhere.  Anywhere is too many places to be, and some of those places are very bad.  You must determine where you have been in your life, because otherwise you can’t get to where you’re going.  You can’t get from point A to point B unless you are already at point A, and if you’re  just ‘anywhere’ the chances you are at point A are very small indeed.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 282)

                          “Be careful with what you tell yourself and others about what you have done, what you are doing, and where you are going.  Search for the correct words.  Organize those words into correct sentences, and those sentences into the correct paragraphs.  The past can be redeemed, when reduced by precise language to its essence.  The present can flow by without robbing the future if its realities are spoken out clearly.  With careful thought and language, the singular, stellar destiny that justifies existence can be extracted from the multitude of murky and unpleasant futures that are far more likely to manifest themselves of their own accord.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 281)

                            “Things fall apart.  What worked yesterday will not necessarily work today.  We have inherited the great machinery of state and culture from our forefathers, but they are dead, and cannot deal with the changes of the day.  The living can.  We can open our eyes and modify what we have where necessary and keep the machinery running smoothly.  Or we can pretend that everything is alright, fail to make the necessary repairs, and then curse fate when nothing goes our way.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 228)

                              “Your life is not f*cked up because of overt racists or hidden systemic racism.  You aren’t missing out on opportunities, making sh*t money, and getting evicted because of America or Donald f*cking Trump or because your ancestors were slaves or because some people hate immigrants or Jews or harass women or believe gay people are going to hell.  If any of that sh*t is stopping you from excelling in life, I’ve got some news.  You are stopping you!” ~ David Goggins, Can’t Hurt Me