Be Responsible and Play Above the Line

Be Responsible for your thoughts, feelings, actions and results.

To be responsible means playing above the line. What does it mean to play below the line?

This principle is one of many in a series of principles taught by Marshall Thurber.

Lay Blame

“All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you.” — Wayne Dyer

When you blame something or someone else for your thoughts, feelings, actions and results then you are giving away the power to learn from the experience.

Instead of laying blame take responsibility and own the experience. Make the learning bigger than the experience.

Justify

“There is only one justification for having sinned, and that is to be glad of it” — H.L. Mencken

When you justify your thoughts, feelings, actions and results then you are giving yourself permission to fail and a false sense of success.

True success comes from acting with integrity and honouring yourself with honesty.

Shame

“Shame is a soul eating emotion.”  Carl G Jung

When you feel ashamed for your thoughts, feelings, actions and results then you are paralysing your chance to grow.  

Honour yourself, stand out and be a powerful version of yourself.

Key Takeaway

You are playing below the line when you lay blame, justify or feel ashamed for your thoughts, feelings, actions and results.

This is a huge waste of your precious time and attention! You have an opportunity to learn and grow.

When you play below the line you have broken trust and integrity.

Take responsibility, learn from it and move forward with purpose.

One way to stay accountable, literally, to play above the line and be responsible is to keep a $2 Responsibility jar. Any time you catch yourself laying blame, justifying or shaming then put $2 into that jar.

Notable Quotes

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself.” — Jim Rohn

 

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt — Eleanor Roosevelt

 

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” — George Bernard Shaw

Related Principles

• Knower vs Learner
• Time and Attention