Successful Living: Take Responsibility for Empowering Your Attitude and Actions By Melissa Wadsworth

Personal responsibility. We each know we have it in the various areas of our lives: work and career, family relationships, friends, future goals. But do we always do all we could in directing our attitude and actions for a positive result? Do we use our attitude and actions to empower ourselves? Or has the hectic pace of modern living encouraged us to let crucial attributes slide?


For instance, I know that I have a responsibility to give back to others. Each time I hear of someone volunteering with real heart and purpose, I am reminded that I need to do more. In the meantime I try to be friendly and helpful to people I come in contact with. I’m not always as successful as I’d like to be (Oops! I was in my head again and missed an opportunity to return the smile of a nice stranger).


Also, I know that I have a responsibility to interact with others fairly and with kindness. We all get our fear buttons pushed. Such moments are prime opportunities to push back. We can push back fear and act with generosity and optimism. We can imagine our connection to others and act more inclusively.


There’s enough success to go around for everyone. There’s enough business. We can remind ourselves that our agenda shares a stage with many other people and their own goals and plans. How we execute our daily tasks and goals is just as important as when we complete them. If at the end of the day we can say we acted with grace and honor to fulfill our goals, then it’s a very good day indeed.

Of course, the most important responsibility we have is to ourselves. Since we are the first link in our chain of influence and connection, ideally, we act from a hopeful, grounded and honest place. From a place of heart that nourishes us so we have more to give ourselves, others and our communities.

Boost Your Focus on These Five Areas of Personal Responsibility:

1. Kindness. Embrace nice. The smallest acts of kindness can change the energy in someone’s day (indeed your own) or even make you a hero in another’s eyes. Find these opportunities. Grab them as they arise. And, remember the flip side: negativity in any form matters: small meanness as well as selfish behavior. Don’t rationalize unkindness.


2. Courage. Sometimes it takes courage to be an agent for positive change. You might have to step up and report someone’s negative management style. You might need to point out someone’s unsuccessful relationship patterns. I once witnessed a boss who was being so emotionally cruel to a secretary that she had her in tears. When I asked her what she was doing, it was almost like I awoke her from a trance. She was truly apologetic.


3. Integrity. Be uncompromising in your intention to take the highroad. Shortcuts are tempting. Rationalization is often right on the tips of our tongues. Walk your talk and act in sync with your values. It will reduce your own stress, not to mention that of others in your sphere of influence.


4. Courtesy. Business and social courtesies seem to be quickly eroding. Maybe it’s a technological side effect? Regardless, do your part to act with courtesy. RSVP. Follow up when you network. Respond to job applications (even with a form letter). Return calls in a timely manner. Send a "Thank You" card to someone who has done you a favor or a kindness. Use your turn signal! It’s a great opportunity to set yourself apart in a very positive way. And, just think of all the good energy that should soon be headed your way.


5. Self-examination. Every now and again, maybe after a hectic week, it's good to review how satisfied and pleased you are with your own behavior. Self-knowledge: it’s healthy to occasionally question your motives for words and actions. Did anything you say or do feel too self-serving, greedy or out of alignment with how you think of yourself, or how you'd like to regarded? Be frank. Make adjustments as necessary and keep challenging yourself to grow.


If you pay attention to your attitude and actions in these five areas than each day will be a meaningful success.

Melissa Wadsworth is a self-help author and speaker specializing in creative awareness and personal growth topics. Check out her book Small Talk Savvy Then sign up for her FREE "Living Awareness" ezine at: www.melissawadsworth.comandd receive a FREE copy of her special report "Personal Insight: Seven Steps to Empowering Yourself."