MENTAL LADDER OF SUCCESS

Part 2: "Personal Responsibility"

Here’s our next key to success when challenged by Life’s Lessons. The next step is the most important after overcoming insecurity. Why? It serves as our launching pad to conquer every subsequent challenge.

The next important step is 'Personal Responsibility.' This step is crucial. By acknowledging and accepting personal responsibility, we take control of our words and actions. When we embrace personal responsibility, we empower ourselves to face or overcome any challenges that life presents.

When we take responsibility for our words and actions, we eliminate the need for excuses. Without excuses, there is no reason to lie. Why is this the case? Excuses are fabrications we create to justify why we avoided, or wish to avoid, taking appropriate actions, exhibiting acceptable behaviors, or providing accountable responses.

We all make mistakes and commit errors; we’ve all said or done things we wish we could take back. Accepting personal responsibility allows for growth. By learning from our mistakes and taking responsibility for our actions, we can avoid repeating inappropriate choices. This, in turn, helps us eliminate potential negative consequences in our lives.

This new understanding, along with a new self-image and newfound self-respect, reveals the ‘cracks’ in our old patterns of response. These are the patterns we overlook that lead us deeper into adversity. With our newfound knowledge of personal responsibility, excuses no longer serve as obstacles to our future success. They are no longer a part of who we are becoming.

Recognize that you control your self-image by taking responsibility for your thoughts, words, and actions. This awareness can transform your entire life.

Let’s quickly look at the other challenges:

• Dependability

• Reliability

• Accountability

• Credibility

You will notice these are highly cognitive, task-driven skill sets that promote essential stability, industry, business, commerce, or team focus. In many cases, these can be more male-dominant, reflecting the ‘hunter’ side of the “Hunter-Gatherer” model.

While the following qualities:

• Commitment

• Trust

• Forgiveness

• Truth

• Love

are often historically and traditionally associated with the feminine side of the "hunter-gatherer" model, it is essential to recognize their significance. If we focus exclusively on excelling in either the masculine or feminine traits, our motivations and results may be shaped accordingly.

You may have heard the adage "opposites attract." Sometimes, high achievers in one area of life are drawn to their opposite in order to create balance in their relationships and lives. This principle can be applied to achieving equilibrium in both personal relationships and work-life balance. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve harmony between these two aspects.

How do we achieve success? For each of us, success is rooted in a single concept: worthiness. This concept gives us the strength and determination to start, or restart, our climb up the ladder of achievement. Why is this important? The idea of worthiness serves as a mental trigger that influences our ability to overcome the daily challenges we encounter, both at home and at work.

So, what is worthiness, and where does it come from? Throughout life, many people look in the mirror and ask themselves, "Am I worthy? Do I have value? Are my words and actions appreciated?" These are difficult questions. Where does worthiness originate? How can we recognize it? More importantly, how do we accept it as our own?

Since we are all part of God’s creation, our worthiness is inherent in our being. Each of us is deserving of God’s love, as God cares for all He has created. Because everything God has made has a purpose, we are all here to fulfill part of that divine plan. Consequently, we possess intrinsic value and worth—first to God, then to one another, and most importantly, to ourselves.

This sense of worth provides the motivation to pursue our dreams, goals, and ambitions. So, what is the key that helps us acknowledge our worth and value? In one word: Respect! First, we must cultivate self-respect and then extend that respect to others.

Those who fail to respect themselves often transfer that disrespect into their surroundings, affecting the people in their lives as well. They may not realize it or understand how their actions reflect their feelings. Their motivations and behavior towards others, especially those they claim to love, honor, or care for, frequently reveal a pattern of disrespect.

This behavior indicates a lack of self-respect. If they truly respected themselves, they wouldn’t act in malicious, disrespectful, or unloving ways. Respect for ourselves fuels the respect we show others, stemming from our character. But how does that happen?

Character is the essence of who we truly are; it is the driving force behind our nature. Our responses and behaviors reveal our character. It is displayed through how we navigate our world, manifested daily in our interactions with others.