Monday, December 03, 2007

Blame vs. Responsibility

We need to take responsibility for all in our life. It is not blame. Blame involves shame and negativity and responsibility indicates spiritual maturity. With responsibility, you can look at your situation and say, “Hmmm…I created this situation. What am I suppose to learn from it? What is the belief behind it? What is the fear? How can I feel love here?” With blame all we feel is judgment and shame. With judgment we further block the flow of energy.

3 comments:

Kris said...

Looks like we have a few things in common :-) I recently posted on this subject too - http://totalhealthyoga.blogspot.com/2007/11/personal-responsibility.html.

Just this morning I reflected on why a student has been coming to me over and over again complaining about her life. I realized I was somehow attracting this and now realize it has to do with a deep seeded belief that I am responsible not just for myself, but for everyone around me.

@MuseLaura said...

Interesting! I find the line between being a responsible teacher and being responsible for a student is a tricky one to walk. Ironically, taking responsibility for a student is not being a responsible teacher!

I just looked up "responsible" in the dictionary out of curiosity: "Having control over someone as part of one's job." Wow! That makes being responsible for another even, well, ickier.

I also think it is incredibly common for those of us in this service industry to do. How are you working on letting go of the "responsibility button"?

Kris said...

Very true! Just this weekend, I was reflecting (using The Work of Byron Katie - http://www.thework.com/index.asp - as a springboard)about this particular student. And you are right, I came up with the same conclusion--I feel responsible for my students. Intellectually I don't, but somewhere in my heart I do. We'll see what the week brings, but perhaps just being aware of that sub-conscious belief is enough to clear it. Thanks for the definition--WOW!! That really puts things into perspective.