The Blame Game

The recent buzz phrase for politicians is, “Now is not the time to play the blame game.”

It’s a great sound bite. Perhaps best followed by “ . . . but we are going to take responsibility for our role and work to make sure that changes are made that make sure that things are better . . .” While I agree that blame is not the way to go I’d like to offer the responsibility option. Not only for the politicians but for all of us.

What is your perspective when it comes to Blame vs. Responsibility?

Blame is about transferring the ability to affect an outcome to others or in other words to place things beyond your control. Do you blame things that happen to you in your life on someone else? If you do, then you become a helpless victim of circumstance. You lose all control over your life.

So what is taking responsibility? It involves accepting your role or part in a given situation. Whether it’s sole responsibility or perhaps as an accomplice, you acknowledge that you had a hand in the outcome.

Taking responsibility is empowering, freeing, and liberating. You stop feeling powerless. You save energy because you don’t have to waste time making excuses about what happened. Taking responsibility builds character and self-esteem. It also gives you the ability to make changes to improve outcomes.

If we put ourselves in the position where our spouse, friends, partners, boss, clients, or government has all the power we are only left with the option to blame others for our circumstance. Take the path of responsibility and you will see the many options available to you and the power that comes with that freedom to choose.