“ Man is nothing else but what he makes of himself.”
~ Jean-Paul Sartre
Everyone has them. Not everyone likes them. You can’t escape them. You may as well make the best of them.
What might I be talking about? Responsibilities, of course! But what does that actually mean? Let’s unpack that word a little bit.
On the face of it, it’s all those things like rent or mortgage payment, getting the kids to school, and making sure the bills are paid. You can be responsible for other people, you can be responsible for objects or property, or you can be responsible for getting things done.
Take a close look at the word ’responsibility‘. It’s not pro-act-ability. The first half is response which is another word for react. The second half is ability, so in effect the word breaks down to mean your ability to react.
So really, being responsible means being capable of easily handling whatever life throws your way. What sort of habits or practices can you develop to improve that ability?
Well, you can start by doing your best to stay grounded. Work on your ability to think on your feet. Cultivate resilience. Develop grit. In short, anything you can do to prevent you from being caught on the back foot.
After all, when life throws you curve balls you better hope you have your metaphysical catchers mitt handy!
So much for re-acting. What about pro-acting? You may have a crystal ball and know precisely what to prepare for, but most of us mere mortals don’t. We have to take other measures to be ready for the potholes on our yellow roads of brick.
Your ability to respond is much like any other muscle or talent or skill. You can bolster your readiness by building better habits, taking conscious care of your body, and perfecting the art of staying present.
One might even say that your ability to be responsible is directly related to how well you take care of yourself. So listening closely to what’s going on inside will help you better balance the unknowns that inevitably come your way from the outside.
With you as always in the balance! Much love till next Monday!
M+
Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine
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