Personal Responsibility

What does it take to be ok?

That is a hard question. We all have gone through our very own custom-made-just-for-us pain smorgasbord. We endure violations of trust, both physical and mental, through an infinite variety of delivery, with varying degrees of intensity, throughout the entirety of our lives.

Fair isn’t even in the equation.

As someone that has dealt with life long depression, the subsequent defensive mechanism of rage, and utilizing the coping mask of humor, I’m all too familiar with how easy it is to NOT be ok.

As far as my personal experience goes, nothing has provided me with relief quite like blanket personal responsibility. Choosing to accept that EVERYTHING is my fault, and the very few things (VERY FEW) that are undeniably NOT my fault get chalked up to the f^cked up universe.

There are an infinite number of people, circumstances, injustices, scenarios, and occurrences that can easily ruin your day, your week, your entire life… but there is only one person that can choose how to act and react to all of that.

Me. (You)

Personal responsibility empowers me.

It is of no lasting benefit to put my life and its well being into the hands and actions of others.

It is not others responsibility to appease my emotional conditions. It is my responsibility to set and communicate personal boundaries and, with love and acceptance, enforce those boundaries.

If a person does not respect my boundaries, either through vocalized or actionable rejection, then I move on. I wish them well in their own journey, but I do not allow a violator of my boundaries within my walls of self respect.

This is an act of LOVE and protection for MYSELF. As I would wish for others to do for themselves.

Then, through patient perseverance, when we are able to unite with those that truly embrace us within our boundaries (including ourselves), we can find peace.