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The suggestion that people are taking less responsibility for themselves today is a broad topic. Sometimes it certainly does appear that way, whether we confront this in our own lives, the lives of our families, on the job or in the numerous other relationships we have.

Taking personal responsibility is a trait that is developed within the family environment and is trained by our parents or caregivers initially. Very often, we learn this by observation of these same people, since their actions will dictate their level of responsibility to themselves and others, thereby teaching us a mode of behaviour that we will usually carry with us into our own lives.

What is different about the relatively recent past is that people were expected to survive by their own work and talents, sometimes receiving little or no support outside of their family of origin. There was no union, no health care, no WCB, and no social programs to any degree available. Our ancestors, only a few decades ago, had a very different life from the ones that we have on this continent (North America) today. Taking personal responsibility meant personal survival.

Because we have progressed into a rapidly advancing society, we have been able to implement those things that have improved our lives to a large degree. Some of us, I believe have become complacent as a result and may even have developed a sense of entitlement. Entitlement thinking can be a significant detriment to progress both personally and in society at large. Complacency leading to reliance can result in blame. What this means is that when the support we have learned to expect fails in some way, we may blame someone or something outside of ourselves for this deficiency.

The fact that society today is efficient at "blaming" is evident every time we turn on the news, read the newspaper and listen to discussions around topics such as health care, government spending, workplace chaos and so on. However, how many of us are willing to stand up and be counted should the opportunity arise? How many of us would not take advantage of our jobs, bosses, etc., if it we believed this would go unnoticed and we could get away with it? And now we confront the bigger question of "integrity". Personal responsibility and integrity are "twin" traits. If we have both of these going for us we will sometimes find out that we are "alone". While these were valued traits in our ancestors and even helped them prosper, it seems as though these traits may have a propensity to get us into trouble today, especially if we are the only person who is actually working in a room of four other people who not really working and believe they are protected from loosing their jobs. What happens though when the money runs out resulting in loss of jobs, homes, relationships? Who is to blame?

The dilemma may really be between what our personal responsibility is and where the line is drawn. While this may have been more clearly defined in the past, it may not be as clear today. What may be lacking at the end of the day is "balance" between what I should be doing and what I believe should be done for me; effectively answering this question requires insight and wisdom and yes, taking personal responsibility for the answer.

Learn more about this author, Susan Carr.
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