There Is No Greater Solution Than Personal Responsibility

Goal

Today, I argue there is no better solution to societal and individual issues than personal responsibility.

Table of Contents

• The World Has Many Problems
  • The False Solution? Externalizing Responsibility
  • The Real Solution? Individual Responsibility and Self-Sufficiency
• How To Embrace Personal Responsibility
  • 1) Firstly, remove yourself from weak individuals and their ideas.
  • 2) Secondly, identify what bothers you.
  • 3) Lastly, improve your habits.
• Personal Responsibility Is Not Easy
• Actionables

The World Has Many Problems

Many of the world’s problems are caused by the ruling classes and elites. Therefore, the mob spends its time punishing the virtuous, innocent, and productive for the world’s ills.

A casual look at the world reveals the brokenness of the modern age. Inflation, rising healthcare costs, declining marriage stability, broken homes, high crime rates, and so on are the norm. In very few places can we find virtue, stability, or success. Failure and mayhem are the default.

The False Solution? Externalizing Responsibility

The problems before us are massive. Unfortunately, weak individuals hope some external force will come in and resolve everything. This thinking is why their “solutions” are always the same: externalize responsibility by giving more power to the ruling classes and elites.

No matter the problem, be it moral, societal, spiritual, or personal, weak individuals cannot create a solution that does not remove themselves as the actor.

The Real Solution? Individual Responsibility and Self-Sufficiency

“The acceptance of full responsibility for one’s own choices and actions (and their consequences) is such a demanding moral discipline that many men seek to escape it by surrendering to what they believe is the easy, automatic, unthinking safety of a morality of “duty.” They learn better, often when it is too late.” – Ayn Rand

Of course, personal responsibility is the only real, long-term solution to any societal or individual problem. It’s uncomfortable to admit, but those in power do not care. The powerful do what they want without concern for the plebs. Therefore, looking to entertainers, politicians, and leaders for help is foolish.

For example, socialization will not resolve healthcare because the government already has massive power over the system. Therefore, more control will not lead to better results. The long-term solution is privatized healthcare—however, the powerful benefit from the suffering of the poor and unhealthy. We cannot reasonably look to our leaders for help.

What should you do? Be responsible. Take care of yourself by exercising, sleeping often, and eating well. Improving your health reduces the cost of healthcare for yourself and everyone else.

Healthcare, poverty, abuse, and so on are all issues that are alleviated when individuals take responsibility for their actions.

How To Embrace Personal Responsibility

Personal responsibility is demanding. Therefore, how do you cultivate the habits that make it easier to embrace accountability?

1. Firstly, remove yourself from weak individuals and their ideas. People who do not want to improve their lives or make the world a better place will drain you of vitality. Separate yourself by cutting back the time you spend with them. Focus on finding those who want to improve themselves. For example, spend time around individuals going to the gym, and you’ll want to get in better shape. Don’t spend time around those content with gaining weight and complaining about healthcare costs.
2. Secondly, identify what bothers you. Where do you feel there are failures in society or in your personal life? Understanding what you care about is the first step in making real, long-term changes. From here, create a clear game plan of what you should do daily, weekly, monthly, and so on. If every moment is spent productively, you’ll accomplish your goals.
3. Lastly, improve your habits. Your daily habits will determine how your life will proceed. If you act poorly every day, you cannot expect to accomplish great things by the end of your life. Therefore, you must invest time in eating better, consistent grooming, studying frequently, and so on. The more you cherish your daily and weekly habits, the stronger of an individual you will become. The stronger you become, the more eager you will be to embrace personal responsibility.

Personal Responsibility Is Not Easy

Life improves when individuals improve. Life becomes easier when everyone is willing to shoulder the burden of their responsibility.

Weak individuals do not see personal responsibility as a solution. To them, responsibility is too demanding. Thus, it cannot be a real “solution.” But what is the alternative? If you don’t take better care of your health, will the government do it for you? Why do you think that? What evidence convinces anyone that those in power care about the average person?

Entertainers will not help you when you are financially in debt from consuming their crap. Governments will not correctly educate your children and will prevent you from saving them from an active shooter. Those in power will never properly regulate anything from your food to nuclear weapons. No one is providing you with a safe space. No one in authority will help you when you need or want it.

Do not lie to yourself. If you are worried about a particular issue in society or your life, you will have to work towards fixing that issue. You must put in the work. Otherwise, nothing will change.

Actionables

1. What is one thing in your life that you do embrace responsibility for? Why or why not? Do you truly feel you are not responsible for it? If so, then why does this element of your life bother you?
2. What is one thing you’ve taken responsibility for and have seen positive results? For example, I’ve taken responsibility for my health and feel much better.
3. Are there people in your life who refuse to acknowledge their responsibility for resolving a personal or social issue? How do these people fare? What are they like?

Please remember that it’s important to do the actionables. You’re not on this earth to simply read but to do. To become an individual, you must act more than you consume.

*Image credit to Unsplash.