Response-ability: A Life Skills that Creates Responsibility

As much as we sometimes would like it to, life never stands still. We grow up, kids grow up, and life keeps evolving. As the changes of life ensue, we are consistently faced with choices on how to face them. No matter how we choose to respond, our choices come from one of two places; either above or below the line.

No matter the time of day or night, the parallel line that divides our character and represents responsibility is constantly within our vision. Taken from the ideology of “Money & You,” a course for entrepreneurs and business people, “Living Above the Line” is a powerful life skill that helps us maintain responsibility for our choices and actions. As a foundation for communication and personal interaction, living Above the Line highlights and puts into practice the act of Ownership, by taking responsibility for our actions.

Just as the horizon differentiates between the Earth and sky, the “Line” signifies the strength of our personal character. Every one of us chooses to either consciously or subconsciously live in one of two places; either ‘Above or Below the Line.’ When we choose to come from ‘Below the Line,’ our lives become circumstance-driven. We let go of our ownership and send the message to the world that we are not in control of our lives. People who live ‘Below the Line,’ all too often lay blame, justify, deny, and quit as they show the world that they have little to no control over their personal responsibilities.

The most common and personally damaging way to live ‘Below the Line’ is to “lay blame.” In high school, laying blame can look a lot like being called out by a teacher for talking in class. “She was talking to ME! It’s not my fault!” While the student may think he or she has an appropriate retort, it doesn’t solve the issue or promote responsibility, and is a surefire way to cause resentment between the student and teacher.

A second way to live Below the Line is to “Justify.” Justification happens when we create reasons why we didn’t perform as we had planned. “Why did I get pulled over?! Everyone else is speeding” This Below the Line tendency provides reasons for failure in believing that the reason will make everything acceptable.

Another way to live below the line is to “Deny.” “I didn’t do it.” (Think, Bart Simpson.) When we deny, the problem doesn’t go away. This obviously ineffective response can cause others a great deal of frustration (Think Marge Simpson), and make you seem unreliable or dishonest.

Finally, the most disheartening form of Below the Line thinking is to all out “Quit.” You quit when you believe so passionately that you will fail that you don’t even bother to try. This act sabotages your chances for success even before they begin. Quitting is the most profound way to diminish and deceive yourself.

When we Live Above the Line, however, we are using response-ability, a life skill which can be defined as “having the ability to respond.” With response-ability come choices and freedoms. At SuperCamp, an academic summer program for teens, students learn that living Above the Line means being accountable for their actions and having a willingness to make corrections when necessary. It means looking at the options and finding solutions to become more effective. This thinking leads to greater freedoms as we use our experiences to move us toward success rather than being controlled by circumstances. You determine your own actions.

By living ‘Above the Line,’ people take responsibility for their own life. This action creates greater control of our lives because we stop blaming outside influences on ourselves and situations. For students, it means learning to take ownership of their potential by owning up to their education and relationships. They can create a shift in their lives simply by taking ownership of their attitude.

Response-ability is the ability to respond to the events that happen in our lives. When you sit back and accept things that happen to you, you are allowing the circumstances of life to control you rather than taking control of what circumstances come in and out of your life. When you take action, you make life happen for you.

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