Taking Responsibility

Ever reflect on why taking responsibility seems burdensome? We know taking responsibility is the right thing to do, yet... Yes, there's a kind of snag that we don't jump right to it. Taking responsibility lets us feel we have to surrender time and effort. By this, we definitely don't feel free. 

To undertake responsibility requires virtues, hence the whole exercise should be freeing and joyful. How is it that we perceive it to be the exact opposite?

If I may say, the error lies in the doer mentally. We think we can choose to execute the ideal actions. We also have the idea that we're able to uphold wholesomeness - do the right thing and avoid the unwholesome traits. Perhaps, that's why when undertaking responsibility, it feels like there's always this conflict to overcome. It appears we want to do the better thing, but deep down we feel inclined to do the lesser action. 

We may also be besieged with self-judgment that we're weak, lazy, or lacking whenever we procrastinate in taking responsibility. This lack of confidence is definitely not helpful in cultivating a balanced mental health. 

On the other extreme, if we're seemingly able to be responsible, we may have expectations that others too should be able to do so. Hence when they fail, we have all kinds of judgments, or worse, accusations!

For some of us struggling with righteousness, when such judgments arise, we may be overwhelmed by guilt and get very confused. Which is why right understanding plays such a crucial role in recognizing erroneous ideas. There's never a single person or mind in charge but rather factors of causes and conditions that give rise to how a happening takes place and how it is experienced. 

Understanding mind traits frees us from holding anyone responsible. We realize the workings are universal and totally unbiased. Hence, with understanding, we're not limited to just having expectations and making judgments.

Expectations and judgments stress our very own minds while they seemingly are projected onto others. Realizing such frees the mind from its self-judgments and attacks. There's an understanding of why a certain mind state occurs due to conditioning. 

Taking responsibility is synonymous with the willingness to learn about universal truths through understanding. It is this pathway that transcends expectations and judgments. Taking responsibility happens naturally and effortlessly, in joy, and freedom from the limitations of wrong ideas.  

Join me in this amazing mind education.

In grace,
Nancy Cheah
12 Sep 2023