My response is my responsibility

I’ve been reading a couple of really great books by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.  The first is titled “Love & Respect“.  The book is for Married couples and if you are married…I would highly recommend this book, but that’s not the reason I’m making this post.

The book ends finalizing everything that is covered with one key statement: “My response is my responsibility”.   This one statement has had a truly powerful impact on me, but not for just my marriage, but for so many different things.

My response is my responsibility

This statement has really touched a nerve in me that has built up over the past several months as I’ve struggled with a great multitude of many things in my life.  Not just my marriage, but in me.   It’s not something that hasn’t been told to me a thousand times, and I’ve always known, that the words I choose to speak verbally or electronically 🙂 Have a profound impact and lasting message in representing everything about me and how people interpret me.

My response is my responsibility

The only thing one has to realize is that it doesn’t matter what you think of yourself, or how others perceive you, because it boils down your actions and responses in EVERYTHING.

I have always prided myself in my ability to respond very quickly, and provide an “Answer” to something, and I always feel “Bad” if I can’t come up with a quick response to help someone out with their request, need, or desire.  I would look at that as a failure in me, in not being able to provide an answer or response in a timely fashion, but after reading this book; thinking about this simple statement; meditating and praying; I’ve come to realize that something I pride myself so much on, is probably one of my biggest problems 🙂 :).

My response is my responsibility

I can’t count the number of times I’ve been approached and told “Hey Keith, slow down and think about that for a moment…don’t be so rushed to reply; answer; and respond”, and it’s something I’ve been working on for a long time.   Sure, they told me that I have this tendency, and I’ve been working on it 🙂  But allot of times, I always “Allow” the excuse of time, and things like “Well, some people can’t read emotion in email” 🙂 and “Hey, understand I’m very busy…I’ll have to work with that person to instruct them that it’s not me, it’s how their interpreting what I said” only to realize that probably 98% of the time, it IS because of what I said :).

My response is my responsibility

I’ve been working this statement through my head for the last week, and I can’t express to you how many things have been revealed to me about myself in “EVERYTHING” I do, that I’ve sat back…burst out with laughter as I realized “Oh dear, it was me all along”, because no one can truly see me for what I am, than in my responses.  I HAVE to stop, think about what I need to say, and then say it responsibly.

I’m not saying I’m a bad person, and that I’ve stated cruel things, or laughing about what I may have stated before, but laughing with the realization that “I got it!” about myself, and I’ve been completely missing the boat for so long :).

My response is my responsibility

The next time your sitting there, and you’re chatting with a family member; a friend; a co-worker; your boss; sending an email…Remember, your response is your responsibility.

I have to get back to work now….just thought I’d share 🙂

– Keith