Quality of Life Improvement RESPONSIBILITY

Who is responsible for improving the Quality of Life? Of our Life?

RESPONSIBILITY is the ability to respond 'properly' to the challenges of life. Properly with respect to our true nature as a human being, that is taking charge of our own destiny.

1. As I see it, we have to learn to accept responsibility for our own lives

Here and Now and Wherever we go to live, work or play
Our material, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health
Our growth, improvement, development, learning, education, experience
Our future, especially when we are aged

2. We also have to learn to accept responsibility for our 'dependents', taken in the broadest sense of those who are dependent on our action:

Our spouse
Our children and other descendants
Our employees
Our co-workers, class mates, siblings
Our superiors, parents, bosses, teachers, instructors, counselors
Anyone who could be subject to words or actions

3. We have a task in educating our 'dependents' in learning to behave responsibly.

Our children must learn to bear responsibility right from day one. They should learn to take care of themselves or parts thereof as soon as they are capable to do so. e.g. My son was just able to walk when he was given the task of bringing his plate to the kitchen after his meal. As he grew older, he got more tasks.
Our spouse must learn to take care of his/herself. Too many are devastated when becoming widowed or divorced.
In general, we should not make ourselves indispensable, because we aren't. Our life could be taken away from us at any instant. It is only fair to leave things manageable, by those remaining.

4. We are responsible for all our relationships. Regardless what our relationship is and with whom it is, we are responsible for our part of it. A relationship is two-party deal. Don't take it for granted, just because there are no problems. A relationship needs:

Nourishment.
Your contribution to the relationship.
Acknowledgement.
Recognizing the other party's contribution.
Mutual Respect
No true relationship can exist without mutual respect. If it is not there, there should be a constant effort to create it, so the relationship can be fostered. Parents often forget to give their children the respect they deserve. Children are no slaves, not are they stupid. They are only young, inexperienced and uneducated. That is where they need our help and respect, because they are willing to learn, if we let them. Are employees any different? How about prisoners?
Needs.
Symbiosis requires the recognition and the satisfaction of the needs of both parties.
Generosity.
It's not what you get but what you give that makes the relationship.
Communications.
The most critical part of the relationship. Unless you communicate at all levels, there can be no relationship. We often take things for granted, because we think the other party is like us and we don't hear anything to indicate the opposite.
Live and let live.
We all have different needs and ideas, and what constitutes our Quality of Life. Don't dictate to others your way of life. Let them free to choose how they want to live their own. You may inform them of the consequences of their lifestyle, but they should be free to choose - as long as they don't interfere with other's. Remember, bullying leads to frustration, leads resentment, leads to violence. Generosity leads to tolerance, leads to peace, leads to mutual respect, leads to co-operation.

5. Finally, we have a political responsibility.

Taking responsibility for our world is essential to improving our Quality of Life.

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