When was the last time you accepted a mistake as your own fault? If you find yourself thinking hard about it, this article is for you (even if you're a narcissist and think you never make mistakes).
When you knowingly blame others instead of taking responsibility for your mistakes, you are creating a never-ending cycle where everyone blames each other because no one wants to seem incompetent in front of others. At the end, blaming others never turns out a good solution for anyone.
Hard work is the only way to success, which fortunately is in your own hands. The bad instructor and the strict grader are not to blame. Everyone is facing the same challenges you are. Instead of blaming other people for a bad grade, it would be pragmatic to consider the possibility that you didn’t prepare as much as you should have for that particular test. Don't worry, you can apply yourself and do well on the next one.
Remember the last time you got agitated when someone blamed you for some outcome in which you had no say? Sucks, right? The same thing happens when you are the one who doesn’t take responsibility and places the blame on others. If you don't like it, no one does.
When you escape responsibility for your own actions repeatedly, you are bound to feel guilty at some point. If you take responsibility and accept your mistake, you will only be able to feel sorry for your personal shortcomings. In the long run, it is better to be sorry for what you did than to feel guilty about what you didn’t do.
There is a subtle difference between accepting your mistake and taking responsibility. When we accept our mistakes, we acknowledge that we were wrong. That’s it. We don’t try to mend the situation or make up for it. When we take responsibility, however, we hold ourselves accountable for whatever outcomes arise from the situation. If there are consequences, we commit to rectifying them in any way possible.
People will always try to take credit when there is success or a positive outcome. But, the moment a situation goes awry, the same people may or may not be there to take responsibility for the consequences. This is the difference between a good leader and a follower. Good leaders take responsibility for their own and their team's actions. Taking responsibility plays both a societal and professional role in life. If one wants to be successful in his/her professional life, he/she needs to take more responsibility and face the consequences that result.
Ultimately, being responsible makes you more mature and you start to see the world in a different light. You understand why someone made the mistake that others thought was trivial and easily avoidable. You start to understand that actions are interdependent and there are many people responsible for a mistake or consequence. Once you accept that taking responsibility for your mistakes is right, you can rest assured knowing that no one else has taken on the burden of your mistake.
