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Personal Development · 3 min read

How to Take Personal Responsibility

Discover how personal responsibility ends blame and gives you control. Follow steps to sharpen your mind, boost health, grow savings and lead a life you respect

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

“Personal responsibility is the key that unlocks control: the moment you stop blaming others, the system or luck and instead guide your mind, health and money with wise daily choices, you gain lasting respect, freedom and growth.”

Chris Farmer — Founder, Corporate Coach Group

How to Take Personal Responsibility

In order to have control over your life and have self-respect, then you need to take personal responsibility:

  1. Whoever takes the responsibility also takes the control.
  2. Stop blaming other people.
  3. Stop blaming "the system".
  4. Stop blaming your genetics.
  5. Take personal responsibility for your state of mind and education.
  6. Take personal responsibility for your state of health.
  7. Take personal responsibility for the state of your finances.
  8. "If it's to be, it's up to me".

Whoever takes the responsibility also takes the control.

Responsibility and control go hand in hand. Where you find one you will always find the other.

If you want to have control over your life, then you must assume personal responsibility.

If you surrender responsibility, you surrender control.

Stop blaming other people.

Refuse to blame other people for what is happening to you.

The more you blame others, the less control you have.

The more you assume personal responsibility, the more control you gain.

If you accept total responsibility, then YOU become the director of your destiny.

  • Don't blame your parents,
  • Don't blame your boss,
  • Don't blame your partner.

Look into the mirror and you'll see the major influence operating in your life.

Stop blaming "the system".

It is common for people to blame "the system".

You hear people say, "You can't beat the system", and "The system is against me".

The system usually means, the government, the council, the traffic, the trains.

But the system is impersonal and does not even know you exist. It is not out to get you.

It does not work against you, neither does it work for you. It works independently.

So, you need to learn how to work the system.

Take personal responsibility for your state of mind and education.

Ignorance is not bliss. Take personal responsibility and educate yourself.

No matter how much you think you know, there is still plenty to learn.

Knowledge is power.

The more you know, the more you can do.

There is nothing more empowering than gaining knowledge, and nowadays, information is cheap and easy to find.

Leaders are readers.

Educate yourself.

Take personal responsibility for your state of health.

Don't blame the NHS for your state of health.

Don't blame your doctor.

You choose what to eat, what to drink, what time you go to bed, and how much you exercise.

If you; eat badly, drink too much, stay up too late, and don't exercise, then expect to be ill.

On the other hand: If you eat well, don't drink too much, go to bed early and exercise regularly, then you are more likely to stay well.

Take personal responsibility for a better health plan.

For you, the NHS should mean, Natural Health Systems.

Stop blaming your genetics.

Don't blame your genetics for your:

  • Bad temper
  • Being overweight
  • Poor maths skills
  • Poor reading skills
  • Poor memory skills.

You were born as a set of potentials, that are only actualised by an act of will.

  • Great mathematicians study maths endlessly
  • Great musicians study music endlessly
  • Great athletes train endlessly.

Champions are not born great; they are trained great.

Actualise your full potential.

Take personal responsibility for the state of your finances.

Not many people are born into riches. If you are born into poverty, then change that situation.

Here is how: Spend less than you earn, invest the difference, and earn interest on the investments.

Rich people do that. Poor people do the opposite.

Poor people: Spend more than they earn, they borrow the difference, and they pay interest on their debts.

That is why the rich get richer; and the poor get poorer.

"If it's to be, it's up to me".

Albert Einstein said: "Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility."

In other words, never say:

  • "It's not my fault
  • There is nothing I can do
  • The system is against me
  • People are against me"

Instead, adopt the maxim, "If it's to be, it's up to me".

personal responsibility

Personal responsibility is a self-help principle used in personal development. It means you see yourself as the main cause of what happens to you. You act each day to steer your mind, health and money. You refuse to blame other people, the system or luck. Because you own the cause, you also hold the power to change the result.

CG4D Definition

Context: Personal development
Genus: Principle

  • The person accepts that their choices cause most results in life
  • The person takes active steps to guide thoughts, health, work and money
  • The person rejects blame of other people, the system, genes or luck
  • The person gains control and learns from each outcome, good or bad

Article Summary

Personal responsibility is the key that unlocks control: the moment you stop blaming others, the system or luck and instead guide your mind, health and money with wise daily choices, you gain lasting respect, freedom and growth.

Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Group

Written by Chris Farmer

Founder & Lead Trainer, Corporate Coach Group

Chris Farmer is the founder of the Corporate Coach Group and has over 25 years experience designing and delivering leadership and management training across both the public and private sectors. His programmes are structured, practical and built around real-world performance. Read more about Chris and the story of how the Corporate Coach Group was founded.

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Key Statistics

2024 YouGov poll finds 76% of UK adults say their health is mainly their own responsibility.

2024 Deloitte Global Consumer Pulse Survey shows 69% of people plan to grow their savings by spending less than they earn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this topic

It means you see yourself as the main cause of your results and act each day to guide your mind, health and money.
Blame hands power to others. Accept fault and you regain self control, steering choices that shape work, family and mood.
The system is neutral. Learn its rules, plan ahead and work with it; blame only wastes time and energy.
Drink water, eat fresh food, move for 30 minutes and sleep before midnight. These small acts place your health in your hands.
Use the “pay yourself first” rule: spend less than you earn, save the gap, invest and let interest grow.
Genes set a range, not the finish line. Study and practice stretch your limit; champions are trained, not born.
New skills spark personal growth, boost self improvement and give tools to control your life. The more you know, the more you can do.

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