What do you get out of an orange when you squeeze it?
Do you get grape juice? No.
Vodka? No, but that would make screwdrivers easier to make.
Motor oil? Not so much.
You get orange juice out of an orange.
You
What comes out of you when you’re squeezed?
Is it anger, frustration, anxiety, hatred?
Maybe that’s what’s in charge in your head.
It’s easy to turn this into a scold, to blame people for “not responding well.” You can even beat yourself up with it.
Or you can let that shit go and acknowledge that you can shape and choose your response to what happens to you.
If, in a moment, you react with anger, then you were a bit of a bitter orange just then.
If you’re always bitter and want to not be, do the work to grow your ability to Respond, not react.
The first step is Intention – you have to want to, more than you want what being reactive gives you. You need Awareness about what reactivity does for you, and what it feels like when you’re about to choose it over responding.
Lastly, you need Confront – the ability to see what truly is, not what you wish it to be.
Those are The Keys to Responsibility. Practicing and growing your skill at them will help you respond with more of what you want when you’re being squeezed by the world.
You can do this. I can help.
The Keys to Responsibility is a trademark of The Responsibility Company.