Radical Responsibility: Stop Letting Your Past Hold You Back
There’s a mindset out there that claims you are a product of your past, your trauma, your childhood, and that it excuses you from being where you want to be today. But if you’re ready to drop the baggage and take full charge of your life, this one’s for you. There’s also an episode of “Not Sorry” about it that you can check out HERE!
Let’s be blunt: we all have skeletons in the closet. Childhood trauma, toxic relationships, or messed-up life events are part of everyone’s story. It’s not about downplaying these experiences—they’re real, and they impact us. But here’s the thing: if you keep dragging around the same sad story about how your past is keeping you stuck, it’s because it’s convenient. Using the past as an excuse only throws your power in the trash.
If you’re serious about change, the first step is to adopt what I call radical responsibility. This means owning every choice, every mistake, every success, and every failure. When you let go of the blame game, you create a foundation for real growth, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it is.
The Blame Game: Comforting but Costly
Let’s be honest, using your past as a crutch is easy. Didn’t get promoted? It’s because your parents never taught you discipline. Struggling in relationships? Blame it on a lack of role models. But guess what? Nobody cares about those reasons except you. The world isn’t going to pause and pity you because of what you went through; it’s out there, moving forward. The real choice lies in whether you’re moving forward with it.
By clinging to past hurts, you’re holding onto a narrative that keeps you safe but small. It’s a defense mechanism that lets you avoid stepping up, trying, or risking failure. It might feel like protection, but in reality, it’s stagnation.
Radical Responsibility: Your Key to Freedom
Radical responsibility means owning your life entirely—from this moment forward. It doesn’t matter what cards you were dealt, unfair as they may be. What matters is that you claim responsibility for your life from here on out. Every time you say, “that’s on me,” you’re reclaiming power. You’re refusing to let the uncontrollable dictate your future.
Taking radical responsibility is tough, but it’s empowering. When you start thinking, “I choose to be here,” or “I choose this action,” you shift from feeling like life happens to you to realizing it happens through you. Try saying it out loud—”I choose”—and feel the difference. This isn’t some fluffy self-help mantra; it’s real, lasting change.
Own It All: The Good and the Bad
True radical responsibility isn’t just about owning your mistakes; it’s also about owning your wins. Whether you come from hardship or privilege, it’s easy to dismiss your achievements as luck, circumstance, or anything but your own doing. But if you’re going to own your failures, you better start owning your successes too. Radical responsibility is about total ownership, from the dark corners to the high points. It’s the only way to live fully empowered.
Final Thoughts: Break the Pattern and Take Back Your Life
Drop the baggage. Let go of the stories you tell yourself about why you can’t. The past is unchangeable, but your actions today aren’t. Radical responsibility doesn’t just break the pattern; it sets you on a path of real growth. It’s going to be uncomfortable, but on the other side, there’s a version of you who’s actually capable of getting things done.
Stop waiting for someone to rescue you. You’re the only one who can dig yourself out of your own hole, and that’s a good thing—because it means you’re in control. So own every decision, every moment, and every outcome. It’s not easy, but it’s the only way to be truly free.
