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We hear it so often in live. That's not my job. That is nothing to do with me. That isnot my responsibility.

It can seem the age of not taking charge, not taking authority for the things we do. Lots of people seem to be taking this route now, and in all areas of life. Up to a point we can see why. Life is pressured. Life is pretty intense. So much is happening and on so many different levels. It is hard enough to keep up with things let alone take charge.

When a wave of action goes in a particular direction it can be hard to resist. When others do not take charge, take responsibility for things, it can beeasy to do the samein our own lives. But does that really help us. What do we gain? What do we lose?

It can be hard to buck the flow, to go against this trend, but at times this is what is needed. Otherwise we can end up on the losing end of things. Little by little things slip, in one area, then another. Little by little we lose a little something of ourselves.

If we don't take charge for one thing, this can easily pass over, as if by osmosis, to other areas of our life. Things would slowly break down. Slowly at first, and then quicker as we start to care less about things. Small things at first, but then more important things. And on and onthe ball rolls . . .

If we all did not take charge, where would life be? A difficult question to ask let alone try and answer.

But there are limits to our influence. There are limits to our capabilities to influence others and life. But we can do something in our own lives. First we need to recognize this (potentially destructive) trend in our own life. And start to do something about it.

And we can.We can make a difference, we can stop this trend. Stop this trend for ourselves. This has the added advantage that others can then follow our example. Those people who respect you will see what you do. This will give them the strength to perhaps do the same.

Though we may want to shirk, deflect, ignore or lose our responsibility for our life - can that really happen? Can we really do that?

Life, in my experience, does not work that way. A temporary 'injunction' may occur where we start to take stock. Assess what we are doing.Realize what is happening. Look around us and see the effects of our inaction. How our lack of taking responsibility for ourselves affects our actions.

Life has this habit of rebounding and catching us unawares, as if to teach us a lesson. At those moments, in those situations, at those times we need to stand up and be counted. We need to take it on board. We need to understand that something has to change. We have to change.

It is so much better to be up front and be responsible for the things we do, for our thoughts, for our actions, for our deeds. More rewarding and also more satisfying at the same time.

It can do wondersfor our morale. Do wonders for our self confidence. Do wonders for our self esteem. Do wonders for our self motivation.

It can be almost like we see life anew. We know where we are again. We are in charge. We welcome the responsibility. We can move forward with confidence, head held high. Others may then follow our example.

But the main point is thatwe do this for ourselvesand not for others. If there is that subsidiary gain that is wonderful and rewarding in itself. But we have taken charge of our own life once more and that is a fantastic feeling.

And life continues for us - an uplifting and enjoyable experience once more. We are at the helm and making our mark. Making a real contribution to the life we lead and the greater world around.

We can live with that.