So what does it mean to “accept responsibility” for everything that happens in your space? And what is “Your Space?”

“Your Space” includes everything that happens to you or around you that affects you. Accepting responsibility for what happens in your space is an attitude and an orientation towards life. It means, among other things, that:

• You commit to notice/pay attention to what happens to you and around you and not ignore it.


• You set intentions for what you want to accomplish and the standards for yourself and others.


• When what shows up in your life is not what you want, instead of jumping in to blame “others” you ask yourself meaningful growth-inducing questions such as: “What could I have done differently that would have caused a different outcome?” Or “What would I want to do differently next time?”

Accepting responsibly for everything that happens in your space is not the same thing as saying or believing you “caused” everything to happen. I am not a fan of the philosophy that says you “attract” every bad thing that happens to you – that if some random stranger points a gun in your face and robs you, or a loved one is killed in an automobile accident, you somehow caused or “attracted” these things. Nevertheless, if you accept reasonability for everything that happens in your space it means that you notice, respond, reflect, and learn from everything that happens - good and bad – instead of ignoring it or deflecting blame or involvement.

What does it mean to say, “I will handle it?”

It means you commit to do what it takes to bring about the best possible result in the situation. It doesn’t mean you can or should “fix” everything or try to make everything perfect, but it does mean you commit to make a contribution to the resolution and not simply throw a tantrum, run or hide. “Taking care of it” may involve actions you take by yourself or with others, but one way or the other you respond in a considered manner to the situation.