1. The Blame Game A b3r Lesson November 23rd

2. We cannot control circumstances or events. If we are constantly blaming other people or past events, there is no way we can respond! We can control how we respond to circumstances or events. Think of responsibility as the “ability to respond”.

3. Example: You complain that the game is lost because of the referees or the weather. Since there is nothing you can do about the referees or the weather, “you” are taken totally out of the equation. You give up RESPONSIBILITY by blaming outside factors to which you have no control.

4. Example: You fail a test and blame the teacher for not giving you the right information. You are RESPONSIBLE for getting your assignments and completing them.

5. Example: You lost the game because the coach did not call the right plays or use the right players. The truth is that coaches are human; they will call plays that could be good or bad, depending upon the how the players execute the play.

6. Once you are willing to accept responsibility for what is happening to you, you can respond. Until you decide to accept responsibility for yourself, you are at the mercy of others & outside circumstances.

7. Think of some examples where someone has blamed circumstances or events for their failure. What could that person have done differently to accept responsibility?