Freedom of Choice, Ownership of Consequence

Having the freedom to make your own choices does not mean that you are free from the consequences. In fact, you have the responsibility to take ownership of the outcomes that are a direct result of the choices you make. Acknowledging that you could have done something differently to achieve a different outcome is called the point of accountability. Furthermore, this  allows you to make better choices moving forward.

Growing up, I would ask my parents if I could do something, and they would often tell me that I was free to make that decision on my own. However, I had to be willing to accept the consequences of that choice, good or bad. It would sometimes drive me crazy, but they were teaching me to be responsible for my actions. Now that I recognize the lesson for what it was, I am glad that my parents did not just make decisions for me. If they had, and something had gone wrong, I might have been inclined to blame them. However, because I was free to make my own choices, I only had myself to blame if I didn’t like the outcome.

By adopting this mindset, I developed what is called an internal locus of control. While there will always be some influential outside factors, my outcomes are primarily the result of my own choices and efforts. Someone with an external locus of control believes that outside forces lead to their outcomes, and they often blame other people or things as a defense mechanism for when they fail. When they succeed, they may credit fate or luck, but more commonly, people will switch between an internal and external locus of control depending on the circumstances. Most people want the credit for when things go right, but they don’t want the blame for when things go wrong.

It’s important to understand that we are free to make our own choices, but we will never be free of the consequences. This applies to our actions, attitudes, and words, both at home and within the workplace. Take some time to think about where you are at in your life. Are you where you want to be? What choices have held you back from reaching your full potential? What new choice could you make today to get one step closer to your ideal state? Once you have reflected on these questions, commit to taking that new action and owning the consequences. You have the power to take control of your life. What will you choose?

-Meghan Slaughter