Mistakes and Lessons - Taking Responsibility

So something that I was thinking about recently is how some of us learn, improve and move forward faster than others. Amongst the factors included good observation, intelligence and experience. But there are some people that stagnate and plateau, whereas there are some that will continue to improve and grow beyond their friends and peers. How come I have seen so many peers that I admire for their ability or talents, but eventually overtake them as time passes?

Not to toot my own horn, but there I must do something different to what my friends do. Something that sets us apart. I had actually spent about the last 4 days playing video games with several friends. How my friends treated losing were different between each other. I had a look at those friends that were better at games in general, they all responded to a loss in a more constructive way. Instead of complaining of cheap tactics, overpowered characters or blaming team mates they took each loss as an opportunity to learn and reflect.

I know this isn't a gaming blog (although I'd like to start one), but some behaviours from video games can be extrapolated to real life. In this case, I felt those friends who were more willing to take responsibility of their outcomes were more successful in what they did. Those that who asked themselves, how to deal with that situation in the future or how to prevent themselves from ending in the same outcome were better able to improve in their future attempts.

Although many of the factors that I described in the first paragraph had an effect as well, I think that something we could try to do more is take responsibility. People can blame their studies, career, health or well being on external factors, but unless they believe that their own future is in their own hands and they can do something about it, their growth will stagnate and they will never be better.

Even, I'm guilty of this as well.  I can no longer blame my lack of employment or income on the economy or industry. I have come to understand that I am the only one that can change my current outcome, whether it be shifting industries, moving or preparing myself better to find work. I believe that no matter who we are, we can all be better or happier if we took a little bit more of the world into our own responsibility.

In Summary
- the next time you are upset or mad with the world, consider what you can do to change the situation
- believe that you have the power to change your circumstances for the better
- take some time to think about the problem
- do something about it