I’ve noticed that my responsibility habit comes up whenever I have a perceived failure.  My inner perfectionist really does not do well with so called failure, and she instantly starts beating me with a litany of reasons I should have done a better job, have let everyone down, could have done more…and on and on.

I realize this does not help any situation, but the old pattern sometimes takes over before I’m aware of it.  I find myself feeling terribly guilty that so-and-so is upset, certain that it is all my fault.  Which of course, it isn’t.  And taking that on never helps the person who is feeling upset.

I mention this old habit because it might be something that plagues you, too, every now and then.  When I read Dr. John Sarno’s book, The Mindbody Prescription, I noticed a strong similarity between myself and the typical person who has mind-body pain.  Strong as in I had all of the traits on the list.  So do most of my clients.

So, guys, let’s do something useful with this responsibility-taker within us.  Let’s do something outrageous.  Instead of thinking something like, “I must eradicate this responsibility-taker within me to get rid of my pain,” let’s get a little wild.

Let’s embrace the responsibility-taker.

Let’s take a look at how that part of us serves us.

It makes us reliable, helpful, dependable, useful, and good team members.  It’s only when we take more than our share of responsibility that we get ourselves into trouble (as in stress – the kind that cannot be relieved, because it isn’t our stress to begin with) and therefore, pain.

I find that when I embrace parts of myself that are causing a problem in my life, I am able to relax.  I am able to see why that part of me exists, how it helps me, and why I don’t really want to get rid of it.  And yet – I don’t have to be a slave to it, either.  I don’t have to be doomed forever with this personality trait.  It’s simply one small piece of who I am, and when I observe it, I detach from it peacefully.  I simply notice I’m falling into that habit, which gives me a moment to decide whether or not I’d really like to do that.

This week, I would rather not take more than my share of responsibility.  So, to all those people who are going about their own lives, unaware of me and my responsibility-taking, I gently return to you your own emotions, issues, and stresses.  I have the confidence that you have what it takes within you to run your own life.

I have to tell you – that feels very good.  Ahhhh.  But don’t take my word for it!  Try it yourself.

Looking for last week’s Free Call with Dan Howard?  Click Here for the Recording!

Meet Gail and listen to her Mind-Body Success Story!

Here’s how it goes: You’re ready to try something different.  You can’t believe you were meant to live your whole life in pain.  So – you start working with the mind-body tools.  You have a sense that this might really work, but you have doubts, fears, and lots of evidence for your belief that you’ll be in pain or have these symptoms forever.  You decide to try it anyway, despite these doubts, because, well – what is there to lose?  You start to learn more, work with the doubts, gain hope, and get into the process.

Yet, it’s an up and down journey.  It’s bumpy.  You wonder if it will really work, even though now you have some clear evidence in the form of pain-free periods.  You keep at it.  It’s not the quick fix, but you think this could be the real fix, so you hang in there.

And then, one day, you realize – it’s WORKING!  You really are feeling better!  Something clicks, and you know that you just need to keep up the process and it will lead to complete health.  You are down to just mild pain here and there, and you’ve worked through the root cause of the pain.  You’ve shifted old patterns of reacting to life situations, and you can feel a change inside yourself.  It’s not long after that you find yourself feeling healthy, feeling joy, and knowing how to weather life in a way that does not create more pain.

That’s the journey.  Today, I’d like you to meet Gail.   In the interview, she describes her experience with this journey and also shares helpful insights for others.  It’s always helpful to hear a success story, so thank you Gail for your willingness to share your story with all of the readers!

Download the interview with Gail here:

Client Interview Series – Yes, Mind-Body Healing Works!