Gee eMode Whiz
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1997 - 2002
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My Values (according
to eMode)
 What
Yours Say About You
Rosie, welcome to Part 3 of The Values Test. This
week we'll focus on the ethics of responsibility. |
 Responsibility
is a big word, often associated with burden, following rules, and not
being consistent. As a result, most of us don't want to fully grow up
because being an adult means being responsible. Whether at work, at
home, or both, most people gradually gain responsibility over the years.
If you have a professional job, you carry the responsibility of completing
specialized tasks that need to be done both well and on time in order
to keep the business running. In a profession like medical work, there
is the added responsibility of being trusted with a patient's health.
If you are a parent, you have the huge responsibility of taking care
of your children's most basic needs and emotional welfare on a continual
basis.
Because responsibility is such a big part of life, Emode measured
your overall willingness to take it on, even when doing so meant you
had to give something up. Researchers also measured how willing you
were to confess when you'd done something wrong in order to correct
a mistake. They focused on this aspect because being responsible means
being willing to accept the consequences of your behavior.
 Compared
with other test takers, you are more likely than 97 percent of them
to take on responsibility. This means that you're more likely than others
are to take on responsibility voluntarily. Whether you've always been
this way or slowly grew into it over time, compared to many people you
carry the additional weight of being willing to be held accountable
for your actions.
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Take Action
It's a great thing for everyone else
that you're so responsible, and for the most part, it probably feels
rewarding to you, as well. However, while you're caring for your
life and for the others around you, make sure you take out time for
yourself to have fun and lighten the load. Recognize that ultimately
most situations will turn out fine even if you don't always choose
to take a big part in them. Making sure you have enough time for
the things you enjoy can be a healthy balance for a person like you
who willingly takes on responsibility for what happens around them.
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Anecdote
Jeremy and his sister Helen were always
very different from one another, and that may have been due in part
to their ages. Jeremy was the oldest of all the children and was
always the one put in charge. In fact, because Jeremy and Helen's
parents were permissive, it was often left to Jeremy to set rules
in the house and to take care of his siblings. Helen was the baby
of the family and basically had her needs taken care of for her.
Because Jeremy grew up so fast, he continued to pile on responsibilities
as an adult. Soon he had a marriage, two kids, a stressful profession,
and an active social schedule to boot. Jeremy tried to manage everything
until one day he basically ran away from it all, including his family.
During this difficult period, Jeremy stayed with his sister Helen.
Because Helen had always been taken care of, as an adult she was
just barely getting by. Now she had her brother to look out for,
as well. Over the next months, Helen took care of Jeremy and built
confidence in herself. Over time, she became glad that she finally
got to experience how good it can feel to take responsibility for
her life as well as someone else's.
During this quiet time away, Jeremy grew to learn that being responsible
was a choice and not a prison sentence, by having someone take care
of him instead of the other way around. Soon he was ready to go back
to his life. After many difficult conversations and a lot of heartfelt
apologies, Jeremy's family gave him a second chance. When he did
come home to resume his responsibilities, he reduced the demands
on himself both professionally and socially. Today he lives more
joyously, free of the perceived burden of the mandatory responsibilities
he once felt. Jeremy's family experiences the benefits of having
Jeremy happier and more present in their lives. As for Helen, she
was able to make strides in her personal and work life because she
had a newfound sense of competence and was no longer afraid to assert
herself. |
Quote for You
"To what extent is any given
man morally responsible for any given act? We do not know."
—Alexis Carrel, Reflections on Life |
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