Capability and Responsibility

Consider for a moment the relationship between capability – what is possible for you to do – and responsibility – what is your duty to do.

These feel intertwined because if you can’t possibly control something, how could it be your responsibility?

It’s only when we have agency, have that capability to affect change, that somethings shifts – it becomes our responsibility, our duty to manage.

If we can change something for the better, we have a duty to do so.

If we hold onto the belief that we can’t change something, however, whether being not smart enough, strong enough, don’t have enough free time, or whatever else, we also abdicate responsibility for it.

Sometimes we must release responsibility. Because we simply can’t control everything. Perhaps influence, but not truly control an outcome.

But sometimes we must take up the reins of responsibility, and prove ourselves capable of more than we thought.

For example, we can’t literally change someone else’s behavior. You can’t control your husband’s spending habits any better than you can control what a toddler eats. (Not comparing spouses to toddlers, just saying we don’t control either of these rather relatable scenarios.)

We can, however, influence our own thoughts and actions.

I can control how I spend when it’s my turn getting the groceries, or how much I walk out with when I run an errand at Target.

I can’t control how you will, my husband will, or anyone else.

I can control whether I have a retirement investment account in my own name, even if I didn’t think I knew how to set one up.

Because I am capable of learning and asking for help. And so are you.

I can control whether I have life insurance for myself, even if it felt confusing and tedious to get a policy figured out.

Because I am capable of learning and asking for help. And so are you.

We all have blind spots in our financial planning, usually from areas where it’s easier to avoid responsibility.

But is that really worth the risk?

You’re capable of learning, mastering even, your finances today and your financial security plan for the long run.

So dig in and start learning more about whatever areas you’re avoiding.

Knowledge is power.

And while responsibility can feel scary or heavy, it’s also the source of control.

There aren’t a lot of variables we control in life; don’t ignore the ones you do.