A friend and I were having an interesting discussion recently.  If we are all interconnected beyond comprehension, then how is it that ONLY I am responsible for my own state of being?  If we are all interconnected, this suggests that some parts of my being are shared with others.  If so, then to some extent I AM responsible for that part of others and they are responsible for that part of me.  Is this a paradox or somehow explainable?

In fact, I was thinking this may even be the very BASIS of responsibility... we are not alone and everything we do touches others.

It didn't take long for me to realize that through this discussion we were arriving at some of the underlying principles of the Core.  I found this funny cartoon that explains it very well.  Enjoy!

Jeremy

Hey Jeremy;

Thanks for the cartoon - it's a pretty good picture of the state of the world today.

I am wondering if perhaps the "paradox" is a puzzle partly due to our use of the word "responsibility" and its common meaning. For example, in our best practices work, we separate "responsibility" from "accountability". That allows a definition of responsibility that include performing the action, the doing of something, for which we are responsible. That includes looking after ourselves, and doing what is necessary to safeguard and enhance our state of being. Accountability is the next piece, where one is concerned with the quality of that work - the ouput or result. As a manager, for example, I can assign responsibility for doing work to someone, and maintain accountability for the success of that, or also assign accountability.

Accordingly we are all responsible for ourselves, and should be accountable for the well being of others (as smart, well developed citizens). In the cartoon, the fellows in the bow are demonstrating responsibility for themselves (staying dry, preserving their energy) but no accountability to the quality of the outcome of the safety of the boat (the high probability that the boat will sink without their effort).

Thoughts?

Cheers, Paul

Jeremy;

Glad those ideas are helpful.

Absolutely agree with your comments about realizing that we are all "in the same boat" - business, town, community, earth, etc. - and the consequences. I like your thoughts on smaller communities too. We have found in our "new" small community that there is lots of help available too - if you want to ask for it. The folks here are "booted" in that sense: they let you have your privacy, but the moment you indicate that you would like help they are right there. It is certainly much nicer than the "big city".