<p>Do you often find yourself blaming others for the things that are wrong in your life? This behavior helps no one, especially you. Taking responsibility for yourself is the first step of taking control of your life. Read on to learn more about how you can take responsibility.</p><h4>What Does It Mean to "Take Responsibility?"</h4><p>When you take responsibility, it means that you admit the role you played in whatever is going on in your life. You examine yourself and your behavior to see how you may have caused the problems.</p><p>If something isn't going right in your life, it's easy to pretend that the cause is outside of your control. No one likes to admit their faults. For example:&nbsp;</p><p>Damien gets in trouble for cheating on a test. Instead of taking responsibility for his actions, he blames his behavior on his teacher, because he thinks she gives more tests than he has time to study for.&nbsp;</p><p>Lily argues with her friends. Instead of admitting that she said some mean things along with everyone else, she says that she was nice and everyone else was rude.</p><h4>The Importance of Taking Responsibility</h4><p>You can't fix things until you take responsibility. When you blame others, you're not focusing on the real situation or things you can change. Once you realize that your behavior is part of the problem, you can change your behavior.</p><h4>What to Do if You're Afraid to Take Responsibility</h4><p>It can be scary to take responsibility, especially if you think you might get in trouble. If you're struggling, talk to a parent or a trusted adult, like a teacher, for advice.</p><h4>How Taking Responsibility Helps Me and Others</h4><p>Taking responsibility helps you because it helps you to realize how your behavior impacts your life. You can then make the necessary changes to make things better. When you take responsibility for your actions, you can be a better friend and family member. You'll have better relationships with your loved ones.</p>