Our responsibility begins with a willingness to acknowledge who we are and what we are - and what we want to become.

Responsibility is the acceptance of ourselves as the cause of our current situation and the willingness to deal with that situation. Correct it, regulate it and improve it.

Whatever else responsibility is, it it not actually something we should or ought to have. It is something that, as humans, we already have. We already are responsible for our thoughts and actions; for what we learn or don't learn; for what we like and dislike; for what we say and don't say. People are responsible for everything they think and do, whether they like it, accept it, or even know it.

The best performers seperate themselves from others by knowing it, accepting it, and liking it. In effect, they take an active responsiblity for themselves.

Self actualizing is the tendency human beings have toward fulfillment. It's based on the human need for positive regard - feeling good about ourselves. For cheers, applause, high-fives - positive regard from others and from ourselves.

Responsibility is just one of the behaviors leading to self-actualization. Self-regard, then, is the barometer we watch - often unconsciously - to see what we think of ourselves.

The barometer is affected by many conditions of self: self-assertion, self-confidence, self-control, self-criticism, self-deception, self-denial, self-determination, self-doubt. There are many more, including: self-importance, self-improvement, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-preservation, self-sacrifice, self-sufficiency.

Does all this have anything to do with playing sports? Reread that list and decide for yourself. Then add self-knowledge to the list.

There are a number of reasons for avoiding responsibility. All of them are used to protect our pride. The need for approval - our own and others - is very strong. We resort to equally strong measures to satisfy the need - and to keep it satisfied. Because were all imperfect, we've got to learn to live with our failures; to accept the fact that some of the attempts we make at success will be failures; to recognize that we, ourselves, the person - are not the failures.