November 20, 2024
I’ve met many people, from those who are considered “unlucky” to those regarded as “extraordinarily fortunate.” Despite the stark differences in their lives, there’s one undeniable commonality: they all make an effort. So why do the outcomes seem so different? The answer might lie in a simple formula:
The Life Formula: R ∝ P
Responsibility is always proportional to power.
Responsibility encompasses everything entrusted to us: work, family, our environment, and even simple achievements like being the top student in class. Power, on the other hand, is the internal capacity we have to accept, manage, and fulfill these responsibilities. This includes intelligence, mental, physical, and emotional strength, social skills, and even spirituality.
I once believed that we only gain responsibility once we have enough power to handle it. But lately, I’ve realized that this relationship is actually reciprocal. Not only does power enable us to take on responsibility, but responsibility also strengthens us.
I often declare my responsibilities without knowing if I’m truly capable of carrying them out. In the process, I’ve come to realize something important: I may never be fully prepared for anything I take on. But that’s what shapes me.
Through the courage to embrace responsibility, I gradually find strength within myself. Responsibility forces us to grow, learn, and sharpen our abilities. If I had waited until I was fully ready, I might never have taken the first step.
Think of Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, or Elon Musk. They all had enormous responsibilities. However, they weren’t born with the inherent power to handle them all. Their strength grew alongside the responsibilities they took on. We don’t need to be like them, but this principle applies to everyone: the abilities we possess are the result of the responsibilities we choose to take on.
Too often, we’re trapped in the belief that we must be “perfect” before we take on big responsibilities. But it’s the courage to try and bear that responsibility that actually builds our strength. I believe that the responsibilities we choose are the path to discovering the best version of ourselves.
Responsibility and power are two sides of the same coin, complementing each other. We may not know what strength we will gain by taking on a responsibility, but trust that in the future, as long as we keep trying, we will unconsciously acquire enough power to handle even bigger responsibilities.
Life is about balance. Perhaps, all the differences I see between those who are “lucky” and “unlucky” stem from how willing they are to accept responsibility and learn from the journey.
The heavier the responsibility we take, the greater the potential power we may gain. Conversely, the stronger we become, the greater the responsibilities we are entrusted with.
Rest assured, because both are proportional. You won’t be faced with a responsibility beyond your current capabilities.
I won’t be given the responsibility of being president because the power I have right now isn’t proportional to that task. So, if a responsibility presents itself to you, know that you already have the power to carry it out.
Power & Responsibility (what you want to achieve) may take 6 months, 2 years, 5 years, or even 10 years. But one thing is certain: if you don’t stop, you’re going to f*cking make it.
Power comes with responsibility, and vice versa.
"Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear. For it is (reward) for the good it has done, and against it (is the burden) of the evil it has committed."
(QS. Al-Baqarah: 286)