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Victim vs Responsible Framework

Reusability

A mental model that distinguishes between taking a victim stance (blaming external circumstances) versus taking complete responsibility for outcomes and responses

How It Works

You're responsible for your response to events, not the events themselves. The word 'responsible' breaks down to 'response-able' - your ability to choose your response determines your trajectory.

Components

1

Tell your story from the victim perspective first

2

Retell the exact same story taking 100% responsibility

3

Identify the choices and signs you ignored

4

Focus on what you can control going forward

5

Take ownership of your emotional responses

When to Use

When facing setbacks, conflicts, failures, or any situation where you feel wronged or unlucky

When Not to Use

In situations involving actual victimization where responsibility assignment could be harmful

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Blaming external circumstances for all problemsMaking excuses instead of taking actionStaying stuck in 'woe is me' narratives

Example

Instead of saying 'My business partner screwed me over,' you reframe as 'I ignored red flags, didn't do proper due diligence, and chose to trust without verification. Now I know what to look for and how to structure partnerships differently.'