One of my favorite sayings is, “It’s not your fault, but it IS your responsibility.”

Today, we’re diving into the concept of responsibility and duty.

Your life began with what I’ve heard called as “The Great Handoff”. For the first part of your existence, your parents took full responsibility for your well-being—your DNA, your health, your growth, and many of your habits. Then, the moment you were born, you began to carry that responsibility on your own: breathing, digesting, eliminating waste. That first poop? It was your way of saying, “I’ve got this.”

Slowly at first, and then faster over time, you took on more of the responsibility for yourself. You fed yourself, dressed yourself, and began to comfort yourself. Over the years, your parents’ responsibility for your health diminished from 90% to 50%, and now it’s probably close to zero.

So, who’s responsible for your health now? Your doctor? Your spouse? Are you still holding onto the idea that your parents have a role to play in how you feel and look today?

I want you to try something. Take a moment to list the people who share responsibility for your health. Start with:

1. Your name.
2. Your doctor’s name.
3. Your dentist’s name.
4. Your parents’ names (they gave you your genes after all).

Now, think about those people and assign responsibility. For example, if you’re in the hospital, hooked up to a respirator, feeding tube, and a catheter, your doctor holds most of the responsibility. If you’re at home with a similar setup and your spouse is caring for you, maybe she’s shouldering 80% of the responsibility, while the doctor takes 10%, and so on.

What about your parents? Sure, they gave you your genetic blueprint, but beyond that, they’re not responsible for your current health.

How about your dentist? Are they really 1% responsible for your overall health?

Now consider your coach or nutritionist. After being in the fitness world for more than 2 decades, I can tell you that I’m willing to take on some responsibility for my members’ health. They trust me with their strength, flexibility, and endurance. But does that mean I’m 50% responsible for their health? 30%? 70%?

Who else plays a role?

Ultimately, no matter who’s on your list, the lion’s share of responsibility for your health falls on YOU. Yes, you can trust your doctor, who has thousands of other patients to care for. You can blame your parents, or genetics, or some random virus. But when all is said and done, the only question that really matters is: What are you going to do about it?

How much responsibility are you willing to own?

Taking responsibility means answering “Yes, and…?” every time you face a challenge. It means acknowledging the fear of starting a new fitness routine. “Yes, I’m scared. And…?” It means accepting that cutting out sugar won’t be easy. “Yes, it will be hard. And…?” It means recognizing your weaknesses, whether they’re real or imagined. “Yes, I’m out of shape, and I might be the last person to finish the warm-up. And…?”

But owning responsibility for your health also means that someone will take charge. Because no one else is going to shoulder the full weight of your well-being. Ask your doctor: “Will you accept 10% of the responsibility for my health?” She’ll probably hesitate. Ask your spouse: “Will you take 50% of the blame if I’m unable to walk when I’m 80?” She’ll tell you to get up and start walking now—because she’s not carrying you when she’s older! Ask your dentist if he’ll take 10% responsibility for your health, and he’ll laugh and say, “You need to floss more.”

At the end of the day, your health is yours to manage. You might be starting from scratch. You might not like the idea of exercise or eating vegetables. You may be tempted to blame others—your parents, your doctor, your lazy friends, your job. Maybe your current health isn’t entirely your fault.

But it is your responsibility. 100%. If you’re ready to take it on, let me know.