Responsibility is the way to respect

A young man, bold in his ambitions, approached the wisest elder in his village.

“Sir,” he said, “I want to become a man of character who earns respect. I want more opportunity to achieve my vision of success. But I am young and do not know the way. You are wise, respected, and accomplished. Will you show me the way?”

“You wish to know the way to create this life you envision. Is that not what everyone wants?” the elder asked.

He continued before the young man could answer. “And yet, when the way is revealed to them, what do they do? They do not take it. The way is not a mystery, boy. It’s not difficult to see. The challenge is choosing it.”

“But I don’t see it,” pleaded the young man. “Show it to me and I will choose it.”

“Very well, but know this: once you see the way, you cannot unsee it. If you know the way and choose not to take it, you will carry that burden for all of eternity like a stone in your heart. Do you still wish to know the way?”

“Yes,” said the boy.

“Very well,” began the elder. “You speak of your desire for character, respect, opportunity, and success. The way is marked by four gates: responsibility, crisis, adversity, and struggle.

You must earn your respect by passing through the gates of responsibility that others avoid.

You must build your character by passing through the gates of crisis that test the strength of your heart.

You must capture your opportunity by passing through the gates of adversity that try to kill your spirit.

You must reach your vision of success by passing through the gates of struggle that seem too difficult to overcome.

The way to what you want requires that you pass through these gates. Do you see why, even when people know the way, they do not take it? They want to reach their goals without going through the gates. That way does not exist.” 

The young man thought for a moment.

“I understand,” he finally said. “Responsibility is the way to respect. Crisis is the way to character. Adversity is the way to opportunity. Struggle is the way to success.”

“Now you know the way,” said the elder. “Go. Make your choice.”

Event + Response = Outcome. Do the work.