Are You Effectively Fulfilling Your Roles in Life?

Roles and responsibilities-what is meant when people say that? Sure, we always hear that phrase all the time (it has now become a canned phrase), but people usually associate this with jobs and careers.

In truth, roles and responsibilities are weaved throughout every aspect of our lives.

We all have specific roles in life-either by default or because we have strived to be in those roles. Whether we are mothers or fathers, sisters or brothers, husbands or wives, friends, Christians, co-workers, volunteers, citizens, business owners, workers, politicians, pet owners or whatever-each role in life comes with their own set of responsibilities. The problem we are facing today is that not many people want to live up to the responsibilities that each role requires.

I always chuckle when browsing one of my favorite websites-Facebook-and checking out the profiles of my friends (and friends of my friends). I always see the "fun" pictures-the pictures of us partying, traveling and just being "social butterflies." This is what some define as having a good time. Then I see the caption under a photo-"Me just living life" or "Me enjoying life" (this is usually the description under a party photo). This caption makes me wonder-is being care-free and partying the only means to living a happy life?

Some people think so, but I beg to differ.

The reality is this: being completely care-free is only a minute portion of our lives. The majority of this "care-free" time happens when we are children. In actuality, no matter who we are and no matter where we go, there is always some role that we need to fulfill. The role may not necessarily be work-related; however, we are still always playing some type of position in life. And again-each position has their own set of expectations and responsibilities. Why don't we perceive our life responsibilities as "fun" and enjoyable? Why don't we capture those moments on camera and label them on Facebook as "living life?"

This is not to say that there is anything wrong with partying. As a matter of fact, "celebrations" are great for the soul. But is constant partying really the only way to "have fun?"

Think about this-how much better would the world be if we all happily fulfilled our responsibilities in our respective life roles instead of dreading those responsibilities and only looking forward to being care-free? In fact, we need to care more!

How much better would the world be if we gave our all to being great mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, friends, Christians, co-workers, volunteers, citizens, business owners, workers, politicians, pet owners or whatever?

How much better would the world be if we all just did the right thing and effectively fulfilled our roles in life?

The bottom line is that we all need to change our perspectives about life-there is always something to do, always some responsibility to complete, always some role to fulfill. "Living life" is not just about partying and being care-free. So how will you better fulfill your role?