Southwestern College Santa Fe, NM
Part 3: How Using Ownership Language Changes My Worldview
By changing the statement from “we” to “I” in this entire blog series I have shifted my perception of life. I no longer blame “society” (you, we, or any form of “other”) for what I am perceiving as a deep societal issue. In fact, I don’t feel as though I am blaming anyone or anything, and that makes me feel empowered, not hopeless and victimized, when I look at it as something I can control. If it is “your” problem, or even “our” problem, then I can slip into the role of helpless victim of society and the end result is just more bitterness and resentment. The issue is mine, and I, alone, can change it. Because I took ownership over my thoughts and observations I can now see them as things I can change in myself. It is impossible to change society, especially when society is you, us, or we, but it is entirely possible to change myself and my actions. It might only be the changing of one person, but isn’t that always how change happens? Doesn’t change happen within first? My actions are my own, for better or for worse, but there is also personal meaning 
in everything I do now.
Another thing I am learning is to extend an invitation instead of telling, mandating, commanding, or dictating. Invitations can be 
taken or not, and empowering myself to make decisions is liberating for my spirit, so I wonder if it might not also feel that way for others? I enjoy being invited as opposed to being mandated to do something; therefore I would like to offer that to you, as well. I am glad I have become aware of the transformative power of ownership language because it really does make me feel better about what I am bombarded with and I appreciate how it helps me lower the armor yet still feel strong and empowered. And the beautiful part is that I can share this in the full knowledge that what works for me might not work for you in the slightest.
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