--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When accepting a responsibility, imagine…" description: "\"When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's something that you'll have to do next week. That way you don't agree to something just because it se..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/gretchen-rubin-867_accepting_when-accepting-a-responsibility-imagine_2146221.png" --- # When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's… ![“When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's something that you'll have to do next week. That way you don't agree to something just because it seems so far off that it doesn't seem onerous.” quote by Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/gretchen-rubin-867_accepting_when-accepting-a-responsibility-imagine_2146221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/gretchen-rubin-867_accepting_when-accepting-a-responsibility-imagine_2146221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1b/gretchen-rubin-867_accepting_when-accepting-a-responsibility-imagine_2146221.png) > “When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's something that you'll have to do next week. That way you don't agree to something just because it seems so far off that it doesn't seem onerous.” [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treat responsibilities as near‑term tasks to avoid underestimating their effort and to make better decisions. **In simple terms:** See duties as soon‑upcoming to gauge their real cost. Key Takeaway Assess impact before committing. Themes decision‑making commitment time management Mood thoughtful practical Type advice motivational When to use this quote - work projects - family obligations - volunteer work - personal goals Key Concepts psychology behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What tasks do you defer because they seem distant? - How could immediate framing change your choices? A Different Perspective May overlook long‑term benefits by focusing only on short term. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-responsibility/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [When you do a show five days a week and one night a week, the way I was doing, you use up so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-ernie-ford/when-you-do-a-show-five-days-a-week-and-one-night-a-week-the-way-i/) [Tennessee Ernie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-ernie-ford/) > [Respect and consistency, as hard work during the week is the only way to earn your place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/respect-and-consistency-as-hard-work-during-the-week-is-the-only-way/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [I'm still in the gym every day for training, putting in the same hard work every week. That's the only way I know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cain-velasquez/i-m-still-in-the-gym-every-day-for-training-putting-in-the-same-hard/) [Cain Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cain-velasquez/) > [I like animal sidekicks. They seem to be a pretty cool trope of post-apocalyptic fiction - just because if you're going to have this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-k-vaughan/i-like-animal-sidekicks-they-seem-to-be-a-pretty-cool-trope-of-post/) [Brian K. Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-k-vaughan/) > [A 'treat' is different from a 'reward,' which must be justified or earned. A treat is a small pleasure or indulgence that we give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/a-treat-is-different-from-a-reward-which-must-be-justified-or-earned/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Accepting responsibility is the fulcrum point for succeeding at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/accepting-responsibility-is-the-fulcrum-point-for-succeeding-at/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [Accepting responsibility for the actions of others contributes to your own greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/accepting-responsibility-for-the-actions-of-others-contributes-to/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-key-to-accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-is-to-accept-the/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Accepting responsibility for problems that you didn't cause is a reflection of true humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-responsibility-for-problems-that-you-didn-t-cause-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its always easier to place the blame on someone else. Accepting responsibility for one's actions is not a key trait for many!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-always-easier-to-place-the-blame-on-someone-else-accepting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accepting responsibility for your life means you are aware that you know it is yourself who makes decisions for where it goes. No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-means-you-are-aware-that-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“With great power comes great responsibility.” It is true. But there’s a better version of this quote, a version that actually is profound, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-it-is-true-but-there-s-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They must move from a psychological state of victimization to a psychological state of accepting responsibility. The Palestinians must leave behind their revolutionary adolescence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shavit/they-must-move-from-a-psychological-state-of-victimization-to-a/) [Ari Shavit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shavit/) ## More by Gretchen Rubin > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Knowing what you admire in others is a wonderful mirror into your deepest, as yet unborn, self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/knowing-what-you-admire-in-others-is-a-wonderful-mirror-into-your/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are and the less you complain, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/being-taken-for-granted-is-an-unpleasant-but-sincere-form-of-praise/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“one Secret of Adulthood is “Never start a sentence with the words ‘No offense’”? “And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-secret-of-adulthood-is-never-start-a-sentence-with-the-words-no/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [One of the findings that really interests me is that, although we think we ACT because of the way we FEEL, we often FEEL…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/one-of-the-findings-that-really-interests-me-is-that-although-we/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [We all want to get along well with other people, and one way to do this is to help people feel good about themselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/we-all-want-to-get-along-well-with-other-people-and-one-way-to-do/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [During my study of happiness, I noticed something that surprised me: I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/during-my-study-of-happiness-i-noticed-something-that-surprised-me-i/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [There is a preppy wabi-sabi to soft, faded khakis and cotton shirts, but it's not nice to be surrounded by things that are worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-is-a-preppy-wabi-sabi-to-soft-faded-khakis-and-cotton-shirts/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“There are times in the lives of most of us,” observed William Edward Hartpole Lecky, “when we would have given all the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/there-are-times-in-the-lives-of-most-of-us-observed-william-edward/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“I started thinking more about music. I thought I'd accepted the fact that, as part of "Being Gretchen," I didn't really like music, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-started-thinking-more-about-music-i-thought-i-d-accepted-the-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“The pleasure of doing the same thing, in the same way, every day, shouldn't be overlooked. The things I do every day take on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/the-pleasure-of-doing-the-same-thing-in-the-same-way-every-day/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Although we often assume that feelings inspire actions, in fact, actions also inspire feelings. By pushing myself to act happier, I make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/although-we-often-assume-that-feelings-inspire-actions-in-fact/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [I love finding - or inventing - ways to categorize people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/i-love-finding-or-inventing-ways-to-categorize-people/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [“After someone's death, how strange to see the value drain away from his or her possessions; useful objects such as clothes, or dish towels,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/after-someone-s-death-how-strange-to-see-the-value-drain-away-from/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) [Explore all 346 Gretchen Rubin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When accepting a responsibility, imagine that it's something that you'll have to do next week. 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