Journal Entry #5

In this activity you will practice the language of personal responsibility. By learning to translate Victim statements into Creator statements, you will master the language of successful people.

1. Draw a line down the middle of a journal page. On the left side of the line, copy the ten Victim language statements found on the next page.

2. On the right side of the line, translate the Victim statements into the words of a Creator.

Victim Language

1. If they’d do something about the parking on campus, I wouldn’t be late so often.
2. I’m failing my online class because the site is too impossible to navigate.
3. I’m too shy to ask questions in class even when I’m confused.
4. She’s a lousy instructor. That’s why I failed the first test.
5. I hate group projects because people are lazy and I always end up doing most of the work.
6. I wish I could write better, but I just can’t.
7. My friend got me so angry that I can’t even study for the exam.
8. I’ll try to do my best this semester.
9. The financial aid form is too complicated to fill out.
10. I work nights so I didn’t have time to do the assignment

Creator Language

1. If I got to campus a little earlier I’d have time to find parking, and make it to class on time.
2. If I view a tutorial online about my class website, or spend some extra time navigating it, I can excel in my online class.
3. If I work up the courage to ask questions in class I might be helping out other students who are too shy to ask.
4. I may have failed my first test, but if I find my own ways to learn the material, I can study and ace all my tests
5. If I don’t want to get stuck with all the work in a group project, I can assign everybody tasks so that we all do an equal amount of work.
6. If I study new forms of writing and practice them, I can become a better writer.
7. My friend may have made me angry, but I need to focus on studying because I’ll be even angrier if I let that affect my test grade.
8. I’ll take better notes, go to the tutoring center, and completely focus on school so I can do my best this semester.
9. I’m having trouble filling out the financial aid form, so I’ll go to the Financial Aid office to get some help with it.
10. I need to do my assignments right after school since I don’t have time to do them at night.

3. Write what you have learned or relearned about how you use language: Is it your habit to speak as Victim or as a Creator? Do you find yourself more inclined to blame yourself, blame others, or seek solutions?

While reading about practicing Creator language I learned that I tend to speak Victim Language more often. I think I speak Victim Language more often because its easier to be a Victim than a Creator. Being a Victim allows you to put the blame on others and in a sense brainwash yourself into thinking nothing is your fault, therefore there is no resolution to your problem. Being a Creator takes responsibility and courage to admit your wrongs and what you need to do to fix them. I'm not saying I am a complete Victim because there are times where I do "man up" and admit when I'm in the wrong, but I need to become fluent in Creator Language. Being fluent in Creator Language is the only way I am going to successfully make it through this world becausr resolutions solve problems, excuses don't. My goal is to stop being the victim and take action against the issues I want to fix. I plan on accomplishing this goal by focusing on school, getting a job, and successfully making my way throughout college and eventually leading to my career.