Duty or Burden? Reclaiming Choice in Responsibility

Exploring Internal vs. External Motivation

1. When I think about the things I feel responsible for, which ones feel energizing and which feel draining? Why?

2. What emotions arise when I think about the word ‘duty’? What about ‘obligation’? How do they feel in my body?

3. What’s a decision I made recently out of a sense of duty? How did it feel? What about a decision I made out of obligation?

   
   

Tracing the Origins of Responsibility

4. Who taught me what it means to be “responsible”? Do I still agree with their definition?

5. Where did I learn that I “should” do certain things? How many of these “shoulds” actually align with my values?

6. What role does guilt play in my decision-making? How do I know when I am acting from guilt versus alignment?

   
   

Distinguishing Between Inner Calling and External Pressure

7. What is something I feel compelled to do even when no one is watching? What drives that impulse?

8. If I removed all external expectations, which responsibilities would I still willingly carry? Which ones would I release?

9. How does my body respond when I say, “I have to do this” versus “I choose to do this”?

   
   

Releasing Obligations that No Longer Serve

10. What is one obligation I am holding onto that I secretly wish I could let go of? What’s stopping me?

11. What would happen if I stopped fulfilling a certain obligation? Who would be affected, and how do I feel about that?

12. What permission do I need to give myself to say no to obligations that deplete me?

    
    

Reconnecting with Purpose and Choice

13. What is something I do that brings me a deep sense of purpose? How do I know it’s coming from within me?

14. When have I felt most aligned with my true purpose? What was I doing?

15. If I trusted myself fully, what responsibilities would I take on with an open heart?