“If It Is to Be, It Is Up to Me”: A Philosophy of Personal Responsibility
Origins of If It Is to Be It Is Up to Me
The quote “If it is to be, it is up to me” distills personal responsibility into a single, memorable phrase. Motivational speaker and author William H. Johnsen is widely credited with articulating these words, though the exact circumstances of their origin remain somewhat obscured by time and the nature of inspirational literature. This statement emerged from the American self-help and motivational speaking movement of the mid-to-late twentieth century. During this period, figures like Norman Vincent Peale and Dale Carnegie were reshaping how Americans thought about success, agency, and personal development. Johnsen’s formulation stands apart for its elegant brevity and its refusal to compromise with excuses or external circumstances—a philosophy that resonated deeply with audiences seeking straightforward answers to life’s complex challenges.
William H. Johnsen remains a somewhat enigmatic figure in American motivational history, which itself tells us something important about the nature of his influence. Unlike some of his more famous contemporaries, Johnsen did not achieve the level of mainstream celebrity that generated extensive biographical records or widespread media coverage. Motivational circles, speaking engagements, and the ripple effects of his ideas through other authors and speakers comprise what we know of him.
He was fundamentally a practical man—a businessman, speaker, and proponent of what might be called “action-based philosophy.” His work emerged in an era when the American Dream was undergoing significant reexamination. During this time, the notion that individuals could shape their own destinies appealed powerfully to people eager to exercise agency in their lives. Johnsen represented a particular strain of thought within the broader self-help movement: one that emphasized individual responsibility without necessarily dismissing the role of circumstance, but rather refocusing attention on what could be controlled rather than what could not.
Understanding Personal Responsibility and Self Determination
The philosophical underpinnings of “If it is to be, it is up to me” draw from several intellectual traditions that had gained considerable traction by Johnsen’s time. Stoicism echoes through the quote’s emphasis on what lies within our control, reminiscent of Epictetus’s teaching that we cannot control external events but can control our responses to them. American Transcendentalism and the “New Thought” movement also contributed strands of thought, having advocated for the power of individual will and positive thinking. The quote also reflects principles of existentialist philosophy, particularly the idea that we are responsible for creating meaning in our lives through our choices and actions.
Johnsen’s formulation condensed these various philosophical traditions into a single, easily memorable statement. It removed jargon and spoke directly to ordinary people facing ordinary problems. The rhyming quality of “if it is to be, it is up to me” makes it sticky in the mind. This quality has allowed it to persist and spread even when its original source might be forgotten.
One lesser-known aspect of William H. Johnsen’s contribution to American thought involves how his philosophy influenced corporate training programs and business development throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. While he never achieved the name recognition of figures like Stephen Covey or Jim Collins, his ideas found their way into countless company workshops, leadership seminars, and professional development courses. These settings especially valued his emphasis on personal accountability. In the competitive world of American business, his message proved enormously practical and appealing.
Success depends primarily on individual initiative rather than waiting for circumstances to change. Johnsen’s approach predated by several decades the modern emphasis on “personal branding” and “self-made” narratives that would come to dominate contemporary culture. His philosophy suggested that the age of waiting—for the right opportunity, the right mentor, the right moment—was over. Individuals needed to seize agency themselves, and that seizure of agency was the first step toward any meaningful achievement.
How This Quote Transforms Your Life Today
This quote extends far beyond its original contexts in impact and cultural reach. Athletes, addiction recovery programs, and parenting advice have all invoked the phrase. In sports, the phrase captures what coaches mean when they speak of “controlling what you can control.” It emphasizes the athlete’s responsibility for their own performance. Recovery programs have wielded it as a rallying cry against victimhood narratives. It encourages individuals to take ownership of their healing and transformation.
Parents have used it to teach children about personal agency and the consequences of choice. The quote’s fundamental truth identifies a genuinely universal principle that applies across different human endeavors. At the same time, this versatility has occasionally led to misappropriation, with the quote sometimes being wielded to dismiss legitimate systemic obstacles or to blame individuals for circumstances largely beyond their control. The tension between Johnsen’s philosophy and its potential misuse illuminates important conversations about where personal responsibility ends and where structural factors begin.
This quote resonates so powerfully in everyday life because of its psychological accuracy regarding what actually produces change. Extensive research in psychology, from cognitive behavioral therapy to habit formation studies, confirms that the locus of control is one of the most significant predictors of success and well-being. The locus of control is the degree to which people believe their actions influence their circumstances. People who believe that outcomes depend largely on external factors show higher rates of depression, anxiety, and inaction. Those who recognize their own agency, even while acknowledging real constraints, demonstrate greater resilience, motivation, and