It’s interesting that the qualities of the leaders we admire are all qualities that don’t come naturally. If everyone followed the “I do what I want” philosophy, society would soon fall apart, because our decisions have dire consequences. 
There’s a lot to be depressed about in the world — family dysfunction, crime, corruption — so we proceed to blame. We blame poverty and religion and schools and politics, former and past presidents, Democrats and Republicans. 
But at the end of the day, we can’t keep passing the buck. We must face the choice to become part of the problem or part of the solution. The decisions we make — or don’t make — affect not only our own lives but also the lives of those around us. 
We are the leaders of the next generation — the businessmen, senators, governors, teachers, mothers and fathers. I don’t think we fully understand this, because if we did, I think we’d act differently. 
Our generation is going to have to pick up where the last one left off. Do we have what it takes to sustain our country? 
Imagine yourself in a leadership position, specifically one of political power. Could you withstand the temptation to choose money and power over responsibility and service? If we cannot trust ourselves to be responsible leaders, we can’t blame someone else.
The optimal society requires each person to fulfill his or her individual role with excellence. We cannot change others, but we can choose what we will do. Whatever role you play — mother, husband, friend, sibling, teacher, boss — you are a leader who affects people, for better or worse.  
To make a positive impact on society, we can develop important leadership qualities such as humility, honesty and servanthood. Good leaders understand that they are no more important than anyone else, are trustworthy and practice what they preach. The paradox of true leadership is that true leaders are servants who truly care about the people they represent and want the best for them.
These qualities don’t come easily, but in order to retain our freedom, we must take them seriously. If we all did whatever we pleased without considering the effects, society would eventually unravel. 
The basis of a free society inevitably lies in a moral people. Former President John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Freedom from law, rules and morality would mean chaos and destruction for society. You may think, “Well, I’m not strictly moral,” but think about it. Our entire society relies on trust and the warrant that we should care about our fellow man. 
Take these cultural expectations for example: we wait to pay for our food at restaurants, rather than sneaking out without paying; when shopping, we take our items to the counter and pay for them even though shoplifting is relatively easy in many stores; we respect traffic laws for our own good and trust that other drivers will do the same. Imagine the chaos if these standards were not in place. 
Yes, there are a lot of crazy people out there doing mindless, disgusting things. With all the pain in the world, it’s easy to get discouraged. But instead of complaining about the problems, let’s be responsible leaders and do something about them. 
Don’t underestimate your own influence and value in society. Be part of the solution instead of the problem.