How often have you been annoyed or frustrated because you didn’t follow through on what you needed or wanted? Many of us can relate to this and wish we had more “accountability” muscles to live a life that supports our well-being.
What is personal accountability?
To take responsibility for all that happens in your life. You are probably saying, well, I don’t have control over everything that happens in my life, so why should I take responsibility for it?
You don’t have control over everything that happens in your life and the world.
You have control over how you will respond to external events.
You have control over how accountable you are going to be with yourself.
Why are we not accountable to ourselves?
There are many reasons we have a difficult time holding ourselves accountable.
- Not clear about what we want
- Not sure we deserve to have what we want
- Not confident – scared we will make a mistake
- Just coasting and not deciding that it’s essential to be accountable
You may have specific reasons you struggle with accountability, and create a list for yourself.
How to create more personal accountability
Create a strong mindset about yourself
There are some essential tools to help you strengthen your mindset around yourself.
The three top tools are:
- Create a positive view of yourself. Recognize your successes in life, no matter how small. We all have multiple achievements that we may take for granted but are still areas we shine. Watch what you say about yourself. Step back and change the message if you are judging, downplaying, or accepting a “perfectionist” view of yourself. We can be our worst critics – so kick that critic out the door.
- Prioritize Your Health
Our physical, mental, and emotional well-being enhance our mindset about ourselves. Get a buddy to support you in this area, as we often place ourselves last in the day’s many activities.
- Build a Learning Mindset
Acknowledge areas you can change, but with curiosity and not judgment. Put time aside to follow through on something you are interested in learning.
Create your values
Knowing your values guide you toward a more fulfilling life. Ask yourself:
- Do you know what is important to you?
- Can you name your three most important values?
- What values do you now include in your life that are important to you?
- What values do you want to add regularly to your life?
Create some goals
Start slow and create some small short-term goals. Small short-term goals help you build your “accountability muscles” in small ways that make success in your life.
After your success with the small short-term goals, challenge yourself with more extensive plans for the short-term and long-term.
Your thoughts
Have you been angry with yourself for not doing what you said you would do? It’s pretty standard, as change isn’t always a comfortable process. Think about how you want to live and see how you can implement some minor changes in your life.
Women’s Group Topic
It’s always easier to keep the status quo, though discussing how you are not holding yourself accountable and how you can do so going forward will support each other in the group.
Be well,
Pat
“To fully enjoy the ‘richness’ of our lives, we must stop long enough to visit with ourselves.”
(Pat Brill)
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