3 Ways to Hold Yourself Accountable

I didn’t intend on speaking about this topic for this week’s post but with all of the recent news in regards to the U.S. presidential election I decided that it would be fitting and beneficial, in one way or another, for all of us.

What we are witnessing right now from the current leader of the U.S. is a lack of accountability, among many other issues. As humans we all need to make sure that we are able to hold ourselves accountable for what takes place in our lives.

Finding the time to hold ourselves accountable will only help us progress on our journeys. I don’t care how much love you have for yourself; you’re not always right. It takes maturity to fully acknowledge when you are at fault or need to hold yourself accountable.

Speaking for myself; I like being right. Does that actually benefit me if I am proven to be wrong? Absolutely not. I know that I’m not always right. I hold myself accountable and I use those instances as learning opportunities.

Now, here are 3 ways that you can make sure you’re holding yourself accountable.

1. Deal in reality

You will find it quite difficult to hold yourself accountable in your own life when you aren’t willing to accept what is and what isn’t. Dealing in reality means you are aware of the factual truth. The reality of what is happening in your life currently could be great or it could be undesirable. Regardless of the current state, where do you fit into the equation?

You do have some control over your life. By understanding how you are aiding or jeopardizing your growth you will be able to recognize what changes need to be made and hold yourself accountable for seeing it through.

2. Be open to criticism

This might be something that makes you cringe, but you have to be open to criticism. How we depict ourselves can be slightly different compared to what someone on the outside looking in might believe. Accountability does not come naturally for everyone and it can take time to reach that level of awareness.

I’m not saying that this criticism that you’ll receive will always be right; trust me it won’t. The main thing is to be open to it. At the end of the day you know yourself and should be able to separate solely opinion based criticism from truthful critique.

The criticism we receive from others may not always be warranted in the particular moments that they occur. That is something that you’ll have to accept and not let your emotions get in the way. The words spoken could genuinely be coming from a good place, but when you aren’t open you could get defensive.

Also, don’t ask for advice on something that you don’t actually want advice on. Your feelings might get hurt if you are not ready for what someone has to say about your current situation.

3. Know when to say I’m sorry

This sounds simple enough but believe me some people lack the ability to apologize. If you cannot speak these two words, and really mean it, then I’m sorry, but you are not holding yourself accountable. The funny thing is that sometimes you can tell when someone knows they’re at fault but they won’t utter a word to suggest it. Be mindful of these type of people.

If you recognize yourself in what I’m describing then you need to do some work to overcome your reason for not feeling like you deserve to give out apologies.

Saying sorry can be a weight lifted and a closer step into the right direction. You cannot fully be accountable until you’re able to let others know that you played a part in whatever it is that’s needing your apology.

Something that we always question with apologies is if they are sincere. Someone’s apology may or may not be sincere when it is spoken but don’t let that bother you too much. What’s more important than words are actions. Time will tell.

If you yourself are in the habit of apologizing but not really meaning it, why is that? Are you trying to avoid confrontation, be a people pleaser or do you just not want to be looked at as an even worse person?

Saying sorry will help you grow and be able to deal with situations no matter the outcome.

Now, woman to woman, be careful with how much you say sorry. We are known to overly apologize, even when it’s not necessary. Depending on who you’re apologizing to, it could be misinterpreted.

Accountability in many ways is a responsibility. You owe it to yourself to hold yourself up to the same conditions and standards as you would hold someone else. Being open to criticism, dealing in reality and knowing when to say I’m sorry are just three ways we can hold ourselves accountable.

What is one way you hold yourself accountable?