Accountability: A Self-Development Practice
Have you ever met someone who blames all their actions or problems on others? I’m sure you have, maybe a coworker who can't fess up to a mistake, a partner who doesn't want to admit they were wrong. Or maybe you have been this person? These are everyday situations where someone may lack the capacity to be accountable, but in extreme cases, this is considered a victim complex or mentality. Accountability is a practice that may take time to develop, as it can be challenging and requires you to take a deep look at yourself. However, being more accountable can have a positive impact on your personal relationships, professional networks, and self-esteem.
What is Accountability?
Accountability is taking ownership of what you say, your actions, and your decisions, without shifting the blame to others. There are two ways you can look at this practice: being accountable to yourself and to others. Both are important and require a healthy sense of self and ego. It helps to use approaches like externalizing the problem, not personalizing certain things we may unconsciously attach to our egos. For instance, if you make a mistake at work, you feel embarrassed, but that does not necessarily mean you are not good at your job; it means you need to fix your process. Instead of just blaming yourself, realize you need to adjust your process and be accountable for your mistake. This helps you approach the situation with clear thinking and not a sensitive ego.
Why Accountability Matters?
When it comes to personal growth and development, accountability is a key factor. Growth requires you to take a deep look at yourself, your systems, and your processes. If you are not entirely where you want to be in life, you may need to make adjustments. It can be difficult to realize we've been going about some things the wrong way, but if you are serious about self-improvement, this is the accountability that serves as the catalyst.
Reasons accountability matters:
Promotes personal growth
Improve relationships with others
Increases self-trust
Build skills and performance
Achieve personal and professional goals
Struggling to Be Accountable?
Being accountable is not as easy as you may like it to be. It requires a level of capacity and maturity that takes time and life experiences to achieve. Developmental factors can have some impact on this practice, as it may take time for the brain to mature, however, with intention, young adults can still learn to practice accountability before the prefrontal cortex fully develops. Those with an already developed prefrontal cortex who struggle with accountability may have an intense fear of judgment, have black or white thinking, or have a lack of follow-through. These challenges tend to come from environments that promote stagnant growth, traumatic childhood experiences, and low emotional intelligence. If you are struggling to be accountable or to make sense of challenges in your life, seek support from a mental health professional.
How to Build Personal Accountability?
Accountability can be built and improved on. Self-awareness and self-love are key to building your personal responsibility. For instance, people who are compassionate with themselves can self-critique in a way that promotes growth. Establishing systems that help you meet your goals is also effective in building personal accountability. Remembering that accountability is not about attacking yourself, but about being honest with yourself and practicing radical acceptance, helps free you. Yes, accountability is freeing, releasing ideals that are no longer serving you and increasing your mental strength.
Remember, accountability impacts:
Your personal relationships
Your professional relationships
Your relationship with self
Developing Accountability in the Wellness Journey
Accountability is a major component of a successful wellness journey. Get started on your journey and use our resources for inspiration.
