On paper accountability looks simple and safe. Yet for complete life transformation accountability extends to a much higher level. True accountability requires me to get uncomfortable. It is one thing for me to give you a rundown of superficial things that I do throughout the course of my day that define what I do not who I am or what I think or how I feel. Those things I can safely share with you because they are external to me.
Through accountability from a wellness standpoint means that I am an open book to you. This does not mean that every relationship in our life is based on our accountability. Most of my relationships have superficial accountability that apply to one area or another. As the relationship becomes more meaningful and has a different impact on me in love or caring or sharing intimacy, accountability his defined much differently. I love the simplicity of the word accountable.
This word simply means that I am subject to the obligation to report, explain or justify something. It means I am answerable. Once again for things that are outside of me that are part of what I do not who I am this is rather easy to do because it’s not personal. So many of us are answerable or we have an obligation to fulfill a particular commitment or process regarding our work. We don’t mind Being accountable in those cases because we are most often being paid or compensated in one way or the other. Do we have the same openness when a significant other or some other person close to us as for a report or suggest we are answerable to them? This is often regarding how we feel about a particular thing or to justify a particular action.
Are we accountable or do we give a less than honest reason based on some type of fear? Back in the early 90s I had a mentor who what approach me, and he would ask “are you teachable?” I knew when he asked that question he was asking me if I was willing to be accountable. He was usually going to impart a life lesson on me based on something new he had learned and was applying or something that he saw in me. Other times I would bring a situation or concern to him and he would say “are you looking for my opinion or are you looking for my advice?”
Once again, he was asking if I was going to be accountable. He would explain to me if I were looking for his opinion, we should just go have lunch, but if I were looking advice then we should sit down and talk. This was such a valuable lesson to me when it comes to being accountable. I love how Stephen Covey would break things down like he would responsibility. He would say that responsibility is simply being response able. The same way with accountable or accountability. I would say am I able to give an account. I am not just talking about being able in terms of having the ability I am talking about being able in terms of being honest. I have found a best friend in accountability. I have grown so much as a person and all the other rules that extend from my person hood because I now in brace accountability. I hope you have found this to be true as well. Be blessed and have a great day.
Robert Pardon
Robert is the Recovery Guy. Getting clean and sober on April 25, 1986 has given me the insight and practical skill set to not only stay sober, but to also re-invent myself to the person I always wanted to become. Showing others how to do this is my life goal.
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