Do you know what it’s like to set a goal and then have ZERO motivation to complete it?
At the end of the day, you feel rotten looking back at the pile of nothing you’ve accomplished. What’s worse is that your inaction can start to affect other people.
We’re tackling the concept of self accountability for a reason: we need more of it!
It’s impossible to reach a new business goal, meet a deadline, or complete a passion project without a little accountability. Oftentimes, some of the best things in our lives will not have someone looking over our shoulder telling us what to do. We have to learn to take that action for ourselves.
Self accountability is essential for healthy relationships. Learning to own your emotions and understand what causes your feelings is an incredibly healthy practice. It helps you be less reactive and more proactive.
So self accountability really is a big deal.
What is self accountability?
Self accountability is the idea that you take responsibility for your life and your actions. It means you understand that the only person responsible for the results in your life is yourself.
This is a hard concept to grasp for people who have a low sense of personal autonomy. When you’re used to blaming others or circumstances for how you feel, it can be a dramatic and uncomfortable change of perspective.
But the benefits that come with taking responsibility for your life, your actions, and your happiness are immeasurable. You suddenly have a variety of options when you face challenges, and are no longer stuck playing the role of the victim.
If taking ownership of your life and your behavior sounds impossible to you, you may want to consider what the alternative looks like.
When you have no self accountability…
People who lack personal accountability often have an “external locus of control.” Meaning, they believe that the outcome of their actions hinge on things outside their realm of control.
So you can do whatever you want, but if you’re destined to fail and be unhappy, nothing you can do will change that.
Those who practice self accountability inversely have an “internal locus of control.” This means they believe things within their control have the biggest impact on their happiness.
People who have low self accountability (or an external locus of control) often experience emotions like this:
- Increased depression
- Heightened anxiety
- Greater sense of victimhood
- Hopeless or powerless against difficult circumstances
- Victim of chance
- Increased stress
And of course, confirmation bias will only make these things worse. People who have low self accountability don’t have the tools to help themselves. Their own actions and attitudes keep them a prisoner of this cycle.
How to develop self accountability by changing your mindset
However, taking personal accountability means accepting responsibility for your outlook on life. By shifting your mindset, you can start to hold yourself accountable for your own actions.
Here are some example thoughts you can practice to increase accountability:
- “I always have options”
- “There is always something I can do to improve my situation”
- “I get to decide what I am worth”
- “Just because I feel this way now, doesn’t mean it’s true”
- “I don’t have to wait for the perfect time to start being accountable to myself”
By adopting thoughts like this, you start to shift the focus from outside factors to internal control. You always have options when you know you create your reality from the inside out.
Changing your mindset around accountability takes time. Don’t expect to wake up with a completely new attitude one day, but rather, try to discover what works for you over time.
Being conscious of your mindset is really one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Examples of Self Accountability
When you’re committed to taking responsibility in your life, you will show up differently. It may result in other uncomfortable situations, but ultimately pays off in the long run.
Here’s how self accountability can show up in your life:
- Honesty: When you practice self accountability, you are able to be honest with yourself and with others easily. You know that showing up with integrity is the best way to build trust and confidence.
- Saying you’re sorry: Self accountable people know when to apologize, and they do it without hesitation. This respect you pay to others by owning your mistakes ultimately reflects back on you.
- Proper time management: Time management is tricky, it takes a lot of practice to get good at. Being self accountable means you take control of the time you have and use it wisely.
The benefits of being self accountable
One of the most profound benefits of being self accountable is that you always have options. You get to take control of your destiny and decide how you act.
However, what many people don’t realize is that self accountability makes you less vulnerable to manipulation.
Let’s just speak frankly: many people profit when you depend on others for accountability. Companies try to sell products or services with the appeal of the accountability you “need.” They have you believe that without them, you’ll never be able to accomplish anything.
We see this every year around the New Year. Diet companies and gyms try to get you to sign up with the allure of “accountability.” But if you’ve ever tried to get in shape yourself, you know that inner motivation is much more effective than dropping money on a gym membership.
A lack of self accountability could keep you in a job or a relationship much longer than what is healthy for you. When other people know you rely on them to be your accountability partner, it puts them in a position of power over you.
This is not to say having an accountability buddy on the way to a goal is a bad thing. Far from it! It’s just much more effective when you realize that being accountable to yourself makes much bigger and more consistent results.
Practical tips to help you remain accountable to yourself
Taking accountability on an individual level is the key to creating the results you want. It’s what keeps you committed to long term goals, breaks unhealthy habits, and accomplishes to-do lists every day. You can really make an impact when you are a highly accountable person.
So how do you become a person with self accountability? Here are a couple of practical tips to help you out:
- Write down your goals: Goals that are written down frequently become over 40% more likely to be achieved. It solidifies the work in your brain!
- Create a strategy: Scheduling out your tasks is a great way to stay accountable to them. Put all your milestones on your calendar and look at them frequently.
- Give yourself rewards: Treat yourself when you reach a milestone! This positive reinforcement helps enforce self accountability.
- Have consequences in place: Likewise, put consequences in place for not reaching a milestone.
- Reflect: Take some time to reflect on how well your self accountability journey has been going. As long as you are making progress, that’s great! Don’t be too hard on yourself and get discouraged.
Take some time to think about what your life would look like if you added more self accountability to the mix. Let that be your inspiration for improving yourself while you take charge.
If you like this topic, make sure you check out:
The Complete Guide To Setting SMART Goals for Creatives
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