CHANGE YOUR WORLD

The importance of accountability

One of the most difficult tasks in life is for each of us to see ourselves clearly. We often have a tendency to be either too hard on ourselves or too blind about our weaknesses. When we are too hard on ourselves we live in stress, in discontentment, and comparison. This perpetual dissatisfaction can affect our health, our appearance, our relationships and our creativity. We need to know what we do well. We need to see the unique value we each innately possess.

We also need to recognize areas we are in need of improvement, ways we harm others or ourselves, ways we live below the line. Below the line living includes living with bitterness, reacting to situations with anger and without listening, living with cynicism, critical spirit and arrogance. We need the courage to find quality people to be a mirror in our lives who see the beauty in us and also help us uncover the darkness with wisdom and gentleness. Psalm 19 says, "Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults." When we have people who can hold us accountable with grace and love we move closer to seeing ourselves with clarity and the better people we become.

Steps to develop greater accountability

1. Each person needs quality mentors, people we admire who can work with us on becoming better. Whether its basketball, school work, life skills, parenting, spiritual direction or some other area we would like to develop, we need to find someone who is older with more experience who can meet with us on a regular basis for counsel and instruction. This person should be someone who has strong skills, integrity, lives with thankfulness and is wise.

2. Each person should have people in our lives who can easily speak and recognize what we do well. We can achieve our best in an environment of praise and encouragement. We do well when we see ourselves as valuable, unique, creative and lovely.

3. Each person should have people with whom we share our deepest struggles and the sins or temptations we wrestle with which keep us from being our best. One or a few trusted wise people need to know our darkest secrets and what plan we have to bring light to this darkness.

4. Be willing to ask the hard questions of those we love and who love us.

What do I do well?
Name one way I could be a better son/daughter/mother/father/sibling/friend to you?
What are some things I do that make you feel loved?

The best way to attract quality people who can speak what you do well, is to be that kind a person yourself.

Set a goal to have your accountability team in place by next month.

Find:

1. Mentors for the areas you want to be successful in.

2. An accountability group for your sins and temptations.

3. People who can speak what you do well to you on a daily basis.