The Ability To Account

Accountability is expected – and often demanded – under the glare of public scrutiny.

Just as we need someone to praise when things go well, we need someone to blame when things go bad.

But accountability is a very private matter…one that can either be accepted or rejected.

Denial can be the reaction of choice when an explanation is required.

The problem is that admission is followed by consequence. There is a price that has to be paid and there are times when that price is considered to be too high or above the financial or emotional limits of the individual involved.

The passage of time can offer some relief but guilt has no limits. There is no bliss in self-imposed ignorance.

It’s easier to accept accountability when there are witnesses…when someone else sees what we have done or hears what we have said.

Far more difficult is the task when it comes to being accountable to self.

It’s vital, however, that we have standards and that we work hard to maintain those standards and improve them when and where necessary.

Being true to oneself is an assurance that we are headed in the right direction. Personal honesty is a solid link to a fuller and happier life.

Mistakes and misdirection may not always be obvious to the world around us. But it happens and we know. And, if we know, we owe it to ourselves to be accountable.

Mental anguish and imbalance is part of the price we pay for refusing to be honest with the person we know ourselves to be.

We can quite easily become our own worst enemy when we need to be our own best friend.