Accountability

Being held accountable for our actions or inaction is often seen as either a blessing or a curse. Accountability can be:

- A source of pride

- A means to determine our efforts

- Or, unfortunately, a reason for dishonesty or deceit.

Sometimes we embrace accountability. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we get angry that our accountability is questioned. 

Emotions aside, ask yourself:

"Am I secure enough to own up and be held accountable?" 

It can be a hard thing to do. It's too easy to blame someone else for your actions (or lack thereof), difficulties or issues. It's too easy to be untruthful in an attempt to "cover our asses". It's too easy to preserve our reputations through cover-ups. It's too easy to demand accountability from someone else, yet find ways to not be accountable for our own actions.

I often ask myself, "Why is this sometimes so difficult?"

There is a Japanese term, "Setsumei Sekinin":

• Setsumei (説明): This part means "explanation" or "clarification."
• Sekinin (責任): This part means "responsibility" or "duty."
• Combined Meaning: Together, "setsumei sekinin" implies a responsibility to provide a clear and thorough explanation, often in a public setting, for actions taken or decisions made.

Given the meaning, the "duty to explain" might sometimes make way for excuses, hidden truths or outright lies. However I've learned through the years to look within and know i'm secure enough to own up to my mistakes, and be courageous enough to "explain". 

I've observed through the years, that those who try to work hard for themselves and their situations, are the ones who take the bitter pill of accountability, while those whole take only partial accountability or refuse to be accountable at all, are those who already have what they want or need, even when it was gained through questionable means.

I've found, that the real time one should keep accountability on the priority list, is when you already have what you want and need.  Not only when you are lacking. Our actions and morals when we have everything set for us, is the indicator of our reputation. 

It can be a tough thing to do, given that many of us in the Western world are caught up in our own reputations and want to preserve it. 

But think of your INTERNAL reputation. You will always be dealing with "You".  It's not about how other people view you.

It's about how you view yourself. 

It's about being truly honest with yourself.

It's about asking yourself 'Did I really do everything I could for myself,

or did I just move on to a different activity to distract myself

to avoid the uncomfortable work?

Reputations are nothing without "Sekinin"....responsibility"...."duty".