Apr 15, 2007 | 4:47 pm
Accountability
Think about that word for a moment.
- Account – A recording of events, inventory.
- Ability – A skill or talent.
How skilled are you at recording your events? Do you know how much money you have? How do you spend your time? What’s in your garage or junk drawer? Is your office cluttered and your bedroom a sanctuary? Are you late or early to work? How do you dedicate time with your children or partner or yourself?
I ask those questions as an invitation to examine your life and put yourself under a microscope. And before you read further, how does that feel? Are you excited? Can you not wait to get going and take a look at what you’re really creating everyday? Or is it scary – are you afraid of what you might find out about yourself?
Let me tell you what I do. I complete a life log everyday that records what my general actions are every half hour. Every half hour. This exercise is part of Fearless Living by Rhonda Britten. I add additional homework of recording every dollar that comes in or out of my checking account, what I’m feeling during each transaction, and add that up for the day. On yet another sheet IÂ record what I eat or exercise, use a point system for quantifying those activities, and also record the feelings associated. At the end of the day I can easy say how I spent my time, money, and energy.
Was I afraid to do this? You better believe it. If I knew what was going on, I would have to take charge of my life. I would lose all my excuses. I couldn’t blame anyone else. I couldn’t say it’s the world’s fault. Ultimately, I would become responsible for the actions of my life.
This is not to say that by being accountable you can be responsible for everything. I had cancer and I didn’t cause it. What I am accountable for, however, is how I responded to the diagnosis. I took care of my health, I went to the doctor appointments, I advocated for myself at my job while I was seriously ill, and I still take a pill everyday. Cancer wasn’t a “bad” thing; it was simply a “thing.” My actions weren’t “good” actions, they were proactive actions to keep me alive, kicking, and accountable.
Your homework:
Get a piece of paper out. Write on it what your doing right this moment. I’ll give you hint; it will read: “Reading Joe’s blog and writing down my current action.” Write what feeling you have right now next to the action.
Repeat this two more times today when you feel like it. Tomorrow, double your homework to record 6 activities and the associated feeling. The following days, keep adding three until you’ve broken down your day as fully as you think possible.
What do you see? What changes have “naturally” happened? Can you give yourself credit for doing those? What changes would you like to make? What would it take to make those changes?
Let me know how this goes for you. No matter how much you think you know, I trust that you will amaze yourself.
Truly Yours,
Joseph Lyons