Blog - November 4, 2022
Day 4 :The November Happiness Challenge 2022
ACCOUNTABILITY
Did that word scare you immediately you opened this post? Hayy come here, I understand. It happens to the best of us but I’ll make an attempt at breaking it down, to show you how important it is in our daily dealings to be accountable.
Remember that time you hurt your friend, albeit non intentionally? When you did something they didn’t like and it made them feel so bad and they told you? Yes. Remember how you aknowledged their hurt and apologized to them without deflecting? How you took responsibility for your misbehaviour and found ways to make things better with them? Yes yes, that time, you held yourself accountable and do you remember how good it felt afterward especially because you didn’t let your ego come in the way of a beautiful frienship? That’s what I’m talking about.
While growing up, there was an unspoken rule in my house that we shouldn’t do late nights. Once it’s a certain time, we all have to be home and if not home, we know where the absent person is at the time. This grew with us because after many years, I realized that I had internalized the act of being accountable to at least one person regarding my movements at every point in time. Wherever I am, someone has to know about it and I also do not enjoy keepinmg late nights. I don’t go anywhwere without sharing my location with at least one person, because that is what I am used to and it has been very helful.
Your example might be different from mine, it could be you being accountable to yourself regarding healthy eating choices of dropping bad habits and so on. You become very intentional with ignoring distractions and working towards a goal by being accountable. It really helps with growth and managing personal responsibilities.
All around us, we see people who revel in the fact that they aren’t accountable to anyone, and while it might seem like it is such a wonderful thing that ensures freedom, I truly beg to differ. You need to have someone or people who hold you accountable, only then would you know that there are consequences for misdoings and this will make you more circumspect in everything you embark on. Imagine going to a store to shop and something beckons to you to steal an item, you don’t go ahead to actualize the thought because you are accountable to your personal morals and hence wouldn’t do that.
The summary of my message today is that I am preaching Accountability and imploring us to practise it because it has a lot of benefits een though it might look cumbersome at the beginning. Being accountable doesn’t make you weak, it makes you a responsible person. It makes people respect you becasue you also respect yourself by always taking responsibility when need be. It doesn;t make you less of who you are, it actually makes you more.
You need an accountability partner and this could differ per situation. I have seen situations where people are in romantic relationships and they vehemently oppose to being accountable to their spouses. This is worrisome, because if your lover cannot hold you accountable regaeding certain things, who then will? There is no pride or ego being crushed when you are accountable, it simply means you regard the relationship and you respect them.
Some leaders also believe they should never be accountable to those they lead because they are high up there. No please, this is wrong. You arer a leader for a reason, and part of ebing a leader is holding yourself accountable to the rersponsibilities that make you one. This also goes for followers to leaders, and every other sphere of life. You need to consciously internalize being accountable to the right people and for the right situations. It does help in the journey of life which encompasses Love, growth and Trust. (See what I did there?)
Today, we are going to define what Accountability means to us, in our own words, and give an instance of when we were accountable, or just state who we consider to be our Accountability Partner.
I’ll be back.
OBA
Temitope
Very insightful post, it’s also very timely because I am trying to be more accountable to the people I love
admin
I’m glad this is timely and meaningful for you
Olatoun
Accountability is very important to me. I like to stay accountable, true to my words and fulfill my obligations to the people I owe them to. My main accountability partner is my spouse, he helps me remember to stay true to my values and prioritize the things I hold important. Thank you for this great post.
admin
You are always welcome. I love that you consider Accountability very important.
Busari Titilayo Tawa
Accountability go along with responsibility and reliability. As a Nurse there’s this quote “You are responsible to every of your actions “.This make you want to do your best to your clients, their relatives and your colleagues.At home when you are responsible, you put a check on your actions/behaviour and you are sure to get your family’s back even in your absence. Spouses should be responsible to each others,same in friendship .Thanks so much for this piece
admin
You are welcome, mum. Well explained.
Anu
I agree with you
admin
Thank you.
Anike
Accountability is a very big deal and I wish everyone can actually key into it. This is a lovely piece indeed and I agree with all that was said. Well done
Ameenah
I am accountable to my family, friends and my loved ones. Accountability makes you to be aware of the kind of person that you are and how you can improve and be a better person in general. You write so well 🙌🙌🙌
ENIOLA
Accountability.
That’s a big one. Thank you for breaking it down to the simplest things. I’m here trying to stay true to my decision to cut out added sugar from my diet, entirely. Lol. I hope that counts.
Rukayat
Thanks momma for this breakdown.
admin
You are always welcome.
Kheffytee
Being accountable earns you trust and respect, when you are accountable to yourself, introspection would be easy.
Accountability helps with shaping our characters and keep us off acts that aren’t our trademark
admin
You always speak in my language. oh yes!
Rukkie
This !!!! I’m always so big on accountability. And I believe it has made a better person. Thank you for this mama.
admin
You are always welcome, baby girl.
Olaseni
There is a Yoruba saying, “abeere e lokun ni idi.” Literally translating as, “there are people he/she can be reported to.” Growing up, my mother would report us, especially me, to the Pastor in church whenever I misbehaved because she knew I respected that man and looked up to him. It helped to tame certain excesses. When I grew older, I looked for my accountability partners by myself and it has really helped to shape all of my relationships. Without accountability, we tend to live carelessly and lose tracks of our core values.
admin
Yessss! I totally love this example because it captures it all.