Accountability
Accountability starts with you! That can be harsh to hear, but it’s true, and a lesson that I’ve learned over the past couple of years.
No one is coming to hold your hand, or mine, to make sure we get stuff done. The person who cares the most is standing in the mirror.
We may have friends that support us, accountability partners we check in with and coaches who champion us along; at the end of the day, its up to us to get the work done.
I’ve found that friends and even accountability partners can let us off the hook too easily. We make a big claim about our fitness, and we falter. Often, we’re met with niceties such as “don’t be so hard on yourself”, “you needed a day off”. While this feels good in the moment it’s not what we need and it won’t challenge or change us.
We make the change every time we decide to make a promise, set a goal, and then do it no matter what. Coincidently, every time we keep that promise, we put a deposit in our confidence bank that says, “You’re worth it”. When we don’t follow through, when we slip up, when we chose Netflix over working out, we tell ourselves that we’re not worth the investment in time. How will you invest in BANKYOUINC today?
Don’t get me wrong, working with accountability partners, mentors and coaches have been imperative to my growth, but ultimately, it’s been me doing what I said I was going to do. It was me, being honest with myself. I ask myself accountability questions “Did I put in the full effort, or did I coast on that workout?” “Did I bring my A-game to my critical tasks today or did I do just enough to get the job done?”
It’s important to reflect on our progress, look at the data and track where we’re doing well and where we have failed to follow through. We have to be honest about our improvement.
Then set a plan of action to start again. Today is a new day. Release the guilt around yesterday’s decisions. Proclaim your new goal or commitment and then, most importantly, keep the promise you make to yourself because you and only you own your success!
