Handling Accountability and Consequences
In the professional ranks of the business world, much is said about accountability, but exactly what is it? God gave us all the necessary talents and gifts we need to make a worthwhile contribution to the world in which we live. What we do with those gifts are entirely up to us. We can choose to ignore them or pursue them. We should exert an effort to explore the opportunities and alternatives available to us; totally without fear. How else can we know for ourselves about anything? I wasn’t born liking the taste of apples. I had to bite into one, and enjoy the flavor before I could develop a taste for apples.
Only I, determine what I will do with the day that has been given me. Every day we should ask ourselves, “Am I doing the very best with what I have been given? Am I using my gifts; my talents well? If not, am I willing to take the necessary actions to change?” One of the best ways of getting in touch with our inner thoughts is to share those thoughts with others. Doing so verbally allows for too many mistakes, and doesn’t always translate into what you really meant. By scripting out your thoughts you will give more attention to what you’re saying and how you say it. The internet has totally changed the way we communicate with each other. Blogs have provided us a meaningful way to share our thoughts with others. I have found that scripting my thoughts or frustrations insures against me making a total fool of myself. I have written many letters, notes, and emails that were never delivered because a sense of calmness came over me, after putting my thoughts in print, releasing the frustrations that I had experienced. Martin Buber once said, “We can be redeemed only to the extent to which we see ourselves.”
Many of us have heard a prayer, and many have it framed in their office, that says; “God, grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can and the Wisdom to know the difference.” I don’t know where it originated but nothing can be more meaningful, than to a person with a sales career. It seems to be human nature to bellyache about things that we have no control over. We can’t control other people or circumstances that are brought on by other people. We can only change ourselves by changing our attitudes, our actions and our reactions to certain circumstances or situations.
By looking inside ourselves to examine our innermost thoughts, we discover that we truly are in control of our own lives. Subconsciously we tell ourselves that we have no control over a circumstance when in fact we do, but we don’t like the results. Think with me for a moment; don’t we usually do what we want to do? When was the last time we were forced to do something and not given a choice? I have always heard the saying, “The only two things we have to do is pay our taxes and die.” According to this, everything is a choice but death and taxes. Let me correct the saying. We even have a choice about paying our taxes. We don’t have to pay taxes if we are willing to accept the consequences. We can even end our own life as a personal choice; the only time we don’t have a choice is when God makes the decision for us.
Life is all about our thoughts and the actions we take in response to those thoughts. Every action we take has an equally opposing reaction. Circumstances require decisions. Decisions require that an action be taken. The result of every action is a consequence or a set of conditions. It begins with us and it ends with us. When we make the right choice, life seems to be grand. When we make poor choices, life seems to be gloomy and of course it is always someone else fault. Our life truly is what we make of it.
We are not perfect. We always do and always will make mistakes. This is the way we learn; the way we gain wisdom. We learn to make better decisions by reflecting on the mistakes of previous decisions. The Holy Bible, the book of James, chapter 1:2 says, “Count it all joy when ye fall into diver’s temptations.” This is the way we learn patience. We learn and overcome from our mistakes. Confucius said, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” Accept the responsibility for the consequences that result from our decisions. Learn to be accountable to yourself, for you are who you choose to be.
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