I was just 22 when I learned about "taking responsibility for yourself". That was a milestone event. I learned that blaming others, was turning over my power to them-- as in-- if they were at fault, then I must wait on them to correct the situation or give me what I want. But once I moved into the mindset of taking responsibility for myself-- suddenly-- I was in control of my own life. If there was something I didn't like, it was up to me to change it, or live with it. The decision was always mine.

Now, at a later age, there is another milestone mindset that has transformed my life and my ability to direct my own destiny.

It's called, "personal accountability". It's simply being accountable to oneself. It's a little game you play with yourself. Once you understand how the games works, you can accomplish great tasks, with little if any discomfort.

As an adult we are all held by our word. When we promise to do something we must do it, even if we rather now. It's a simple fact of life-- one of the three pillars of civilization. Very often when we give our word to do something-- it is the very act of giving our word-- that motivates us to push on, in spite of any setbacks-- to complete the promised task. We all do this. It's a very familiar experience to each of us.

The game consists of using this built in psychology-- the same ingrained habit-- to motivate ourselves, to do all the things we know we can, but for some reason never get around to starting or accomplishing. Here's how it works.

1- Personal Accountability means doing what you promised to do-- for yourself. No one else knows what little goals you set for yourself and no one else knows whether you remain accountable to yourself, or whether you fail.

2- But we always succeed because the tasks we agree to-- are always so minor and easy to accomplish. Because the task is so easy to accomplish, we always succeed, with little or no effort. For instance, if you were to tell yourself that today-- you were going to do one deep-knee-bend and be thankful for one thing-- something-- anything-- before the day is out. Such an exercise would be a very easy exercise to complete.

3- The key to this mindset-- which makes it powerful-- which makes it work-- rests in the simple understanding that-- THE HABIT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE AMOUNT. You found it easy to do one deep-knee-bend, and be thankful for one thing, today... BUT could you do two deep-knee-bends and render two thankful thoughts tomorrow. Two? Everyone agrees, at this point the game is still effortless! Three, four, five? How much real time and effort did it take? Less than a minute? The fact that this mindset is so EASY-- is what makes it so powerful, and universally available to anyone.

4- Day ten. It's taking more time, but the exercise is still very easy to do. Just the fact you've been doing this for a while-- knowing exactly what is expected of you-- knowing in full confidence, that you will successfully accomplish the daily tasks you've agreed to-- keeps going. That's the unexpected part.Your little exercise in personal accountability has grown into a little ritual-- providing you with a daily dose of satisfaction, accomplishment, and continuing success. Day 20? Day 30? You life has noticeably changed, in a very real way.

Now my example, of doing deep-knee-bends and mentally being thankful for one thing, is a good example-- but only an example.Once you understand how the game is played, you can design you own tasks and adjust your daily goals to best suit you experience and temperament. In this way, you can teach yourself to accomplish everything.

Even a tremendous task of great forboding complexity becomes manageable and accomplishable, if only you will agree to devote 1/2 hour each day. More often than not, it is the first few steps that are the most difficult.

(c) 4-2-09 Paul Zozem