Blame distracts and deflects and solves nothing For every ill in the world today – you can find someone to blame. It’s very easy to do. Most politicians blame their opposition for all our woes. Business leaders blame laws and regulations for poor wages and the lousy treatment of employees. Religious leaders blame other religions and atheists for everything wrong in our world today. What’s more, in the process of self-improvement, no matter if it’s mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual, blame is an easy go-to. The problem is that blame disempowers us. Why? Because how can you fix something you take zero responsibility or zero accountability for? Blame disempowers When you place blame, you shunt away your power. It’s not mindful. Why? Because it closes the door to change and control. For example – I could blame my depression on my parents and their divorce. My depression can then be blamed for my weight issues. Then, I can blame my weight issues for my self-esteem problems. My self-esteem problems can then be blamed for my depression. Blame disempowers by creating endless loops of deflection. Progress doesn’t get made and nothing gets done. We disempower ourselves by finding and placing blame. Oppression of the masses Look at American politics and some of the extremism that’s become increasingly public over the past few years. Hatred and fear of certain groups have forged new ways to oppress them. And because when all is said and done, we’re all one – that oppresses us all. But what you give, you get. It reflects back on us - and then ALL are oppressed. Because the truth is that a select few empower themselves via disempowerment of the masses. Blame is an outstanding tool for just that. The solution is accountability and responsibility rather than blame The power of accountability is that it empowers. When we are accountable and responsible for ourselves, we can work with that and make adjustments and changes. Nobody but you can think, feel, or act for you. When you admit to a screw-up, take responsibility for it, and be accountable, it will almost surely suck to admit it. There is pain and discomfort in this. However, after that momentary pain and discomfort, now you can change, alter, and/or fix it. While being accountable can come with initial pain and discomfort – and the fear of suffering from it makes it even more unappealing – once you pass that, your conscious awareness lets you work on the issue/problem/matter/whatever. Blame distracts and deflects and solves nothing. Accountability and taking responsibility are the key to repair, alteration, and change. It starts with every one of us individually, and it can positively impact our health, wellness, and wellbeing on every conceivable level. This week’s Applied Guidance for Mindfulness Tool: For the next week, make a conscious effort to pay attention to both what you think and feel and what you do and say. Mind your inner dialogue and pay attention for blame. When you find you are blaming something or someone for anything at all, write down what it is and who/what you’re blaming. Then, analyze if there’s anything you can do about it – and how you can be accountable and responsible. If it’s something way outside of your control – write it down and be accountable for it by choosing to let it go. At the end of the week, see how you feel and if being more accountable and responsible is, in fact, empowering. Author Website: https://mjblehart.com Email: author@mjblehart.com Instagram Twitter Facebook Blogs: titaniumdon.com and mjblehart.medium.com Cover artist Fe Mahoney: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TaliasInspirations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices