Okay, parents, fess up: Didyou take this Reeses Peanut ButterCup out of your childs Halloween bucket? Did you take the big bite out of it and then rationalize and justifyyour actions with, Little Johnny will never notice!and Sweets have no calories on Halloween!?

Dont worry, youre not alone in both candy-ingesting andrationalizing and justifying. Engaging in those behaviors nowadays is a thing.An all-too-common thing.

I know, Ivedone it.

Have you noticed our current societal culture allows for a great deal of rationalization and justification,leading to convoluted thoughts, faulty reasoning, and very little personal accountability for individual choices? I have. Let me show you what I mean with these statements:

I dont mean to check email on my phone when with the kids, but something important might come up.

No, I dont text and driveexcept at a red light.

I shouldnt have lashed out at that guy, but he made me mad and deserved it.

Sure, my candidate should not have said that, but did you hear what the other guy said?

My child isnt perfect, but you should see what other kids do. *see below*

Arriving late to work isnt right,I knowbut everyone does it.

I shouldve called the customer back sooner, but Id have more time if management hired more people.

I know I can only change me, but if she would do things differently our marriage would be better.

Wed have a lot less violencein our country if politicians in D.C. werent so uncivil to each other.

Heavy doses ofjustification and rationalization for a persons actions are nothing more than finger-pointing and blame. Have you noticed when some folks explain theiractions, you only hear excuses? Sometimes it makes my head spin.

I know when Ioverthink stuff, I conjure up excuses for others and for me. Thats costly. No one can learn, grow, and change when unwilling to say, Im wrong, I own it. Heres what Ive learned.

Nor will any problems be solved. The Blame Game fails us all.

Great value is derived from living by clear, truth-based, timeless principles like personal accountability. Life is far less confounding when I do. I dont always measure up, but when I failI know it.

By embracing the reality that no one makes me do anything I dont want to doby eliminating the human urge to rationalize and justifyIempower myself to eradicate excuses,own my life, and be bettertomorrow than I am today.

I bet you agree those are worthy goals!

Have I allowed rationalization and justification into my thought life or am I practicing personal accountability at every turn?

Please comment!

***For more on excellent parenting: Raising Accountable Kids

John Miller

John G. Miller is the author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability, Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional and co-author of Raising Accountable Kids. He is founder of QBQ, Inc., an organizational development firm dedicated to Helping Organizations Make Personal Accountability a Core Value. A 1980 graduate of Cornell University, John has been involved in the training and speaking industry since 1986. He lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, Karen. The Millers have 7 children and 10 grandchildren. Reach John by email at [emailprotected]

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