“There’s no way we can escape accountability. We DO make a difference – one way or the other. We ARE responsible for the impact of our lives.” Stephen R Covey

“Who ate the apple, “shouted God. “Erm, I did,” said Adam. He pointed at Eve. “But she made me do it.”

“Did you make him eat it, Eve?” said God. “Yes,” she said, “but the serpent told me to.”

“Lying cow!” said God. “Snakes can’t talk!”

Thus we see the first example of deflecting responsibility for our own failure to abide by clearly stated rules (although in fairness to Adam and Eve they weren’t told why they shouldn’t eat from the tree, and important part of communication). Not to mention (in my version) of the abject pointlessness in placing the blame where it cannot truly lie. BTW, the title was just to draw you in, I was only joking!

Over the years I have made some boo-boos, but I have not been taken to task (since 1985!) for doing so because one thing I have always done is to openly and honestly admit my mistake. It’s hard to punish people for honest error, and admitted mistakes (which raises the question of the influence of malice when doing so, but that’s for another say).

The Second Resolution is where character sits, and where we seek to develop high personal standards in terms of our behaviours, and the thinking behind them. It is supported by the self-discipline of adherence to our values and principles, and the self-denial of ‘excuse’ and ‘rationalisation’.

Good people, genuinely good people, are not in danger of suffering too much for their errors. So be one.