David Goggins, Author of Can’t Hurt Me, Shares a Powerful Practice for Personal Accountability
Meaningful change starts with meaningful self-reflection. And what better way to self-reflect than with an actual mirror?
Intrigued? Keep reading to learn how to turn your bathroom mirror into an agent of change.
An Accountability Mirror is a simple yet powerful tool that can help you stay on track to meet your goals and create new habits.
Here’s how to make one: choose a mirror in your home that you see daily (like in the bathroom or entryway). Next, grab a pack of sticky notes and write down your short- and long-term goals.
Take a moment to recommit to each goal whenever you look in the mirror. Goggins recommends asking yourself three questions during this reflection exercise:
Move the corresponding sticky note to the side each time you achieve a goal. Keeping them on the mirror will remind you how much you have accomplished so far!
An Accountability Mirror is a powerful reminder that you are the only person who must answer for your choices and accomplishments.
Whether you’re grappling with a decision, striving to reach a new milestone, or working to make a new habit stick, you alone have the power to create meaningful change and dig deep to persevere.
Make the most of your Accountability Mirror with these three strategies:
The root of the word accountability is the word account. As you look at your reflection and the goals you’ve set, take inventory of your strengths and weaknesses.
It can be tempting to downplay both, but honesty is crucial to success. This exercise will encourage you to lean on your strengths and pinpoint your weaknesses for improvement.
Self-reflection can be brutal. If you start to feel overwhelmed or discouraged, remind yourself that great struggle can lead to powerful change. Stick with the process, and regularly remind yourself of how far you’ve come—not just how far you have to go!
Personal accountability and growth are a marathon, not a sprint. There’s no need to cover your entire mirror with sticky notes (you won’t be able to see your reflection anymore if you do!). Instead, start with a few, then add a few more as you reach your goals.
Ready to create your Accountability Mirror? Share one sticky note you’ll be adding! Tweet it out using #CantHurtMe.
Noelle is a content creator, author, and editor. She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not writing, she's either reading a good book or scaring herself with true-crime documentaries.
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