How To Stop The Blame Game

We all need to take ownership of our attitudes and behaviors. Failure to accept responsibility of our life, business and family can lead to broken friendship, relationship and even marriage.  The reality is that people who always 'play the blame game' are the most unhappy people one earth.

So how can you stop the blame game and prevent the spread of blame in your family, community and business? Here are some valuable tips:

• Don't blame others for your mistakes. Pointing the finger to others when you make a mistake or not achieving results shows the flaw of your mindset. You will not gain respect and loyalty from your family members, friends or business partners if you do that. Mistakes can teach useful lessons that lead to future success so own them.
• When you do blame, do so constructively. There are times when people's mistakes really do need to be surfaced. In these cases, make sure to highlight that the goal is for them to learn from those mistakes. Then it's up to the other person to take responsibility and ownership. If they don't it's not your problems, but theirs.
• Set an example by confidently taking ownership for failures. Blame is negatively contagious, but not among those who feel psychologically secure. Therefore developing a sense of inner peace and security is helpful. Remember that failures are just stepping stones towards success.
• Always focus on learning. An environment of learning and implementing at home or business helps us stop pointing the finger to others. The key is being willing to be coached and take action.

In the scripture, the apostle Paul writes that we are to take off the "old self" and "put on the new self" (Ephesians 4:22-24). We need to identify the old behavior as unacceptable and learn new ways to take responsibility for our choices. We need to take responsibility rather than blaming and making excuses. The Bible promises that even though this kind of discipline can be painful for the moment, in the end it produces "a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11).