Accountability with Dr. Michelle Medrano of New Vision Church in Scottsdale, AZ

Dr. Michelle Medrano

JA: Dr. Michelle, when I asked you what you’d like to write about today you immediately thought of accountability as a topic. Why does accountability interest you as an important topic?

MM: Jeanine, this topic is vital to me because I see so many people struggle and be stuck in their lives out of a sense of victimhood. I watch as people embrace vigorously everything from a belief or story about the horrors of childhood keeping them from Loving and Living to the horrible traffic keeping them from showing up on time. These beliefs foster a consciousness of being a victim. I have a saying I tell people, “When you stick to your story, your story sticks to you.” So as long as anyone persist in a belief, they will “reap what they sow,” and continue to experience more and more limitation and frustration. Accountability calls humanity into a mind set of freedom and triumph over any condition.

JA: Ever since Shakespeare told us “Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so” we have been aware that we are responsible for our perceptions of things. Do you think accountability means that we are not only responsible for how we perceive things but also what manifests for us in our lives?

MM: I believe in the Law of Attraction personally, and believe that when I begin to think in terms of accountability, I can be more free to live the life I choose. I believe that the thoughts I think do manifest. Even quantum physics has been attempting to show us this for many years now. Yet, even if you don’t believe in that Law, the bottom line is that embracing a life of accountability FEELS better. Our brain is like a computer. What we persist in thinking about, our brain looks for evidence of it being so. We perceive what we tend to believe. What we perceive influences how we feel about ourselves, our life, and our everyday experiences.

JA: Do you think we are accountable for everything that happens to us? In other words do you think we are creators or co-creators?

MM: Yes, I personally believe that we are that accountable. Yet there is a catch. Most of what we truly, truly believe and perceive exists at a level below the conscious mind. So, if you are like me and believe in this degree of accountability, it is sometimes difficult to look at the challenges that you have co-created, and have any kind of belief that you would actually accept that situation or condition. So, it can be hard. We can look at the painful, disappointing experiences we have had and are having, and say, “I don’t remember thinking that.” It is doubtful that any of us think that directly about a car accident, or cancer, or rejection, or pain. Yet, what we do is persist in ideas about ourselves and life that connect us to those experiences. Once again, this can be at a very subconscious level. A perception for example, of a lack of worthiness can attract all sorts of experiences. We may have had one moment as a child where we came to the conclusion that we were slightly, or enormously unworthy of Love. That belief anchored in our consciousness can cause us to go out into the world, and stand in a group of people and feel attracted to speak to, or pursue the one person in the room who is in direct harmony with helping us to affirm what we already believe at a very deep level. We may not remember thinking that thought, yet the belief built and proven to us over and over again in life causes us to move towards that which will affirm what we already believe to be true. So, the only way out of the trap is to embrace our accountability and begin to understand that we embraced that belief to begin with, and only we can remove it and begin to have a new experience.

JA: I know that you meet recently with the Dalai Lama so I have to ask a question about compassion! Where do you think that radical accountability and compassion intersect? In other words, if people are accountable for their experiences do they deserve our compassion?

MM: Compassion for ourselves and others in this process is vital. Yet there is a difference between compassion and pity. Pity is a very low level energy and does not support us in moving beyond our limitations, or others we care for. Compassion to me is a complete willingness to love and honor where I or another person is, and believing in their ability to triumph. Compassion is loving and seeing the best in one another. Compassion is understanding that each one of us has our own path to Love and Peace, and loving one another as we journey there together. Accountability invites us to look at the starving, the poor, and remain open hearted to their suffering, do what we feel called to do to help, yet know the triumph of the individual soul even through the experience of starvation or suffering. It does not mean that we become cold hearted and say, “well they created their reality, oh well!” Or that we add to the challenge of starvation or poverty by being having deep and profound pity…”Oh those poor people, oh my gosh that is soooo horrible!”

JA: Do you find that people become fearful when they hear the word accountability or fearful when they discuss accountability? If so, why do you think this is?

MM: I think people hear this word or concept and then may become hyper vigilant about what they are thinking, or try to blame themselves when bad things happen. Fault is a big concept in our society. When things go wrong we want to find someone to blame, or to be at fault. We mistakenly believe that if we are living “right” we will never have pain, never fall short, never get ill, never have challenges. Yet blame and accountability do not go hand in hand. Someone is not to blame for their cancer, yet if they are willing to explore what thoughts, behaviors, ideas they have entertained repeatedly and with high energy, they may find that they have certainly contributed to the experience they are having. The way out becomes then to shift the contribution and heal that past. So people become afraid because they fear pain and disappointment, and know that they cannot always pinpoint the negative ideas they are energizing. Yet, this is why we must empower ourselves with the notion of accountability as an empowered concept that lets us change our lives for the better no matter what is going on!

JA: What are some teachings that might help us to explore further the idea of accountability?

MM: I think the biggest thing to remember is the spiritual notion that there is a pure, whole place within us that has never been touched, never been hurt, violated or abused. When we use spiritual practices such as meditation, inspirational reading, and sacred movement, we begin to be aware of this part of us. Most of us are more in touch and aware of the parts of us that feel hurt, violated and abused, and so we live from them. I envision a time on our planet when we will remember and be aware of who we really are, beyond what has happened to us, that we live a joyous and “heavenly” existence. Maybe this is heaven on earth?

JA: Is there anything that you’d like to add about accountability?

MM: Anyone who wants to practice this idea more clearly in their lives can look at a situation they wish to change and explore the following question: How did I contribute, allow, accept or create this outcome? Then stay open to what comes forth, and begin to accept with compassion the answer. The next question becomes what can I do, be or think differently about myself or this situation that feels better and helps me feel connected to it? Then do that, be that, think that!

JA: Thanks a million Dr. Rev. Michelle for taking the time with us today. How can people find out more about you and the wonderful work that you do?

The website for our Center is www.newvisionaz.org.