Going through an accountability process when you’ve been told you harmed someone serves many different purposes simultaneously. You can help the person harmed, yourself, and your community.
Accountability processes are intended to remove the burden of accountability from the person harmed, so they can focus on their own healing.
Accountability processes also exists to support the person doing the accountability as they learn and grow and do better.
Accountability processes rebuild trust with friends, loved ones, and your community; promote healing; help find a path forward for all involved; to help everyone feel safe coming forward if they are harmed.
There are no guarantees with accountability processes. Going through one does not mean people have to trust you again. It doesn’t mean you are no longer under scrutiny. It doesn’t mean you will be welcomed back to everywhere you used to go. It doesn’t mean you get to do all the things you used to do as if nothing happened. It does not erase the past, nor is a cure-all for harm done. It is not exoneration, it is taking responsibility.
Taking responsibility will free the person harmed to focus on their healing, guide you to do better in the future, honor the faith put in you by family and friends who are supporting you, makes your community safer by taking the situation seriously, and contributes to a culture of accountability that will help others in the community in the future.
Accountability Paths 