It’s the oldest game in human history. It goes back to the Garden of Eden. Following the original couple’s disobedient meal, and God’s inevitable confrontation, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the Serpent.
People still continue to blame others for present circumstances. Citizens blame politicians. Politicians blame former administrations. Parents blame teachers. Teachers blame parents. Husbands blame wives. Wives blame husbands. And some are like Flip Wilson, “The Devil Made Me Do It!”
So what does blame actually do?
Blame Destroys Relationships.
Blaming others is a common and destructive tactic in any relationship. The blame game can be played in all our relationships – spouses, boy/girl friends, bosses, friends, siblings, parents, etc. It’s what a person does so they don’t have to take responsibility for their behavior. And it will destroy the relationship.
Blame Produces Drama.
With blame you get to cry, feel miserable, feel unimportant, be mad or feel insecure. All those emotions come from the blame game. But that’s a waste of your energy. Things are going to happen in your life that will make you cry, feel miserable, angry and insecure. The only way you’re going to have an exciting, fulfilling, meaningful, fun life is to take responsibility for your life.
Blame Imprisons Victims.
But some people really have been hurt by people and life. They cannot and should not take responsibility (blame) for situations that were out of their control. But even victims are still responsible for how they respond to people and situations. Victims often blame others because then they can stay victims and never rise above the situation.
Blame Blinds Truth.
The problem with blame is you eventually start believing you are not really responsible for your behavior and present circumstance. Is it possible that you have been lying to yourself for so long that you have programmed yourself into really believing that it’s not you – it is everybody else? You tell yourself that other people are to blame, or it’s the ’system’. You make it sound like you didn’t really have a choice. But you did.
Blame Avoids Wisdom.
So, what did Jesus encourage us to do…
first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)
Before we blame others, Jesus said to look at ourselves. Oh, we may be able to see legitimate faults in others. But until we take responsibility for ourselves, our perception will be distorted, and we will not be helped.
Blame Creates Unhappiness.
It’s no coincidence that the people who seem to be the most miserable in life are the very same people who also refuse to take responsibility for their life. They want to blame everyone else for their problems. So, if your life is consistently miserable, it might be time to stop blaming everyone around you & start looking at you. Your life can’t change until you change. If you are constantly down in the dumps, it’s not because someone pushed you there, but because you choose to stay there. No one is responsible for your happiness except you.
Blame Wastes Time.
No matter how much fault you find with another, it seldom changes the situation and never changes you. The only thing blame does is keep the focus off you and gives you reasons to explain your unhappiness or frustration. Blame may succeed in making another feel guilty, but it will fail in changing whatever it is about you that is making you unhappy. Stop making excuses and start making changes. It’s time.
Do you know any other results for people who play The Blame Game?
Read a similar article I wrote: Tips for Personal Spiritual Growth