Keeping promises

The ability to keep a promise is not only reason to feel good about yourself, but also reason for other people to develop trust in you. Promises come from inside yourself. They can be a source of motivation and energy. Your decision to keep or break them reflects part of your character.  Your behaviour also reveals things about your hopes and fears that you may not yet be aware. 

Life experience is meant to help you learn not to promise the impossible. Redefine your limits if you promise more than it turns out you can. This is a learning process. As we learn to promise less and surpass expectations, this will leave a better impression, and boost more confidence than if we're not following through. It's in your interest and in the interest of others, that you take your promises seriously. Consider the basis for business contracts, long-term relationships and spiritual growth are all intricately linked to learning how to make and keep promises.

Be considerate : If a friend promises to meet you in the park after school, and doesn't show up or offer any explanation why, then you may not see this friend in the same way as before. No matter what your age or circumstances, when you promise to be somewhere, imagine you're the person waiting and treat him or her with respect. Things may cause you to be late. Tell people.

Be realistic : If a boss gives you an assignment and you promise to submit it by an unrealistic deadline, you both benefit if you re-negotiate a new deadline you will meet. Your reputation will be built on your track record, on your ability to admit mis-judgments and how you rework them.

Be disciplined : If you promise to devote more time to your own relaxation and balance, and you don't, it's difficult to trust yourself to keep other promises, such as to exercise, rest well and eat right. Remind yourself your discipline (or disregard) also sets examples for friends, children, family and strangers. You wouldn't wish to be caught as a hypocrite saying, "do as I say, not as I do."

Be cautious : If you confide in your brother and he shares your intimate story with others, then this should indicate it wouldn't be prudent to trust him with other private details. Experience and intuition help to guide your views about with whom it's appropriate to share you inner self.

Be specific : If you promise to contact more sales prospects, this carries less of an impact than promising to come through with measurable financial results on a timeline. Effort is required for results, but promising only efforts will yield only efforts.

If you have been making promises to yourself and to others, but find you have been unable to keep them, identify whether what held you back was or wasn't within your control. Making a promise is a big commitment which itself deserves praise. How you evolve to respond to unforeseen obstacles and pressures reveals whether you'll focus on excuses and complaints or contributions that bring you closer to keeping promises. If you don't make valiant efforts, the biggest loser will be you; your conscience and how you're perceived by others in the future.