Keeping Your Promises

Posted on May 31, 2008 in Life Coaching | 0 comments

Do you struggle with keeping the promises you’ve made to yourself, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising, spending time with loved ones or taking time to follow your passions interests? Do you procrastinate, get caught up in routine or fall into habits because you frequently feel overwhelmed? Today’s exercise will give you some tools to help you over come this.

Keeping your promise to yourself is incredibly empowering — I know from first hand experience. When I did this program I committed to writing everyday for 30 days. Some days I wrote more than other days, but I kept my promise to myself every day and at the end of the program, I had written the first draft of a book.

One of my personal challenges is procrastination. For example, I know I feel better when I write everyday and yet it often it feels like a luxury that I can’t afford. Other things frequently seem more important and pressing. We are all doing our best to balance the demands on our time, and we all have periods in our life that get out of balance. At one time or another we will all face deadlines, schedules that are too full, emergencies and crises.

At such times, following the path of least resistance seems to be the best solution, but it only works for the short term. Following the path of least resistance might mean not taking time out to write, exercise, eat healthily, spend time with loved ones. Other symptoms include frequently getting take out food, skipping meals or eating junk food instead of cooking, or crashing in front of the television after a stressful day, instead of going for a walk. If this type of behaviour goes on too long it will become an unhealthy habit and that has consequences for physical, mental and emotional health. In some cases living in a state of crisis actually becomes the habit. There is a certain amount of excitement and ‘living on the edge’ about it that appeals to some people.

There is another side to the path of least resistance that has a lovely concept. It means not struggling with your inner needs: surrendering to your higher purpose. Nothing is in your way—you are crystal clear and focused about pursuing what brings your life meaning and joy. And it all begins with your commitment to yourself that you are important and worth it.

Today is the perfect day to make an empowering change in your life. Research has shown that it takes 28 days of repeatedly doing something to make it stick. Beginning today, ask yourself what empowering change you could make (or two, or three) that will enhance your life. It could be deciding to do something (like my writing) or deciding to stop doing something (like watching too much television). It works either way. Break a habit, make a new habit. Become more discriminating with how you spend your time.

Give your word to yourself that you will keep your word for the next 28 days. These following steps may help you keep this promise:

Steps:

Choose the area or areas that you would most like to address.
Write it down and post it where you can see it every day.
Write it in the present tense, such as: ‘I am committed to writing for at least ten minutes today."
Treat every day as a new beginning and renew your commitment every day.

But, if for some reason you couldn’t do it, forgive yourself and keep going. Commitment is a day by day process and you can start again the next day.