Commitments – Do You Keep Yours?
I would say yes – I do keep my commitments. Especially when someone asks me to do something.
But as I continued to reflect, I started to see there are several types of commitments.
3 Types of Commitments
Three types of commitments –
- commitments you make to other people,
- commitments other people make to you, and
- commitments you make to yourself.
1. Commitments You Make to Other People
The commitments we make to other people. These commitments could include meeting for lunch, making a phone, giving a referral or picking up something at the grocery store. When we say we are going to do the activity, we make a commitment and keep the commitment. We keep the commitments to family, friends, colleagues, neighbours etc.
2. Commitments Other People Make to You
The commitments other people make to you. These are the actions other people say they are going to do and then do it (i.e. call you at the time they say, follow-up on a referral they said they would give you, reply to a message you sent or make time to catch-up with you).
3. Commitments You Make to Yourself
And then there are the commitments you make to yourself.
Do we keep the commitments we make to ourselves? Yes, all of the things we say we are going to do for ourselves. Commitments like starting to move your body and take better care of yourself, write the book or simplify your life.
Committing to Yourself
Over time here is what I have figured out. Every time I make a commitment to myself and don’t honour the commitment, I erode trust in my relationship with myself.
Yes, every time, I don’t do what I say I am going to do, I let myself down.
It is like saying to myself “you are less important than other people” and “what you are trying to do is not as important as other people.”
However, when I keep my commitments to myself, when I do what I say I am going to do, I deepen the relationship and trust I have with myself.
Keeping my commitment to myself means I prioritise myself and my own needs. It means I do what I say I am going to do to for myself.
When I keep my commitments to myself, I am showing myself I can count on me. I have my own back. I can count on me to show up, look after my needs and trust. Whatever it is… I can trust me.
And the more I keep my commitments to myself, the better I get at keeping them.
The relationship I have within myself continues to deepen, and my self-trust continues to grow.
Your turn – do you keep your commitments to you? Do you have your own back?
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
~ William H. Murray.
Over to You…
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