Broken Promises, Broken Commitments

Some people find commitments terrifying. They go right up to the edge of the water but are afraid of taking the plunge. They feel that once they make a commitment, they’re bound by it. Other folks make commitments at the drop of a hat. In their eyes, broken promises and commitments are routine. In fact, they’ve broken their commitments so many times, it’s second nature to them.

People are way too quick to make commitments and too quick to abandon them.

What’s Your Promise Worth?

When you give your word, what’s it worth? Do you view your pledge as a solemn commitment or a throwaway line?

When you make a commitment, you’re not only promising to satisfy an obligation, you’re putting your honor on the line. You’re implying that you’re a “person of your word” and that you take your commitments seriously. As such, as long as you keep your promises, you’ll be viewed as trustworthy. BUT the minute you break a commitment — even an insignificant one — you’re planting a seed of doubt in your relationship (and your self-esteem may take a blow as well). For these reasons, it’s vital to keep your commitments.

When you make a promise, you’re not giving your word in erasable pencil,
you’re inscribing your commitment in indelible ink.

Do You Honor Your Commitments or Break Them for Convenience?

Would you:

Jump ship for a better offer?
Walk away because things didn’t go as planned?
Bail because you find the commitment a hassle?
Pawn your commitment onto someone else?
Disregard your commitment because you made it haphazardly?
Betray someone because you’re seduced by temptation?
Back off because the situation changed since you made the commitment?
Quit because things turned out tougher than expected?
Walk away because you don’t take your responsibility seriously?

A promise should be as binding as a contract.

10 Common Reasons Why Commitments Are Broken

If keeping your commitments is that important, why do people routinely break them? Here are 10 common reasons:

Convenience. You never gave the commitment much thought in the first place.

Situation changed. Things changed since the commitment was made.

Half-hearted commitment. You were wavering when you made the commitment — and now you want out.

Greed. A better opportunity came along after the commitment was made.

Pushed into it. You were coaxed into making the commitment, and now you’re uncomfortable following through on it.

Got cold feet. You enjoy your freewheeling life and are scared of being trapped.

Fear of failure. You think it’s better to bail than to possibly fail.

Made a verbal commitment. You didn’t formalize the commitment, so you think it “doesn’t count.”

Afraid of missing out. You convince yourself that there may be something better out there — even though you didn’t find it yet.

Loved the chase. You enjoyed the chase, but since you got what you wanted, you lost interest.

A Promise Made Is a Promise Kept

How do you feel about commitments? Do you give adequate thought before making one or do you make it haphazardly? The truth is, a commitment shouldn’t be made lightly. Think before you commit. Recognize your limitations. Learn to say no if you can’t, or don’t intend to, deliver on your promise. Manage expectations so that you underpromise and overdeliver. And don’t overcommit.

The best collateral is the handshake of an honorable person.

Making a commitment doesn’t mean that you guarantee a successful outcome, but it does mean that you’ll do everything in your power to live up to your word. To always do what’s right. To follow though until the commitment is satisfied. And to accept full responsibility for the outcome. If a commitment is important enough to make, it’s important enough to keep. Period! You’re not only doing this to earn the trust and respect of others, you’re doing it because you take great pride in who you are. Living with honor means something — so do broken promises and commitments!