Walking to the beach on Easter morning was one of total focus. I was focused on the Rosella’s singing their own Easter tune at 7:30am, and my mind was focused on 3 things and 3 things only.
I didn’t know what those 3 things were just yet, but all I knew was, I had promised myself 3 activities for the day- no more and no less. A promise and a strategy designed to keep my ‘fomo’ at bay and give my mind and body the rest it has been asking for for weeks.
Before I go on, let’s focus together for a minute. What are you like with keeping promises?
Are you a promise party animal- dropping the ‘p word’ in the fun of the moment, but maybe forgetting all about what you’ve promised in the next?
Or maybe you’re a conservative promiser, who rarely say the ‘p word’ because the weight of a promise can sometimes feel like…the weight of a sandbag.
Or maybe you’re like me, you promise cautiously and consciously, because you know when you say the ‘p’ word- you mean it.
When it comes to promises, I don’t muck around. I pride myself on being a woman of my word and the other day at work, I had to prove it.
I used the ‘p’ word with a student who was quite disgruntled. I promised him an answer to his question by 4pm. I was conscious that I needed all day to get a clear answer, but I also knew I could deliver! So I promised confidently knowing he had my word.
He doesn’t know me, he’d been party animal promised a few times already (that’s a thing now), and his trust was sitting on the edge of non existent.
So the only way I could build that trust back up, was with my words matching my actions.
By 4pm he had a response and a good one at that. He was grateful and gracious and so was I.
His trust levels had increased and it felt good to have that integrity to my word for him and for me.
So, what about if we flip promises inwards.
Can you think of the last time you made a promise to yourself?
And how did you go delivering on that promise?
There is no judgement here, this might be the first time you’re thinking about this concept so go easy on yourself and stay curious like a child – they’re the best teachers.
Maybe it was a promise to…
Book that Dr. Appointment.
To go get that new desk you know you need.
To go to the gym.
To drink the smoothie and reduce the delicious chocolate chai almonds from coles.
To finish work at a reasonable time.
To go to bed early.
To say no to going out and instead say yes to yourself and rest.
Every time you promise yourself something and under deliver, like a party animal lost in a moment, your trust in yourself reduces a little like my students had.
But it’s also that simple when reversed.
When making a promise to yourself, and treating it like a sacred offering to you, then fulfilling it, builds self trust and self respect. It sets a tone for your relationship within, which I believe sets the tone for your relationships without.
I didn’t over promise my student the other day, I only promised what I felt sure I could commit to. It’s less about the promise and more about the keeping of it.
Let’s have a play if you’re still curious? Finish these sentences…
I promise to…. this week!
I promise to…. this month!
As I chose my 3 promises to myself on Easter morning- I felt proud of keeping my word.
I beached. I ate a delish lunch. And I read! It was that simple and that blissful.
Keeping promises is like building your soul muscle. It strengthens over time the more you stay true to you.
So… what’s your ‘promise’ you’re keeping yourself accountable to this week?
We’ll go on, make yourself proud and make it happen. You’re so worth it, I promise x
💛💛💛
SimBLISSity 