I make a lot of promises to myself. To be a better person. To write daily. To paint daily. To do something creative every day. To stop buying so many books.
I’m more successful with some than I am with others.
I reiterate those promises to myself every morning. There’s a bit of time after I wake up when I have the house to myself. Just me and the dogs stumbling about the kitchen, sleepy-eyed and yawning. That’s when I think about the things I didn’t accomplish. The promises to myself not kept.
Not in a negative way…it’s more of a self-assessment. Every day is a new day, another opportunity to keep a promise and maybe make a new one.
Lately, I’ve been keeping my promises to write and paint regularly. The ‘being a better person’ is a constant work-in-progress, but I try, so I think I’ve been keeping that one, as well.
As far as the book buying, that’s a promise I continue to break weekly. The problem may be that I’m not trying hard enough. But then, why stop doing something that brings me so much pleasure?
Do you make promises to yourself, and are you able to keep them?
RB
Oh, I certainly make and break them! I tend to bite off more than I can chew, promising more than I can handle, then I beat myself up about it.
I’ve learned to ‘sleep on it’ before committing to a new habit/act/adventure, and then realistically envision how that will fit in to my life. I’ve also tried to give myself grace when something doesn’t pan out the way I thought it would.
A very healthy way to handle promises, Dawn. I’ve started trying to do that, myself.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a fantastic day. 🙂
You too! 💞
I totally get what you are saying.
I do set targets and even make promises, but I learned from some mistakes and changed two things:
1. Nothing too complicated or anything that I pretty much know I cannot achieve
2. I keep them to myself.
The latter has definitely caused issues for me in the past. I’d share it with the whole world and people would start asking about my progress, expecting things from me and even be judgemental about it.
Nowadays, I just keep it low key and to myself.
Step by step, I’ll get there! 🙂
Great attitude, Andrea. I like the achievable goals and keeping it to yourself.
And yes, small steps and constant progress. 🙂
I am a bit surprised by some of the other comments on here.
Something you’ve never thought about?
Maybe I am a different age and raised in a different world, but how can you possibly avoid it?
I remember in primary school the teachers already raising the “importance” of setting goals and not mention the promises you have to make to your company according to the SMART model as an adult.
I’d say it is only natural to be influenced by it in your spare time.
But if some prople were able to avoid it… makes me want to believe unicorns are real too 🦄😉
Everyone is different and has different priorities, I guess. For me, it’s an unconscious thing, really, and I think it helps me to improve different aspects of my life.
For those who say they don’t do it, well, maybe they have different priorities or see the world differently.
And yes, unicorns are real. 🙂
I have kept my promise of keeping off any weight I have lost but have not been as successful in losing the next 10 pounds.🙃😁🙀
LOL…keep at it, Pat!
Maybe focus on the next two pounds, and then the next….
🤞👍🙏😁
I don’t make promises to myself because it restricts me. However, I regularly make suggestions to myself.
Initially, in my recovery from an acquired brain injury, I was unable to make promises because my short-term memory was so badly compromised that I could not even plan my day. I had no concept of where I had left off with yesterday’s activities.
My suggestion to myself is do something helpful to someone whose path I cross.
That’s great, Jasper. Glad you’re doing better. And I like your premise of making suggestions. I think that may be better than making promises.
I don’t ever make promises to myself, just something I have never thought about.
Me neither Wayne
It’s not for everyone. Thanks for stopping by, mate!
It’s good we are all different, the world would be a boring place.