Broken promises

When was the last time someone promised they would do something and never followed through on it? How did you feel when that happened? Most often there is a sense of disappointment. You were counting on that person making good on their word. This is one indication of how powerful words can be. Now ask yourself if you have ever been the person who didn't do as you promised. How did you feel when you realized this? It is often accompanied by feelings of guilt or shame. Neither party feels good about what just happened. While the solution would be that no one ever broke a promise they made, it is unlikely that that will occur. Begin by asking yourself if what you are committing to do is something within your power. Examine your willingness to make such promises. Do they come from your inability to say "no" or a need to please people? If you have difficulty remembering such commitments, write them down where you can easily refer to them. If you should break a promise, acknowledge your part and offer a sincere apology. Finally ask yourself how many times you break promises to yourself. You promise that you will behave differently in the future and find yourself repeating the same patterns. Learn your reasons for making such promises to begin with and be gentle with yourself as you make changes. What was the last promise that was broken for you and how can you do things differently around such agreements?