The Most Important Promise to Keep
The promise that you should definitely keep is the one you make with yourself!
We are all born equal. Our decisions in life have led to where we are today. We have always promised ourselves that we will be the best version of ourselves, no matter what. Then, why are we so ready to compromise?
Let us take an example, you commit to yourself about writing that brilliant article that you wanted. You want to complete that today and you have sufficient time. Suddenly you get a call from your friend asking you to join in a party that he/she is hosting. You may go citing friendship as the reason, but at the end of the day, your article is not written. No one else, but you are impacted. Your friendship is ‘strengthened’ you may say, but friendships that hinge on such weak principles – are they worth it? Your trust on yourself is broken.
You may not feel it right away, but the erosion happens. Ever seen a well with a rope drawn bucket? Next time, notice the parapet where the rope cuts through the wall. Even a solid rock gets worn away as a result of rope that goes to and fro over it. When sufficient promises have been broken, you wouldn't trust yourself, leading to lowered levels of self-confidence and self-worth.
You are meant for greatness. Period. You are not meant to be in a life of compromise. You have promised yourself to be the best version of yourself. This promise cuts across all facets of life - some apparent and some not-so-apparent.
- Are you sticking on in a job that you hate? Then you are letting your fear compromise a third of every single day.
- Are you in a relationship that does not allow you to grow and be yourself? Then your insecurities are preventing you from having a real life and stifling your freedom.
- Are you working under a supervisor who doesn’t give you due credit and is rather using you? Your self-esteem is allowing you to be used.
- Are you working in an organisation where mediocrity and sycophancy are worshipped? Your lack of integrity is preventing your real intelligence and worth from shining through.
- Are you promising yourself that you would hit the gym from new year and are still caught in the Snooze trap? Then you don't love yourself enough to get to the gym and get the best body you could ever
- Are you not indulging in your creative passion - be it painting, music, writing or running citing time and other constraint? You don't value your creative side enough to hone it!
- Are you helping others more than you help yourself? You don't appreciate your growth first and realise that by being the best form of yourself, you can help others more
- One more cigarette, one more peg of Whisky - finding it difficult to stop despite the empty promises? You don't love your body enough!
You promise yourself that this weekend you will treat yourself and your spouse to that day trip that you have planned for months. Suddenly on Friday evening, your boss calls you and asks you to be in office to complete some work that had been unattended to so far. It was a pure mistake from your boss’ end and it was his inefficiency for not having completed the task earlier. You go to office citing ‘work is important’. But is a mistake of someone else worth your personal time?
If we continuously lie to ourselves and degrade ourselves – things are going to take a downward spiral very soon.
While you are busy pleasing the world, the world moves on leaving you in the lurch!
Once you start keeping your promises, you will see the quality of promises and accomplishments rising. You will feel like taking on tougher challenges and accomplishing them. You start loving yourself more and more. You will be on a roll and so very self-sufficient. You will live and do justice to yourself.
Take a hint from the king of Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan!
Keep your promises that you make to yourself – it would be the best investment that you do any day.