Have you ever told someone that you would do something very specific only to completely forget about it abruptly? You had every intention to follow through with it, but you just didn’t for whatever reason. It’s not that we we were trying to fool people, but it’s just really difficult.
It can be really difficult to keep our word especially to ourselves. It is easier said than done. It takes a great effort to keep your word, especially when you are trying to improve, but if you truly want to improve, you’ve got to get off your butt and master this one very simple, yet powerful habit. Starting is often the hardest part, but once you do, everything else comes naturally.
Think of it like building a house. If you don’t lay a solid foundation, everything else you build will be shaky at best. Let us discuss why it is so hard to begin, how to get better at it, and why it’s a total game-changer for self-improvement.
Contents
Difficulty in keeping your word
Life is hard enough as it is with plans, work, plus physical and mental exhaustion getting in the way. It becomes a very big hassle when you just want to follow through with what you set out to do, but by the time you get to it, you either forgot about it or completely lost the motivation to do so.
But why?
Your Brain Loves Short-Term Rewards
We humans are wired for instant gratification. This means we prioritize what feels good right now over what’s long-term beneficial. There are many examples of this, like:
- You planned to wake up early and go for a run to kickstart your fitness journey, but your bed is so cozy. You tell yourself you’ll go tomorrow.
- You said you’d start eating healthier, but that burger and fries just look too good to pass up.
- You promised you’d study or work on a project, but TikTok or YouTube is calling your name.
If any of these sound familiar to you, that is instant gratification for you. It’s not just laziness but how our brains are wired. The good news is that you can easily train your brain to prioritize long-term rewards instead.
You Overcommit Without Realizing It
Sometimes, we just say yes to everything before thinking it through and not realizing we’ve probably bitten off more than we could chew.
We’ve been in that situation before: Someone asks for a favor, or you make an ambitious promise to yourself, but when the time comes to finally act, we freeze.
Overcommitting leads to stress, procrastination, and ultimately, breaking promises. Learning to set realistic commitments is key.
You’re Relying on Motivation
Let’s be real. Motivation is awesome when it’s there. There’s just one problem: It’s not always there when you want it.
Some days you feel energized and ready to go, only to not feel motivated enough to get going. Other days you feel tired, overwhelmed, or just not in the mood despite all the warm-ups you do to prepare for that marathon you’ve planned to join.
If you only do things when you feel motivated, you’ll struggle with consistency. The solution is to build habits instead of relying solely on motivation.
All about your integrity
If you have integrity, you can be honest and consistent with your actions since it lies at the core of all you do. With integrity, it shows how much self-respect you have and the type of person you wish to become.
Think of someone you truly admire and respect. Chances are that person is the type of person who follows throug with everything they say. They don’t just talk the talk but back up everything they say with action and thought. They are reliable and gain respect from others as well as themselves.
Every time you break a promise, even a small one, your brain learns, “I can’t trust myself.” But every time you follow through, you prove to yourself that your words matter.
Starting small while winning big
If you want to improve and keep your word, you just have to start small and continue to follow through, no matter how small a task you want to do. Start with tiny promises you can actually keep.
For example, instead of saying “I’ll go to the gym and work out everyday,” say to yourself “I’ll do five push-ups today.” Start with something small instead of your large goal right off the bat. This approach works because small wins build momentum.
Overpromising is the bane of progress
Often times it can be increasingly difficult to follow-through because you overpromise. You tend to commit to too much or promise to deliver something you will not be able to pull-off immediately. Saying yes to everything sounds nice, but overcommitting leads to stress, excuses, and broken promises.
Before agreeing to something, ask yourself “Can I actually do this?” If you’re unsure, don’t say yes immediately. Take time to think. Always set realistic expectations instead of trying to impress people.
Eliminate procrastination
We’ve all been there.
You want to tackle that urgent task waiting for you, but instead of working it, you scrolled on social media for an hour. If this sounds like something like what you normally do, try what’s known as the 2-minute rule: If something takes less than two minutes, do it right now.
Most of the simplest tasks take less than two minutes to do Why is there a need to push those tasks aside when you can just get them done and be over it?
Accountability matters
The best way to make sure you actually stick to something is to tell someone. When you announce your plans, whether to a friend, partner, or even on social media, you feel a little extra pressure fo follow through since they become witnesses to your progress. They will ask to see how you are progressing and will want to see you reach your goals.
Better yet, get an accountability buddy. You can check in on each other and keep each other motivated.
No one is perfect
Everyone fumbles eventually. You won’t get it right 100% of the time.
Life is not about being perfect, nor are you expected to succeed in one day. The goal is all about progress, not perfection. If you slip up, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, ask: “What can I learn from this?” Then, move forward with a fresh start.
Closing thoughts
Keeping your word is fundamental in building trust, not only to others but also to yourself. Once you learn to keep your word, you become more productive, feel more secure as your relationships improve, and have more control in your life.
When small promises are kept, they all add up in the end. One day, when you look back, you will realize just how far you’ve come and laugh at the thought of not beginning in the first place.
Enjoyed this post? You might also like these:
- You’re Not Leaving Your Comfort Zone—You’re Expanding It
- Slow Progress Is Still Progress: Why Small Steps Matter
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