Lately, I have realized what an impact keeping my word & not keeping my word has an impact on my life, body and overall success.

There is a reason that throughout the ages philosophers, religious writers and inspired individuals have written about “the word.” What we say, our promises and contracts with others have such a profound effect on the way we feel. Not to mention how far we go in our attempt to reach our goals and dream.

The more we deceive, go back on our word, break promises, the harder it is to sleep at night. And then when things don’t go our way, we tend to blame others, our current circumstances…and forget that we have woven our own web to a large extent.

Have you ever done any of the following?

– Said you would be somewhere at a certain time and showed up late because of you lack of time management? (I have too many times!!)

– Told someone you were going to pay them for a service rendered by a particular day…and then misinformed them by saying “the check is in the mail” when it wasn’t.

– Spoken behind  someone’s back — and then acted like they were your best friend the next time you saw them?

– Promised that you would perform a certain task and then went back on your word? Or under performed?

– Told a white lie to make yourself look better?

And when all was said and done, how did you feel? I can say from experience that when I don’t keep my word one time it inevitably leads to another broken word — to another — to another…and before I know barely know the difference between truth & fiction.

The amazing part of a new day, a new moment is that we can choose to be truthful — we can choose to honor those in our lives by telling the truth. When we do, we lift our burdens and purify our souls.

“Not the maker of plans and promises, but rather the one who offers faithful service in small matters.  This is the person who is most likely to achieve what is good and lasting.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Promises are like crying babies in a theater, they should be carried out at once.”  ~Norman Vincent Peale

“Losers make promises they often break.  Winners make commitments they always keep.”  ~Denis Waitley

“Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.”  ~Hannah Arendt

“Watch your thoughts, they become your words
Watch your words, they become your actions
Watch your actions, they become your habits
Watch your habits, they become your character
Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
– Anonymous

Bold living goes hand in hand with truth — no matter how hard or scary it may be. It is about choosing the correct words, at the right time, to the right person.

The closer we stay to truth — the simpler our lives.

– Post by Jen Engevik of Project Be bold