It’s easy to give excuses for not keeping your commitments. But, doing so will negatively influence your trustworthiness, reputation, and self-esteem. Don’t commit if you cannot keep the commitment. Keeping commitments is essential for your success.
In this article, let’s discuss the importance of keeping commitments.
Importance of Keeping Commitments
Keeping commitments is essential for personal and professional growth, as well as for developing trust and maintaining healthy relationships.
Here are some reasons why keeping commitments is important.
1. Building Trust
When you consistently fulfill your promises to yourself or others you build trust, which is the cornerstone of success.
2. Reputation
Your ability to keep commitments influences your reputation. If you are known to fulfill your promises, others will see you as credible and dependable, opening doors for new opportunities.
3. Respect
Keeping commitments demonstrates integrity and shows that you respect the value of your word. It reflects your character and how seriously you take your responsibilities.
4. Reduced Stress
If you keep your commitments, your stress will automatically reduce. The stress and anxiety that comes with unfulfilled promises reduce, leading to a more peaceful and balanced life. You can also focus better on achieving your goals.
If you keep your commitments, you don’t have to worry about letting others down.
5. Increased Productivity
Following through on commitments leads to better time management and organization. You become more efficient in completing tasks, leading to increased productivity and success.
6. Personal Growth and Accountability
Making and keeping commitments require discipline and accountability. It encourages personal growth as you develop the habit of following through on your promises and taking ownership of your actions.
7. Avoiding Negative Consequences
Breaking commitments can lead to negative consequences, such as damaged relationships, lost opportunities, and a tarnished reputation. By keeping your commitments, you avoid these potential downsides.
A Real Story
Here’s a small story I would like to share with you.
I once interviewed Brian Klemmer, a motivational speaker and personal development expert. We started talking about commitments, and then suddenly, his demeanour changed. He became very serious and said, “I would like to tell you why commitments are fundamental to success.” Brian then mentioned that he graduated from West Point and that this is where he learned to keep his word.
He went on to say, “I was asked to speak at a friend’s event for free. I normally charged for this type of speaking event, but I did it for free because he was a friend of mine. I gave him my word that I would show up at the date and time of his event.”
“In the following day, another fellow called me and asked if I could speak at his event. As life would have it, the time and date for the next event were the same as my friends. This event was a paid event for my standard fee of $25,000. I could have said no to my friend after giving him my word, but I would never do that.”
I asked why, and Brian said, “There is more to commitments than meets the eye at first glance. If you break commitments to yourself, the next time you want to generate money or anything else, somewhere inside of you will not believe you, and you won’t keep the commitment.”
Brian died on April 22, 2011, but I will never forget his important lesson. I, too, have realized that the foundation of all success is keeping commitments to yourself. No one does this perfectly at first, but with persistence and a firm commitment, it’s possible to improve.
Conclusion
Keeping commitments has an impact on personal development, trust, and the quality of your relationships with others. By staying true to your commitments, you establish a reputation as a dependable and principled person, paving the way for a more successful and fulfilling life.
If you want to succeed in your life, but don’t know where to start, book a coaching session with Ken D Foster. Ken, with his 35 years of experience in personal and business development, will help you discover your true purpose, define your vision, realize your potential, and accelerate your growth of success.
Follow Us!