This I Promise Me…

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“Don’t make promises you cannot keep!” Some of my favorite words of wisdom! I’m not even sure where or when I first heard those words, but one thing is for certain: they have changed my life! They have become some of my personal words to live by. These six words have made such a difference in my life that I am constantly reminding my own children of them! Why do I find them so valuable? Let me share the secret behind these words!

The more people you meet in life, whether they are merely acquaintances or lucky enough to be friends, the more you are exposed to being let down. No, I’m not trying to make you feel bad or be little miss pessimist! I’m sharing the honest truth with you (remember honesty is my philosophy)!  However, regardless of how many people come in and out of your life I challenge you to understand that YOU are the most important person you will ever meet and a part of having such a high level of importance is not letting yourself down! I challenge you to own up to your decisions and your mistakes! Learn from your lessons and move on. So, what does all of this have to do with promises? Another secret I shall unveil to you!

Tell yourself you will do something – something you are really wanting or needing. Now, PROMISE yourself that you will do that same thing. There is a difference between just saying you’ll do it and promising you’ll do it! I would bet that as soon as you add that “P” word in there, you’ll instantly feel more obligated to achieve whatever it is you’re setting out to do! Making promises to yourself forces you to take ownership of your actions. It allows you to feel more impacted if you don’t do what you promised you would! Now, while I think it’s great to make promises to your friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintances… don’t make them lightly! Use the “P” word only when you mean it and are confident you will be able to follow through. When making promises to everyone else, separate them from the kind of promises you make to your self!

You are the only person that can change your life! Own your life like it matters, because it does! As a part of changing my own life into what I WANT it to be, I have chosen to begin making promises to myself as of a couple years ago. I cannot express to you the accomplishments I have achieved since then and the positive difference I have seen within myself! I take more responsibility for my actions & I’m constantly working toward things that are of utmost importance! It’s life changing, so of course I had to share it with you!

Try it! Start with one promise & write it down, kept in a visible place as a constant reminder – one thing you really want, one thing you’ve always thought would be great to have or do! Let it be something that you’ve strived for for quite some time rather than a sporadic desire! Remember, do not make promises you cannot keep so be a ‘realistic dreamer” (more explanation of that terminology in my next secret revelation to you! Now, once you feel challenged enough with one promise, move on. I have promises to keep to myself in my life overall, promises to keep to myself in the next sixth months. Some people would call them goals… but they are not goals for me… they are promises – things that I WILL have and or do!  For help and encouragement and to share a little more of me with you, below you will find a few of my own personal promises! These are very personal to me… so please, take them for what they are!

“This I Promise Me …”

*I promise to have all of my credit card debt paid off by June 2011!

*I promise to take my family to Disney World!

*I promise to take time every day to play with my kids and talk to my husband (soon to be – YAY!)

*I promise to try my best every day to have a positive attitude!

*I promise to have at least $100,000.00 invested by the time I am 30!

*I promise to be ME!

Now, it’s your turn! What promises are you going to make to you AND keep?!

Until next time…

*Ryan’s Butterfly*

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