I won’t promise!

Let us discuss today the promises we make to family, friends, and even ourselves every day.?Why do we make promises? Should we make promises?

Let us analyse from material and spiritual perspectives.

The act of making promises is in direct conflict with the fundamental nature of existence.?Everything around us is in a perpetual state of flux; nothing is static, not even for a moment.?

But when we make a promise, we try to fix a point in the moving sands of time.?No wonder why promises do not work!

A person who is too generous with promises generally struggles with managing time because he would always have 5 to 7 promises per week, made in different circumstances to either his boss,?parents,?spouse, or friends—the list goes?on.?Now, this problem isn’t only limited to time management; it disrupts the natural flow of?life.?

It is like I am disturbing the streamlined flow of life by putting some rocks made of promises in the air and creating unnecessary?turbulence.?

Promises hijack our ability to live in the moment because we are always catching up to?something.?You might find yourself in a productive or creative state, wishing to ride that wave a bit longer, but suddenly you have to stop, get up, and fulfil a promise you made to?someone,?or otherwise bury yourself with guilt and incessant explanations for not fulfilling the?promise.

Now, what about making promises to?ourselves??I would say it is equally problematic because life has so many variables that are beyond our control, and by making promises, we are essentially compromising our?adaptability.?Because life happens, life will take its course; the promises you made to yourself will break?someday.?You will have to go to dinner, and your promise of not eating after 7 PM will?break.?Someday, your energy level will be low, and you will miss that yoga?class.?Promises are bound to be broken, and when they break, it diminishes our self-esteem and impacts our mental health?negatively.

Let's be adaptable; let’s be flexible; let’s focus on responding appropriately to whatever life throws our?way.?Do not add the pressure of promises that may not align with the ever-changing nature of?life.

So, my go-to phrase is "Let's see!"

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." - Michael McGriffy