The Importance of Keeping Your Word

The Importance of Keeping Your Word- Words are Powerful?

Political Columnist- Sherry Holliman?

Firstly, do you agree honesty is the most important character trait a parent can teach a child? A child will one day become an adult and knowing how to keep their?word can have an impact on nearly every facet of their?life.?It begins with showing the child that it's important to keep their?word by keeping yours. Expectation is?learned, not born.?You will never be able to encourage a character trait in any?child that you do not possess and or practice?in your own behavior. As an adult you should have integrity with yourself not having it with yourself leads to many other problems. For instance, when you tell yourself you will do something, and then you do not keep that commitment; you lose trust in yourself. Your word to yourself becomes worthless. So does your self-esteem and self-confidence. Without these you stop believing what you tell yourself. Have you told yourself you will start exercising and you will begin tomorrow. But when tomorrow rolls around, you find many excuses?not to exercise. By the end of the day, “exercise” isn’t an item you have checked off your to-do list. As a result, you feel disappointed with yourself. When you realize that you didn’t do what you told yourself you would do.?You don’t say to yourself,?I’ll go exercise right now.?No…instead, you think,?I might as well not even bother…not happening…no way, no how. I’ll just watch Netflix and eat pizza. In other words, you give up.? Everyone has broken a promise or has failed to keep their word at some point in their lives. However, doing so can cause serious damage to any relationship. There are a number of ways to measure a person’s worth or your own worth. The main and most important way is to “keeping your word.”? We make commitments to others and ourselves all the time. The question is: Do we keep them? When you fail to make good on your word, it communicates to the other person that you don’t value him or her. you have decided to place something else ahead of the commitment. This can result in lack?of trust in any relationship. Most people have heard this statement "A man is only as good as his word."? But do you live as if you believe it?? From the small issues of not calling when you said you would or to the larger issues of "till death do us part," it’s amazing how many people don’t follow through on their promises.?If we want to have a solid relationship based on trust, you have to be true to your word. In addition to being consistent. Being lazy, or complacent, will tarnish your future desires to develop relationships. Words are very powerful. As speakers, communicators or elected official if you use your voice, hands, or device to as your way of agreeing to do something for someone or to God you must keep your word. If you are one to always become selfish, procrastinate, not even try to keep your word, or compromise to get out of keeping their word? It would have been better for you not to make the promise in the first place, than to break it. You should always remember that God always keeps his word and he expects you to do the same. God will not be mocked. Nobody likes it when someone does not live up to their word. Some might argue that they are only words it is the action that matters.? That statement doesn't sound right. One’s word should be trusted, and acted on. If you make it a habit of, just say something just to be heard then there is something wrong with your trust in this world. When you break promises, you lose trust from others, and your integrity suffers. People might see you as someone to beware of because of your reputation. Without a credible background you will lose relationships and opportunities with different social classes of people. So why do some of us struggle to keep our words knowing the implications? There are special conditions that will allow for someone to not keep their word.??

Examples is when someone we love and care about is being abused,?living in an unsafe environment constantly saying they are leaving their situation but never does. Also having family members or friends that abuse alcohol or drugs and they keep telling you “ I am going to stop using but they never do.’ Words are powerful?not keeping them can cause serious judgement in your personal and professional life. Keeping your word might seem simple and should be, but most people struggle with keeping their words. Your words hold a lot of weight in reflecting your character to other people. Words are very potent when keeping promises and commitments to other people. The words you have spoken to others will act as a verbal contract between you and people. The problem pattern of most people is that sometimes, you don't realize you are making a promise or agreement to others when you express a commitment. It could be a spur of the moment that led you to speak about taking action concerning an issue or challenge causing the listener to hold you to what you say and hold you accountable. So, before you open your mouth understand it's vital to watch what you are saying otherwise, you might be putting yourself in a situation to not be trusted.?Saying you’re going to do something and then changing your mind creates a negative picture of your character. If you do this more than once, people will start questioning your integrity. Have you heard or stated to someone this saying “you’re only as good as your word”.? But do you ever stop to think about how many times you’ve gone back on it?? Before you decide to go back on your word, think about how you would feel if someone close to you did the same. Intentionally not keeping your word is unnecessary. And constantly not keeping your word could be an intentional tactic to manipulate others to serve only yourself.? In other words, keep your word!? Think about using words you cannot keep because those words make you who you are.? Keep your commitments even when you don’t want to. Nothing is more important than keeping your word. Keeping your word is one of the smallest yet impactful things you can do to build trust and your future relationships.??

One of the essential things in life is to learn how to keep your word. When you commit, it is necessary to follow through with it. Not only does this build trust and credibility with other people, but it also shows that you are a reliable individual. Words have meanings, whether or not you mean them. When you tell someone, you will do something, you are creating expectations. Keeping your word builds trust. Trust gives people security. Security builds healthy and happy relationships. Most people can add value to their character by keeping their word. With so many people lacking trust in the government system and certain elected officials it is critical for leaders to keep their words. This will prove to society that you can be trusted. Also, that you seek to serve the people and not satisfy the powerful and wealthy population.?