Do You Break Promises to Yourself?

Have you ever had someone ask a question that felt more like a swift kick in the pants? It was what you needed but not what you wanted to hear at all.

A couple years ago, I was not getting my stuff together for many reasons and I felt totally incapable and inadequate. It was very low time of my life. I wanted so many things to happen in my life but I couldn’t seem to get it done.

A very smart person asked me a question that stung like the queen bee herself got me. She asked, “do you break promises to yourself?” Are there things that you want but don’t follow through with? Or you just give up before you finish?

Honestly, yes. I knew the answer was yes, I do break promises to myself. Albeit, not on purpose, but yes. I say I’m going to do whatever and then I often don’t follow through with enough effort to complete the task timely. Sometimes I gas out because I literally can’t do it all. Overwhelmed is an understatement.

When I started this year, I told myself that I wanted to do a lot of things. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot but at the same time I have fallen short of what I really wanted.

One specific goal that I wanted to work on was developing a specific Bible Time. I wanted a strong habit established so that I have Bible Time every day without fail.

I’ve learned that life with small kids is unpredictable and therefore my schedule is unpredictable too. Big surprise huh?

There were other things I wanted to do a better job on too. But I don’t want to beat myself up too bad in front of you all. So I’ll start here and re-evaluate one goal at a time.

First thing to do, when you reevaluate your goals, is give yourself some grace.

Did I miss the goal because the bar was too high? Or because I didn’t prioritize appropriately? For my situation, it’s a little of both. I have too much on my plate for sure. But I struggle with focus and keeping certain priorities first.

Anyone hear me out there?

Are you pulled in twelve different directions at the same time?

Maybe your energy is on the low side. Sometimes a nap would be better than pushing through to reach your goal?

After you get honest about your situation, get real.

Now you need to decide on one thing that you want and then you need to go get it. If you’re tired of setting goals and not following through, it’s time to get real. What is it that keeps you from the finish line?

Time, priority, or both.

I know you want to make it to the finish line well.

Here’s what you need to do to get back on track with anything you need to accomplish.

1) Think about where you want to be. For me, I want to consistently study the Word.

2) Consider a new deadline. Don’t think about the one that has passed. Give yourself grace here and a clean slate. Consider that you’re not back at ground zero, you’re somewhere in the middle of where you started and where you’ll end up. Fresh perspective!!

3) Take inventory of what worked and what didn’t. For me, I was listening to the recommendation of early morning Bible study but this doesn’t work for me at this time of life. I often don’t sleep well and this makes mornings slow and groggy for me. It’s hard for me to study while I’m foggy headed. So I need to find another time and perhaps another method.

4) Come up with a new plan and a new timeline. Put it on paper. You know what you want, now use what you’ve learned and start again.

Starting again will prove to yourself that you are not going break anymore promises to yourself!!