The Agreements We Make Are With Ourselves.

[Guest guest]

"Keeping Your Word"

If you and I did our jobs right last week, you probably had an exciting weekend, experimenting with this whole new world of goal-setting. Are you working with each of them twice a day? This brings up another question: How good are you at keeping agreements . . . with yourself?

In their book "Life 101," - and Mc pointed out that the agreements we make are always with ourselves, although sometimes they include other people. In that sense, they're like relationships. All of our relationships are with ourselves, but often they include other people as well.

Now, your word is one of the most precious things you have, but many people think very little of breaking it. This is a mistake for two reasons.

First and most obviously, it weakens your credibility with other people.

But even more importantly, it weakens your credibility, trustworthiness

and reliability with yourself. You can't help but act in ways that reflect that. So, once you make an agreement and give your word, do everything in your power not to break it. A broken word, like a broken cup, can't hold much for very long.

When you lovingly keep your word, that is, keep it strong, keep it dependable, and keep it true, you will know the power of accountability.

And when you lend this power to a worthy cause that you believe in, its

effect will be doubly powerful.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Trusting yourself is the first secret of

success." But how can you trust yourself unless you honor your agreements and keep your word - especially to yourself?

Lou Tice

The Pacific Institute

www.thepacificinstitute.com