Honoring Your Word

Words of Wisdom from Matt Warren...

Have you ever been flaked on?  Flaked on someone?  Whether you're feeling convicted or inspired, I encourage you to read on...

Ever not called someone when you said you would?  Had someone no-show to an event after looking at you that day saying "I'll see you tonight"?  (Hey I can take the no-show, stuff happens - but no call and no apology?  that person is destined for lower living in many areas of life)...

Unfortunately, it's all too common - ESPECIALLY with that rationalization of "it's just a little thing, not that big of a deal"...  oh no... it's a big deal to champions and doers...

Wanna disappoint a wealthy person?  Don't keep your word on a little thing, you'll be sure to feel a chill the next time you're around them, and you can be assured you'll drop to the bottom of their list of people to be recommended for opportunity...

HOW SOMEONE DOES ANYTHING IS HOW THEY DO EVERYTHING...

It's tempting to get sucked into being a flake when it seems we're in a culture that simply has a hard time keeping it's word... DON'T DO IT... BE REFRESHINGLY DIFFERENT... LIVE A CHALLENGED LIFE...
 
I wouldn't say I was ever a "flake", but I certainly pulled a few "flip flops" in my 20's that drew harsh criticism from people whom I respected... I needed it... and I decided to change EVEN the little things...

I'm far from perfect... but I DID get to a point in my life where I:
-          did what I said I was going to do...
-          called people whom I said I'd call...
-          moved forward with commitments that weren't comfortable...
-          avoided making commitments I knew I couldn't keep...
-          gave people as much advance notice when I couldn't deliver on my commitments...
-          began apologizing profusely when I couldn't deliver on my commitments... (key!)

I read a book at a time in my life (2002) where I decided to live differently... the book radically changed my perspective on ALWAYS KEEPING MY WORD, EVEN WITH THE LITTLE THINGS...

"THE 4 AGREEMENTS"  by Don Miguel Ruizhas been a best seller for 8 years running...

The first "AGREEMENT" he encourages to make with yourself is:
1.       Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

- If you get on the treadmill and set it for 20 minutes, but you stop at 12 minutes... you didn't honor your word...
- If you tell me you'll ring me tomorrow with more details and tomorrow comes and goes and I don't hear from you... you didn't honor your word...
- If I have to take another call, promise to call you back, and then I don't... I didn't honor my word...

And when we don't honor our word in little things, it trickles into every area of life and ultimately the big things... and the fruit (or lack of) in our life will reflect it...

Things changed in radically positive ways for me when I began to take my word seriously... it's like stepping onto a different playing field in the game of life... you'll like the company you'll be keeping when you choose to step in the arena of "people who keep their word"... (if you're not there already)...

And guess what?  I don't have many folks who flake on me... because I'm not attracting them into my life and I've gotten good at qualifying people before I'll move into business with them... if I don't sense integrity, I'll not progress with appointments, etc... so if you're getting pooped on often, accept responsibility that either 1) the favor is getting returned to you, or 2) you're an eagle who's mingling with turkeys.

Be. Do. Have.