Do you Trust You?

Do you keep your promises?

To your family?

To your community?

To your friends?

To your work?

Most of us would say we're always trying to do our best. Reliable is an adjective we'd all like to have associated with our name. Being a person of your word is the best way to maintain good relationships. It's the best way to live.

Let me ask you another related question. How good are you at keeping promises you've made to yourself? I don't know about you, but I've been on an ongoing journey of learning to honor commitments I’ve made to myself. Sometimes those commitments have been small; others have been big.

It could be a hobby you'd like to explore, a skill you're trying to develop, or an adventure in a foreign country you'd like to take. The kind of things only you can do for yourself. In the past, I've found it easy to say no to things I'd like to do and use family, work, and a community as an excuse not to pursue my ambitions. But here's the thing, my family has never asked me not to be happy.

You can keep commitments to others and do what makes your heart come alive. It's not one or the other. I have found it helpful to tell those closest to me what I want to do and ask for their support. Years ago, I told my wife I wanted to travel somewhere far and someplace I'd never been to for my 40th birthday. After discussing the idea, I opened up a spreadsheet, created a budget, and started saving. Of course, a worldwide event happened between 2020 and 2021, so my plans were delayed - but we kept going. I can't tell you how rewarding it was when I booked my plane tickets, reserved hotels, and planned out the things I wanted to experience in Argentina. I had the time of my life and didn't compromise my commitments. I made good on a promise I made to myself.

I made it to Argentina! I loved it!

This is one example; maybe travel isn't your thing. The point is to keep the promises you make to yourself. You can keep your commitments and do what makes you happy.

Don't use others as an excuse to neglect yourself. If you've made strong commitments to your family and community, you need to be at your best. When you fly on an airplane with children, the crew will instruct you to put your mask on first if the plane cabin loses pressure. They're not asking you to be selfish; they're asking you to protect your capacity. Taking care of yourself supports your ability to take care of others.

Those closest to you have your back; they want you to be happy. Trust them!

Thanks for reading, friend, and I hope you can write out what you'd like to do and share that with whoever your team is and make a plan.