By Leo Babauta

There’s a energy to our phrase that may be very typically underdeveloped — phrases are magic, and may create the world round us. However most of us use this magic as if it weren’t highly effective.

The primary means we see that is that we frequently don’t honor our phrase to ourselves.

In his fantastic guide, The 4 Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz places “Be impeccable together with your phrase” as the primary and most vital of the 4 agreements that may change your life. There’s much more depth to this settlement, “Be impeccable together with your phrase,” than you would possibly first understand … however I’m solely going to cowl one side of that: honoring your phrase to your self.

Some methods we don’t honor our phrase to ourselves:

• We are saying we’re going to train in the present day, however then put it off as a result of we’re busy.
• We vow to cease consuming so many sweets, solely to provide within the subsequent day and eat a bunch of ice cream and cookies.
• We are saying we’re going to work on a significant mission, however that retains getting pushed again one other day, and one other, till months have passed by.
• We are saying we’re going to meditate, however as an alternative verify our telephones or e mail.

None of that is “dangerous,” and it might be a misuse of our phrase to harshly criticize ourselves for any of this. However what if we may begin to honor our phrase to ourselves?

What if, after we inform ourselves we’re going to do one thing, we truly comply with via and do it?

What would that change for you, in your life?

In the event you may 100% belief your self to honor your phrase to your self … this might change every little thing.

Let’s have a look at learn how to develop the ability of our phrase to ourselves.

The Observe of Honoring Our Phrase to Ourselves

Begin by committing your self to take your phrase to your self as sacred. It’s a vow, and while you say it, you’re absolutely dedicated to it.

Remind your self of this every time you’re about to interrupt your vow to your self.

Then begin by solely making small guarantees to your self — issues you understand you may undoubtedly do. And comply with via on each single promise, again and again, with full dedication.

For instance: promise to go and drink a glass of water, after which do it. Promise to reply this one e mail, then do it. Promise to go for a stroll across the block, then do it. Small guarantees, after which take them as sacred.

Take away the opportunity of not doing it. My coach says if you happen to’re a mum or dad, you don’t even query whether or not you’re going to feed your children or not — it’s a dedication you don’t query. Deal with your commitments to your self in the identical means — unquestionable.

If you do it, acknowledge your self for honoring your phrase to your self. It is a victory to be celebrated. Even when it’s a tiny victory, it’s vital.

In the event you mess up, honor your phrase by acknowledging the error, and apologizing. Take duty, with out blame or disgrace. After which commit your self to rising from this error.

Solely when you’ve gotten good on the simple guarantees must you go to more durable ones. As an alternative of promising to write down for an hour, promise to write down for five or 10 minutes. As an alternative of making an attempt to meditate for an hour, simply meditate for five minutes. Similar with train, or something that requires focus. Small guarantees, executed impeccably.

Don’t make indefinite guarantees — like that you simply’ll by no means contact one other drop of alcohol. Make small guarantees, such as you’re not going to eat a cookie for the subsequent hour. Then make the guarantees simpler to satisfy — do away with the cookies, or take away your self from the neighborhood of the cookies.

Over time, if you happen to work on growing the ability of your phrase, it should grow to be one thing you don’t query. After which your phrase can be like a robust magic spell you may solid anytime it’s worthwhile to make magic occur.