Strategies to Honor Your Commitments to Yourself Effectively
Written on
Chapter 1: Understanding Broken Promises
Many of us have experienced the disappointment of failing to keep promises to ourselves, particularly regarding our creative pursuits like writing. This realization can be quite humbling. However, I made a conscious decision to explore the reasons behind my failures, aiming to break this cycle. Once I identified the underlying issues, I could confront them directly.
Thinking You Have It Figured Out
A few years back, I was approached by a client to ghostwrite a book. It seemed like an exciting challenge, yet daunting since I had never tackled a project of that magnitude. I naïvely thought, “I can string sentences together, how hard could it be?” I was soon to learn that writing a book requires significantly more effort than I had anticipated.
Fortunately, the project turned out to be a shorter novella, consisting of only 12,000 words. I managed to push through and complete it, much to my delight, the client was thrilled and even published it on Amazon. This led to a remarkable book launch in Central Park, which felt like a tremendous achievement!
Had that endeavor failed, it would have been just another broken promise. This experience taught me the vital lesson of understanding my limits.
Section 1.1: The Danger of Overconfidence
Experiencing success in one area can lead to overconfidence, but it doesn’t guarantee success in every new venture. Each situation should be approached with a fresh perspective. For instance, just because a piece of content goes viral on one platform doesn’t ensure it will have the same effect on another.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Importance of Planning
One of the significant reasons I faltered in my initial attempt at the National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) was my lack of a clear plan or structure. I would dive in, hoping the narrative would develop organically. This approach worked for the first 20,000 words, but eventually, I hit a wall. Without a clear direction, my creativity dwindled, and I ended up not completing Nanowrimo that year.
A structured plan is crucial for fulfilling commitments. Always ensure you have a well-defined roadmap before undertaking a project.
Chapter 2: Learning and Growth
The first video titled "Take These Steps To Start Keeping Your Promises To Yourself | Mel Robbins" provides insightful strategies on how to follow through with personal commitments. It's a must-watch for anyone looking to improve their self-discipline.
Learning from Others
The following year, I decided to approach Nanowrimo differently. I sought out resources to help me plan and structure a novel, participating in lessons and attending writing meetups with fellow aspiring authors. I vividly recall attending my first meetup, feeling a sense of pride, only to realize how much I still had to learn from my peers. Witnessing their progress was incredibly humbling.
Engaging in word sprints and being surrounded by other dedicated writers significantly boosted my productivity. I found myself writing nearly twice my usual output, which was an exhilarating experience.
A Supportive Community
The best aspect of these meetups was the sense of community. We supported each other by brainstorming ideas and keeping our narratives moving forward. When someone encountered a creative block, the group would rally to provide suggestions, ensuring everyone stayed on track.
That year, I successfully completed Nanowrimo for the first time! I reached the 50,000-word goal, and the sense of accomplishment was indescribable.
Being Intentional with Your Goals
Despite my natural inclination to write spontaneously, I’ve recognized the value of planning, having a support network, and clarifying my intentions. Nowadays, before making commitments to myself, I take time to reflect on my goals and strategize how to achieve them, and so far, this approach has proven effective.
Key Takeaways
If you find yourself frequently breaking promises to yourself, take a moment to reflect on where you have succeeded in the past. Identify the support systems, habits, or conditions that contributed to your achievements. By replicating those successful elements in other areas, you'll likely find yourself keeping more promises than before.
The second video titled "How to Stop Breaking Promises To Yourself | Building Discipline" offers valuable insights into building personal discipline and following through on commitments. Be sure to check it out as you work on honoring your promises to yourself.
Subscribe to my newsletter and let’s grow together!