Creating Inward Confidence

When we think about the term self-care, we immediately think of spa days and uninterrupted time by ourselves doing the things we love most. As important as it is to pamper ourselves, how many times a day do we truly take the word “self” and think about its significance in a way that honors the relationship we have with – well ourselves?

Recently, I read several articles that talked about the importance of keeping promises to ourselves. Although you don’t actually say “I promise” to yourself, the act of decisively planning to do something and failing to follow through has the same effect as when a friend promises to do something and doesn’t follow through.

The promises you make to yourself and whether or not you keep them can make or break your confidence and disrupt your self-esteem.

With a friend, a broken promise is a behavior but when done one too many times we then associate that behavioral trait with their character. Just like with that friend, this same scenario plays out with the promises you make to yourself and fail to follow through on.

It can begin with something as simple as saying you’re going to the gym or starting that new business/hobby, or going to that nail appointment. And then - you don’t do it. When you continue to break promises with yourself, you start to interpret your behaviors as your character traits until you reach a point where you may no longer believe in yourself.

“Keeping our promises is key to experiencing life as we dream it can be, it empowers us to dream big, to grow into and occupy that dream, and then to outgrow that dream and dream even bigger dreams. And in the process, gain all of the approval we will ever need -- our own,” writes Rob White, an author and founder of Mind Adventure, Inc.

So whether you’re looking to start a new fitness routine or pick up a new hobby, be intentional about the space and time committed to yourself because what starts as a simple promise can have deep effects on your ability to believe in yourself in other areas of your life.

When you keep your word to yourself, it creates a sense of inward confidence and it allows you to create space and trust between your intentions and your actions.

“Keeping our promises is key to experiencing life as we dream it can be, it empowers us to dream big, to grow into and occupy that dream, and then to outgrow that dream and dream even bigger dreams”