I Said I'd Do It ... And I Didn't.

Unique Perspectives: I Said I'd Do It ... And I Didn't.

By Kim Stevens

Being Impeccable with My Word – the first of Don Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements – isn’t just about watching what I say to myself or others. It’s also about how I respond to promises made … and promises broken.

A while ago, I was experiencing a really, really busy season of my life. I was so busy in fact that when someone would ask me for something, my usual response would be: “Can I get back to you about that tomorrow?”

Then when tomorrow rolled around, I’d be just as busy as I was the day before, and the day would end with me forgetting about getting back to them at all. 

“Ah, I’m so sorry!” I’d tell them a few days later. “I said I was going to get back to you yesterday and I didn’t. Here’s the information I promised. I apologize that I didn't send it over when I said I would, but here it is now.”

Now THAT is being impeccable with my word.

Did not holding up my end of the bargain feel good? No. 

It felt pretty lousy, actually. 

But I acknowledged my mistake, owned up to it, wrapped it in personal accountability then delivered (finally) on whatever I said I’d do. 

Some people are OK pretending it never happened or that they never said anything, but I can’t do that AND be impeccable with my word. 

Sure, I recognize that sometimes, there are too many circumstances out of my control to do what I say I will. And that’s fine, as long as I remain true to being impeccable with my word as best I can. I also recognize that there are things within my control, and that when I start not being able to keep my promises, it’s often a warning sign that I’ve over committed myself, which is something I have a tendency to do.

I frequently find myself trying to say “yes” to everything I’m asked to do. I know that about myself and I have to be conscientious about staying in my lane, remembering that just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should. Once I stop saying “yes” to those things, I start getting back in alignment, start acting with more integrity and start being more impeccable with my word. Most importantly, I start to feel really good about myself again.