Promise is a big word. A lot of people might disagree, but it really is when you think of all the synonyms. Promises can be made to someone about easy things/tasks that one must finish, or they can be made nonchalantly as promises that will most likely not be kept. Promises can also be made to oneself. These kind of promises are more of responsibilities. A new years “resolution” is one of those nonchalant promises, but a promise such as lent is a promise that must be kept. People make more promises then they realize.
Are promises something you can prioritize?
Or should we not be making them?
Promises such as relationships are unending and easier to achieve that action promises. Action promises require something extra. A promise is a declaration that something will or will not be done.
Are promises becoming less important. Divorces more common? Cheating on spouses ok? No. But it seems like it is more common, it happened to my friend yesterday. But a promise is a promise right? Or are promises that aren’t kept more common these days?
Making promises is a big risk. Keeping a promise creates substantial cultivation of our character. We live our lives in a way that make us either character killers or character builders. Every time we make a promise, we set the stage for one of these eventualities to occur. So when we make a promise, we have to make sure that it is genuinely a promise that we are likely to keep.
ReplyDeletePromises mean a lot to people because they suggest appreciation, value and empathy and carry some pleasure in fulfillment. Don't make promises you can't fulfill.
I think that you shouldn't make a promise unless you are prepared to keep it especially when it comes to marriage. If you have put out all possible effort and literally cannot stand your spouse then that is one thing and you shouldn't have been married in the first place but I think the divorce rate is awful. 50% of marriages ending in divorce is NOT OKAY or NORMAL. It is degrading the meaning of marriage and love. I think that if you are not willing to stick to your commitment or promise then don't bothering making it. I take promises very seriously and think that every should raise their standard when it comes to the meaning of the word.
ReplyDeleteLike Kevin said, promises are a big risk. The outcome always boils down to one of two options: success or failure. As a character builder, promises aren't too indicative because people who succeed in keeping them already have some to begin with. Making and keeping promises is more a way to refine that character than anything I believe.
ReplyDeleteGood discussion thread. Kevin's point ("So when we make a promise, we have to make sure that it is genuinely a promise that we are likely to keep")raises the question: What if we make a promise that is a mistake? If a promise is a mistake, is it character building to keep holding on to it? Or might that in itself be character killing?
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