People in society today are extremely bad about keeping promises! How often do we hear the words … “Yes, I will call you right back”… “Leave it with me I will send you an email as soon as I get back to the office” … “I will do it today, I promise”… The unfulfilled promises people make are endless.
This is well covered in; “The Way to Happiness” by L Ron Hubbard…
Way top Happiness: 14-1. Keep your word once given. When one gives an assurance or promise or makes a sworn intention, one must make it come true. If one says he is going to do something, he should do it. If he says he is not going to do something, he should not do it. LRH, The Way to Happiness.
As a Group it is important we use the tenets of our Philosophy to the best of our ability. Keeping promises and agreements is a good place to start. A promise is a commitment to do or not do something. When promises are broken or people are misled, the bonds of trust are breached. Broken promises imply that the offenders either didn’t think before making the promises, or don’t care that they’ve let you down.
LRH considered promises made to be a very important part life and livingness …
One’s regard for another is based, in no small degree, on whether or not the person keeps his or her word. Even parents, for instance, would be surprised at the extent they drop in the opinion of their children when a promise is not kept.
People who keep their word are trusted and admired. People who do not are regarded like garbage. Those who break their word often never get another chance.
A person who does not keep his word can soon find himself entangled and trapped in all manner of “guarantees” and “restrictions” and can even find himself shut off from normal relations with others. There is no more thorough self-exile from one’s fellows than to fail to keep one’s promises once made.
One should never permit another to give his or her word lightly. And one should insist that when a promise is made, it must be kept. One’s own life can become very disordered in trying to associate with people who do not keep their promises. It is not a casual matter.
The way to happiness is much, much easier to travel with people one can trust. LRH, The Way to Happiness
It is not only the big promises that we need to fulfill. The smaller promises, the simple ones, “I promise I will pay you today…” and so on, are the ones that reduce us in the eyes of our family, friends and work associates.
Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep. Anthony Hitt President and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas
