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Staying true to your word is important to building trust and healthy relationships. Words mean a lot, because most people tend to believe what you say and will hold you accountable for bringing what you said, into fruition.  Be careful with your word choices and do not commit to something that you know you cannot or are not willing to fulfill.  Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Don't think about the advantages that could be associated with telling a person what you believe they want to hear.  Think about the disadvantages that are associated with not being truthful.  

 

Nevertheless, things can happen that might delay your stated plans and that is perfectly fine, just keep the lines of communication open.  Open and honest communication is critical to the process that leads to understanding.  Understanding, can lead to forgiveness.  Stay true to your word and when plans change, genuinely communicate the reason for the change.  If your words are meaningless, then you are someone who cannot be trusted.

 

Your words have meaning.  Even when the words you say do not mean much to you, they could mean a lot to the people you are communicating with.  As the messenger, it is important for you to consider the thoughts and feelings of the person that you are talking to, before you convey your message, especially if you know you are not being truthful.  People tend to make conscience decisions, based on what you tell them.  When communicating thoughts and needs, or when answering a question asked, the person you are talking with tends to make decisions, based on what you tell him/her.  If you are not honest, they probably would have made a different, informed decision, if he/she knew that you were not being truthful with what you tell them.  Lies hurt. So, stay true to your word.  Sometimes, the plans do change and yes, Everyone has a right to change their mind; just make sure that it is your shift in thought that has caused your words to change as well, and that the change is not because you were lying from the start of the conversation.  

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Staying true to your word is easy, when you are honest with people and your life's circumstances do not cause you to have to change what you had planned.  Your words are extremely important to people who depend on you, to people who love you, and people who believe that you are being honest with them.  So, be mindful of what you are communicating to others.  If you told someone that you would do something for him/her, stay true to your word. 

 

When you don't stay true they should hold you accountable.  He/She will begin to distrust you and will be skeptical about anything you say thereafter.  Trust is something that is not easily regained, after losing it.  People also tend to lose interest in what you have to say, after realizing that you are not staying true to your word.  People do not want to be around anyone they can't trust.  Your words are a representative of who you truly are, so be careful about what you say and don't say things that you don't mean. If people don't hold you accountable after being lied to, God will certainly hold you accountable.  So, instead of lying to people, stay true to your word. If you said you would do something, do it and if you don't mean it, don't say it. If people cannot trust your word, how can you expect them to trust you?  Stay true.

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By Lynnette Clement

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