Growing up, we received several promises from our parents, such as they would take us to a park, bring us our favorite doughnut or ice cream, or buy us a toy. We were ecstatic then, knowing our parents would commit to what they promised.

But unfortunately, to some, it was their first heartbreak. The promise ended up as an empty talk so we won't be bothered by our parents' absence. 

Until then, promises gradually lose their impact. 

• Couples separate even after promising each other that they will fight for their relationship no matter what.

• Loans remain outstanding after all the promises of payment and even with the total capacity to pay the loan.

• Traditional politicians are making astounding claims about their plans for governance but haven't made a significant change even after long years of service.

• People promise to change for the better but still do the same thing over and over.

Mere talk is cheap. Committing to your promises means a lot. 

Why do we need a follow-through on all our commitments? 

It reveals much about ourselves.

People who make great promises but fail to deliver are not dependable. It shows! You cannot put your hope in people who are not serious about committing to their words. We can easily see their values. They lack integrity. Even so, they lack the ethics to keep their schedules, finances, or themselves in check. I am not referring to a one-time or two-time overlook of priorities but habitual and willful neglect of promises. The root word for commitment is "commit" and not "omit." 

It means respect for other people.

To value others is to put their needs and welfare first. Keeping them hanging over some false promise or empty talk is disrespect. Habitual and willful neglect to fulfill one's commitment means the recipients are not even worthy of time and effort. A typical example is arriving on time during set meetings. To arrive on time means you value the time of the people you meet. Though there are factors to consider, such as traffic and emergencies, yet to show respect, we make it our goal not to waste their precious time. Commitment means respect. 

It builds our integrity toward others.

We want to put our best foot forward. We don't want others to see us as unreliable. We don't want people to look down on us because our integrity is questionable, especially when committing to our promises. Remember that once broken, trust is not easy to restore. So we need to improve our integrity before people by ensuring we follow up on what we promise to do. Strive to make people see us not as empty talkers but persons of action. When we commit to a task, we do it right away. When we promise to deliver, we deal with it head-on. 

It improves our character - a lot!

It will become a habit when we strive to follow through on our commitments. People not only admire but also heed those who they can depend on and keeps their word. Consistency is key. Commit to one task after the other. Never lose track of your promises. Say NO when necessary so you'll not overwhelm yourself. Our character is either developed or destroyed by our ability or inability to fulfill our obligations. But with consistency, we can be better! A conscious decision to meet our promises will also improve other equally important areas: communicating with people, prioritizing what's important, and managing and assessing our capacities. 

Mere talk is cheap. What will change the people around you are not the promises you offer but the commitments you deliver.