Making A Contract With Yourself
Our decisions in life, what we change about ourselves and how we choose to react, are no one's responsibility but our own. But because the mind often rebels against what we know in our souls to be positive changes, putting a plan of improvement or action can be difficult. One very useful tool to help bring about change is to make a contract with yourself. A self contract, like any contract, is a formal written commitment and can be drafted for an infinite number of reasons. It is a contract between you and yourself that can act as a guide, a motivator, a means to enact self-improvement, or a way of making peace with yourself. You choose an aspect of your life you would like to focus on and then lay out in clear language what you want to do, how you will do it, and if you wish, a timetable.
Be honest and make sure your contract reflects attainable goals. A contract that you cannot bring yourself to follow isn't going to be very helpful. In writing your contract, specify why you have created the contract, your responsibilities and the results you expect, what reward you will give yourself (if appropriate), and the individual steps you will take. Date and sign it, alone or in the presence of a witness. If it helps, you can make a ceremony out of signing your contract.
Some situations in which you might want to enter into a contract with yourself may include changing a behavior or working through a personal issue. Reading the contract daily can help you remain committed to the guidelines you have laid out for yourself. Abiding by the contract shows that you take your commitment seriously and will treat yourself with the honesty and respect you deserve.
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