“Honoring your word” vs “keeping your word”

Strengthening the Radiant Body, like we did today in class, helps you honor your word. This is different from keeping your word. When we keep our word, it is rigid and there’s no room to meet the present moment.

For example, if I had plans to meet a friend for lunch, but I woke up not feeling well…if I “keep my word,” I would go to lunch anyway.

If I “honor my word,” I would give my friend as much notice as possible, and ask to reschedule. I would recognize, acknowledge, and make amends for any harm I may cause to them with this change of plans. (Maybe they took time off work to meet me for lunch? Maybe this triggers abandonment issues for them?)

When I honor my word, I recognize that my actions have consequences that affect others. So not only do I take into account my perspective, I also take into account the perspective of the interconnected web of life we all live in together.

How do you honor your word?