原文: A promise worth keeping

“A promise made is a debt unpaid.” — Robert Service

Time passes quickly. The days become weeks, and the weeks become years. Have you ever thought back to the dreams you once had? If you set aside your dreams for your list of a million-other-things and decided to wait for your turn or for the planets to align, part of you probably feels you haven’t been true to yourself. No one else is going to be disappointed if you don’t accomplish your goals; this is your own promise to yourself.

Maybe you learned to let go of some of them and create new dreams. But it’s possible there is one promise you made to yourself that you can’t abandon. Some dreams feel like a dull ache that surfaces from time to time. That ache serves as a reminder that there’s still time to pursue them. They can’t be ignored forever. So whether your promise is to open a business, continue your education, write a book or give back to your roots, the time to do something about it is now.

Through the years, my readers have shared their hopes and dreams with me. Most of their goals aren’t far-fetched, yet fear, lack of savings and everyday life often stand in the way. They think their dreams won’t ever become reality, or they are stuck on where to start so they don’t start at all. I want you to get started.

MAP IT OUT: Make a list of short-term and long-term goals. Be as specific as possible. What action can you take today toward your goal? Do you know what information or knowledge you need? Can you make some phone calls? Do research online or at the library? Take a class? Do it. Seeing it written down will bring life to your goal, and taking even a baby step is going to energize you.

KNOW WHAT BLOCKS YOU: Fully grasp what blocks your progress. Think of ways to clear the hurdles. If it’s lack of time, then your short-term goal can be to manage your time better so it’s no longer an issue. If it’s lack of money, then your goal can be to start saving. Frugality can help with that. If it’s fear, it’s time to confront what frightens you. The important part is planning for roadblocks that can get in the way — whether they are put there by yourself or others.

VISUALIZE ACCOMPLISHMENT: Believe in your dream. Picture it in your mind. Express your commitment to your promise. You really have to want it and choose it to achieve it. Start by making small promises on a regular basis to gain confidence.

CREATE A DEADLINE: Equally important as getting started is setting a deadline for your goal. This will prevent procrastination and will help you stay committed. If you think it’s going to take years, then set up mini-objectives and deadlines. Reward yourself when you hit milestones. Be determined and regularly make the time to work toward your goal. No one said it would be easy, but take the words “I can’t” out of the picture. Replace them with “I promise to,” and be specific.

Check on your progress and be prepared for compromise or changes. You might decide you need more or less time, or that you need to change direction. You owe it to yourself to try to fulfill the promise you intended to keep when you made it. Are you ready? Pay off that debt!

译文: 值得遵守的承诺

      一个承诺就是一张未兑现的账单。— Robert Service

      时光飞逝，一天天变成一星期，一个个星期又变成一年，你是否想过重温旧梦。如果你的梦想被你从数以万计的事情里剔除出来然后等待你的重新排列。你可能觉得对于你自己而言从来都不是个真实的存在？没有人会因为你没有达到你的目标而难过，梦想是你对自己的承诺。

      也许你曾经放弃过一些梦想，又创造了新的梦想。但它可能会成为你心中无法割舍的一个承诺。有些梦想像是浮在表面的一阵阵的钝痛，这些痛苦像是提醒者一直告诉你它们的存在。他们不能被永远忽略.所以不管你承诺去从商,继续你的学业,写书还是重操旧业，现在是该做点什么的时候了。
   
      这些年来，我的读者们和我分享了他们的希望和梦想。大多数人的目标不是太不现实就是因为胆怯，缺少积蓄而原地踏步。他们觉得梦想不再现实~~也或许他们还在起步的地方徘徊，所以他们根本没有开始。我要你们重新开始。

      制定计划：制定一个短期的的计划表和长期的目标。越详细越好。你今天会以什么行动去接近你的目标？你是否知道什么信息或知识是你需要知道的?上网或是去图书馆做调查？上课？这样行动吧~将生活融入你的目标，即便是婴儿般的步伐都会激励你的前进。

      知道什么阻碍你：完全了解什么在阻碍你的进步，想些办法去清除障碍，如果缺少时间，你的短期目标可能可以让你更好的利用时间。所以缺少时间不再是一个问题，如果缺少钱，你的目标就会搁浅。节俭对此会有点帮助。如果因为害怕，现在是勇敢地面对它的时候了。最重要的部分是为沿途的障碍做的计划——不管这些障碍是别人还是你自己造成的。

      想像已经实现:相信你的梦想，想像已经实现的画面，为你的承诺表现你的投入，确定你确实要实现它，选择它，完成它。开始通过做一些小的承诺在规律的基础上去赢得信心。

      规定一个期限：和开始同样重要的事是为你的目标定一个期限，它将防止拖延并且帮助你坚持你的承诺。如果你觉得这将会费很多时间，那么建立一个迷你目标和最终期限。当你到达里程碑的时候，奖励自己！下决心规划好时间为你的目标奋斗。虽然这不容易做到，但是、还是要将"我不能"从你的脑海里剔除。用“我肯定”来代替它并且让自己坚信这一点。

      检查你的进展，并准备作出妥协或改变。你可能决定你需要更多或更少的时间 或者你要改变方向。当你完成目标的时候你可以将它归功于你的坚持才得以实现你的承诺。准备好了吗？让我们甩掉账单！