Let It Be Simple: A Review of Chapter 3 by Tolly Burkan
Written on
Chapter 1: Introduction
Thank you for joining me in my analysis of Chapter 3 from Tolly Burkan's enlightening book, Let It Be Easy.
Monday, June 27th, 2022:
Greetings! It's currently around 9 AM in my location, and I’m feeling a bit drained! Nevertheless, I'm ready to tackle another week at work.
As many of you might be aware, I hold a standard 8–5 position as a receptionist. I genuinely love my role, and I cherish the freedom it gives me to pursue my creative passions while fulfilling my job responsibilities. The opportunity to broaden my knowledge during my work hours is truly remarkable, and I'm incredibly thankful for it. A valuable lesson I carry with me is:
"Chase people, not money." — Kirk Howard
This sage advice from one of my most respected mentors highlights the importance of building relationships with influential individuals who genuinely care about your future, rather than chasing short-term financial gain.
Make choices that are right for YOU!
Now, let’s dive into the book: Let It Be Easy by Tolly Burkan. If you haven’t checked out my introduction and Chapter 1, I highly recommend doing so! And if you missed my review of Chapter 2, it’s a must-read as well!
Chapter 3: Uphold Your Commitments
In this chapter, Burkan emphasizes the necessity of honoring the commitments we make to ourselves, regardless of their magnitude. Whether it’s vowing to maintain a healthy diet for the week or ensuring you arrive five minutes early to a meeting, every time you fail to fulfill a promise, you undermine your own reliability. Is that how you wish to perceive yourself?
"By setting an intention to keep your agreements, you will see how much harmony or disharmony you are creating in your universe." — Pg. 36, Chapter 3.
Consider the chaos you might be inviting into your life simply by neglecting tasks you’ve set for yourself. Stop procrastinating with "I'll do it tomorrow," and take action now!
"When we break an agreement, we contribute to the disappointment or disgust that others may have in reaction to our action or non-action." — Pg. 37, Chapter 3.
If you already see yourself as someone who struggles to keep commitments, how can you expect your business partners, coworkers, and even close friends to view you differently? While it’s important to focus on self-perception, in a world that often prioritizes networking over knowledge, you don’t want to be perceived as less than you are. You only get one chance to create a lasting first impression.
Although you may spend significant time trying to rectify mistakes, that initial judgment will likely linger in others' minds. When you treat individuals with respect, you’re likely to receive it in return.
Some people may inherently lack respect; while this isn’t always the case, even if you don’t receive the respect you deserve, you can take pride in knowing you acted with integrity. That’s the kind of person you aspire to be, right?
So, venture forth and uphold your promises, show kindness, and extend respect to others as well as yourself. You’re worthy of it. Take care and enjoy your Monday!