Do your best to keep your promises to yourself. Most people will never know whether you do or don’t, but you will know. Be honest with yourself and follow through on the things you tell yourself you are going to do.

Decide the kind of person you want to be and take the actions that that person would take. This is what the phrase “discipline equals freedom” means. Be the person you want to be by doing what that person would do.

This may mean going to bed at a certain hour, waking up at a specific time, or eating healthier and working out regularly. Maybe you are a writer and you are trying to develop a writing routine. Or perhaps you are dedicated to quitting some bad habit you have.

Whatever it is, be honest with yourself about the actions you want to take and then hold yourself accountable for that decision. No one has to know besides you what kind of promises you make to yourself, but you will know. You wouldn’t want to be friends with someone who constantly lies about what he or she is going to do. Don’t tolerate broken promises from yourself either.