I wanted to share a quick story that reminded me why keeping promises to ourselves really matters.

My workout schedule is usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, based on my routine. I normally train in the evenings after 7:30, since that’s when equipment is more readily available at the gym.

This past weekend, though, I ran into a problem. I had commitments on both Friday and Saturday night that kept me from my usual training windows. During the day I was swamped, so I made a plan: push Friday’s workout to Saturday afternoon, and then do Saturday’s workout on Sunday, my usual rest day.

Saturday’s workout, which was Friday’s session pushed forward, went fine. But when Sunday rolled around, and it was time to do what should have been Saturday’s workout, I hit a wall. I had no motivation and zero desire to train. This wasn’t the first time I’ve run into this kind of moment, but this time it made me stop and really think.

That’s when the inner debate started, “Does missing one workout really matter?”

That’s when I reminded myself of the promise I made… first to myself, then to my coach, and finally to the SupraHuman fitness program I am a member of. I thought about what got me here, what following through really means, and what skipping would represent.

And in the end, I leaned on what Mark Jones, a 2025 SupraHuman Hall of Fame nominee, said: “Pour yourself a big glass of shut the f*ck up and just do the work.” That moment reminded me that self-respect isn’t about motivation, it’s about keeping the promises we make to ourselves. So, the real question is: How much do we really respect ourselves?

One of the highest forms of self-respect is following through on what we commit to. It’s the foundation for everything else. Each time we honor our own word, we strengthen discipline, build trust in ourselves, and create the confidence that lasting change is built on.

Let’s be honest. If a friend constantly canceled plans, consistently showed up late, or failed to follow through on commitments they made to us, would we tolerate it? Absolutely Not! Most of us wouldn’t stand for it. Yet when it comes to us, we often let that same behavior slide, without question.

Not hitting our macros or daily steps. Skipping workouts. Falling short on our check-ins or not giving them our best effort. Each one sends the same message: “Our word doesn’t matter.” And over time, that delays the results we want and chips away at our self-belief. The danger is that once we let something slide, it becomes easier to let it slide again, and each time after that, it only gets easier. That’s how small slips turn into long-term setbacks.

And when we don’t follow through, it’s not only disrespectful to ourselves. It’s also disrespectful to our coaches and SupraHuman, both of which invest their time and effort to give us the tools to succeed. If the script were flipped, we certainly wouldn’t accept it from a trainee or a member. Respect works both ways.

Since we’re the ones making the financial commitment, it can feel tempting to justify slipping up as no big deal. It’s easy to tell ourselves it’s only our cost to bear. But that kind of thinking only makes it easier to break our own promises. Effort and respect can’t be bought; they have to be owned.

While we all made the decision to join SupraHuman and invest in ourselves, effort can’t be outsourced and will can’t be given. The program and our coaches provide the tools and guidance, but it’s neither their role to coach effort nor to give us the will, and it’s definitely not their responsibility to make sure we follow through. That part belongs to us. And the only way forward is to own it fully.

Flip it around. When we show up, not just when it’s convenient but when it’s hard, when the motivation isn’t there, and when the excuses sound convincing, that’s when we build unshakable confidence. We prove to ourselves that our word does matter. That’s discipline. That’s the foundation for lasting change.

So, the next time we think about skipping our obligations, let’s ask ourselves, would we tolerate this from someone else? If not, why tolerate it from ourselves?

In the end, it all comes back to that same question: How much do we really respect ourselves? If we’ve been consistent, let’s stay the course. We’re on the path to lasting change. If we haven’t, the best time to start is now. At the end of the day, it’s simple: Respect ourselves to follow through!

How Much Do We Truly Respect Ourselves
A Reflection by Alexander Bush
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