Day 89 of 100 days of Hope
How Keeping Agreements Restores Confidence, Alignment, and Peace During the Holidays
There’s something powerful about making an agreement with yourself—and keeping it. It creates a sense of steadiness inside, a quiet confidence that says, I can trust me. But there’s also something very human about falling off track. Life gets busy, our attention gets pulled, and suddenly the things we said we would do slip away.
If this has been happening for you, especially during the holiday season, take a breath.
There is no shame here—just a chance to realign.
Why Agreements Matter
Gay Hendricks teaches that making and keeping agreements is one of the pillars of integrity. When we follow through on what we say we’ll do, it strengthens our relationships and deepens our self-trust. It feels good to be in alignment with our words and actions.
But when we don’t keep our agreements, we feel the effects:
Our energy drops.
Our relationships feel the strain.
Trust begins to erode—especially trust in ourselves.
Most of us know this feeling. We intend to stay committed, but our yeses multiply, our time shrinks, and disappointment settles in.
Especially During the Holidays…
The holiday season is a beautiful time, but it’s also one of the easiest times to slip out of alignment. We say yes too quickly. We overload our schedules. We carry responsibilities that don’t belong to us. We move into reaction mode instead of intention.
But this season doesn’t have to feel heavy.
We can adjust.
We can return.
We can choose alignment again.
How to Come Back Into Wholeness
Here are some gentle ways to reconnect with your own center and rebuild trust with yourself:
1. Say No With Kindness
A truthful no keeps you aligned. A false yes pulls you out of integrity. Saying no doesn’t make you unkind—it makes you honest.
2. Create Space for Your Mental and Emotional Health
Even 10 minutes of quiet, breathing, or simply being can bring you back into your body and reset your energy.
3. Keep a “Yes List”
What brings you joy, peace, and a feeling of aliveness? Commit to those first. Let your yes have meaning again.
4. Complete One Small Agreement
You don’t need to fix everything. Just complete one thing you said you would do. That single act rebuilds trust more than you realize.
5. Notice How Good Alignment Feels
When your actions match your intentions, you feel clear, confident, and grounded. This is the real gift of keeping agreements.
Questions to Help You Realign
If you’re unsure where to begin, let these guide you:
What am I agreeing to that I can let go of?
What solutions could I offer instead of automatically saying yes?
How do I want to feel this holiday season?
What can be removed from my plate without guilt?
Where could I invite support instead of carrying everything alone?
These small reflections can create powerful shifts.
A Season of Joy, Peace, and Connection
My hope for you is simple: that this season becomes one of joy, steadiness, and alignment. That you say yes to what matters, no to what drains you, and return to agreements that support your wellbeing.
It feels so good to trust yourself again.
It feels good to be in alignment.
Thank you for being here on this journey with me.
Many blessings to you, my friend.
—Julie Burningham
The Hope Coach