Philosophies

The Uses of a Vow You Might Break

Why making a vow you are not certain you can keep still has value, examined honestly.

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By Mira Dev6 min readmetered
The Uses of a Vow You Might Break

It is tempting to reserve vows for commitments you are already certain you can keep, treating any uncertainty as a reason to wait.

This caution is reasonable and also, in some traditions, considered to miss something important about what a vow is for. A vow made with total certainty of success is closer to a description of your current habits than an actual commitment. The uncertain vow, the one you are genuinely unsure you can keep, is doing different, harder work.

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