A promise is a debt. But it doesn't have to be this way. I can avoid this by taking certain steps. When I say I will do something I'd better do it or else my credibility will be diminished or even lost. However, if there is an unforeseen circumstance that hinders me from carrying on action, I should try to inform the people to whom I made a promise in advance that I can't do what I promised I'd do and tell them the reason why. If I am certain about it I will give them an exact date and time on which the task will be done. However, if I am not sure I shouldn't make any further promises because when a person fails to deliver what he or she promised twice, it destroys his credibility twice as much. So in order to limit the number of times I risk losing my credibility, I should try as much not to make promises unless I absolutely have to. It is better to keep silent even of I am planning to do something and then go ahead and do it, let it come as an unexpected surprise, in this way the promise which was made only in my head never becomes a debt.

It is called "Integrity" respect for ourselves and others.