I've always had a difficult relationship with the word "promise." I didn't grow up that way. It was actually one of those situations you're forced to play along with or face bad news. In the mid-1980's I learned the radio station wanted me to stop using the word "promise" on the air. They said new research shows that listeners aren't in favor of hearing the word. The moment someone says "promise" it mentally sends a signal to their human hearts and brains and says, "That's all I need in my life is another broken promise." So I instantly quit saying "promise." Ever since that day the goal is to make sure that it's removed even from my daily speaking. I never wanted to give off a reason to cause tune out. When I hear someone using it in conversation it instantly grabs my attention because it makes me feel like a radio listener. That's all I need is another broken promise. So yesterday I'm having a great conversation with a preacher friend. They always ask "How are you?" I'm not shy to say, "I feel like I'm walking across a desert floor. I just hope God doesn't keep me out here for 40 years." That comment earned me a quick reply, "Where is your Promise Land?" No!!!!!! There's that word!!!! Fire starter conversation. Calmly I wrote, "I don't believe in promises." Then it came back to me, "Without a Promise Land I can't help you." Words have always been completely strange to me. I love how one word can change the way conversations could've gone. On this podcast we dive into other areas of disconnection. One being "interruption." How often do you feel less of a team player and more of an interruption? Working through the storms begins with letting people in on your privatized ways of thinking. The friend had no idea that I had issues with "promise." Having the courage in this run run world to take a few seconds and say, "You're going to think I'm a little weird but..."