The Power of Radical Responsibility: Why Honouring Your Agreements is the Key to True Success
By Katie Joy, The Global Butterfly

There’s a pattern I see time and time again in business, leadership, and life. People say they want success, freedom, and expansion, but as soon as things get busy or hard, their first instinct is to step back instead of stepping up.

Maybe you’ve felt it too.

👉 You commit to something you know will help you grow—whether it’s a program, a business investment, or a new level of leadership.

👉 You start seeing momentum, but then life gets full. It feels intense. The expansion starts stretching you.

👉 And suddenly, you start looking for a way out—justifying why you need to pause, delay, or step away.

But here’s the truth: Growth isn’t the problem. Your success isn’t the problem. The challenge isn’t the problem.

The real problem?

🔹 The part of you that hasn’t yet learned to hold success without sabotaging it.
🔹 The part of you that believes commitment is conditional and only valid when it’s comfortable.
🔹 The part of you that still equates “being busy” with not needing the very support that helped you rise in the first place.

And one of the most fundamental truths of leadership is this: If you don’t honour your commitments to others, you won’t fully honour them for yourself.

The Four Agreements & Radical Responsibility

One of my guiding principles in life and business comes from Don Miguel Ruiz’s incredible book, The Four Agreements. If you haven’t read it yet, do yourself a favour—it will change your life.

The agreements are simple but profound:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally

3. Don’t Make Assumptions

4. Always Do Your Best

These principles align perfectly with what I teach in business and personal mastery. Let’s break them down in the context of agreements and commitments:

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word

Your word is your bond. When you make a commitment—whether it’s to yourself, your business, or another person—you are making an energetic contract. Breaking it weakens your integrity, both externally and internally.

When you honour your word, even when it’s inconvenient, you train yourself to trust yourself—and others learn they can trust you too.

2. Don’t Take Anything Personally

When people resist their own commitments, they often shift the blame externally.

👉 “This just isn’t working for me anymore.”
👉 “I feel like I’ve outgrown this.”
👉 “I’m just too busy right now.”

But the real question is—are you truly outgrowing something, or are you retreating because it’s stretching you? Growth is uncomfortable. True leadership is learning to hold steady through the discomfort, not just when it feels good.

3. Don’t Make Assumptions

When people feel challenged, they often create stories that justify stepping back:

• “I don’t think this program is serving me anymore.”

• “I need something different.”

• “I don’t think I can keep up with this commitment.”

Instead of making assumptions about what is or isn’t working, engage fully and test whether you’re actually using the resources available to you.

4. Always Do Your Best

And this is where it all comes together.

Your best isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up with integrity, even when it’s hard.

Why People Try to Break Agreements (Without Realising It)

It’s not always conscious, but people often try to shift blame instead of owning their responsibility. Here are some common ways people attempt to break agreements:

🔹 Framing their withdrawal as a “pause” instead of a break. (“I just need to step back for a while.”)

🔹 Blaming circumstances instead of their choices. (“I’m just too busy, I can’t do this right now.”)

🔹 Positioning themselves as the exception. (“This is different for me because of XYZ.”)

🔹 Claiming they’re outgrowing something when they’re actually resisting deeper work.

A Step-by-Step Strategy to Strengthen Your Integrity & Success

If you’ve ever found yourself wanting to step back from something you committed to, ask yourself these three powerful questions:

1. Am I stepping back because I’ve outgrown this, or because it’s challenging me?

Growth always comes with friction. The key is knowing whether the discomfort is a sign of expansion—or avoidance.

2. Have I truly leveraged all the support available to me?

Be honest—have you fully shown up? Have you used the tools, coaching, or resources? If not, you may be leaving transformation on the table.

3. If I break this agreement, what message does it send to myself and others?

Every time you break a commitment, you teach yourself that it’s okay to back out when things get tough. Leaders don’t do that. They hold their vision through the challenges.

Final Thoughts: Step Up, Not Back

If you’re serious about success, you have to train yourself to hold bigger things in your life. The moment things get busy or hard is not the time to retreat—it’s the time to double down on commitment, integrity, and self-leadership.

So, before you decide to step back, ask yourself: Am I honouring my commitment, or am I resisting my next level?

Because your future self—the one living the life you dream of—is watching what you choose today.

Let me know in the comments—have you ever caught yourself wanting to step back just as you were stepping up? What helped you stay committed? 🚀💖

Disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you purchase through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend resources I personally love and trust. Thank you for your support!