The 7 Promises

I Promise…

1. to show up, prepared for the task at hand, on time and with a good attitude;

   This promise teaches the core value of dependability. Proper preparation demonstrates professionalism and respect for the other party involved. It also shows that you value your own time as well as others. Lastly, promise 1 ends with keeping a good attitude. Life will throw all sorts of curveballs at us, but the only controllable factor is our attitude. This is why we learn to keep a good attitude before anything else.

2. to develop ‘Self Reliance’ and to give more than I take;

   The core principle behind our second promise is self-reliance. Being self-reliant builds adaptability. Being able to adapt to changing circumstances and environments is crucial in recovery. Lastly, giving more than I take is all about balancing the scales. For so long we were a burden upon those we love and society as a whole. Today, after we embrace this promise, we are able to show up as a positive force in the community.

3. to obey the Rules of the Community and follow them with exactness;

   The foundation that Promise 3 is built upon is boundaries. When rules are followed, it demonstrates a sense of responsibility and respect for the community. For too long, we had little to no care for others. Today, we learn to respect the community by acting in a predictable and respectful manner every single day.

4. to ‘Act as If’ until it becomes a Habit;

   When we arrive at Red Barn Academy, we are not honest individuals. Nor do we live with integrity or hold ourselves accountable. What Promise 4 teaches us is, is that while we may not have these core values at first, we need only act as-if we do. If we do the next right thing for 730 days in a row, we will become men of substance who live valued-centered lives full of integrity.

5. to have 200% accountability at all times;

   As we journey through the process of whole-person change, we learn and experience the lessons of accountability. Accountability is a critical trait we develop to help us build trust with others, become better leaders, and become a pillar in the community. We learn to find and take ownership of our part in any circumstance including work, school, and in our homes. The 200% means we hold ourselves fully accountable which is the first 100%. Then we commit to holding our peers accountable which is the second half. As we continue to develop and apply this promise, we become a light for good in our community.

6. to embrace Honesty & Integrity in my life and for the community;

   As we continue our process of re-invention, we must find core values we can embrace and embody. 2 of the most crucial values are honesty and integrity. We learn how to be 100% honest all of the time with everything that we do. The other part of this promise is learning how to live a value-centered life full of integrity. Promising this means committing to doing the next right thing 100% of the time, even when no one is looking. As we learn these principles, we practice this not only for ourselves but for the society that we are learning how to become contributing members of.

7. to apply myself and educate my mind and to incorporate the Academy’s “7 Core Beliefs” + “The 7 Paths Creed” in to my life.

   Promise 7 is critical in helping us complete our whole-person change. We learn to apply the foundation of the 6 previous promises, expand our minds with education, and embrace important values in everything that we do. This helps us to build meaningful relationships and positively impact those around us.