Finding another person, a student, with a true martial art spirit, that is, with integrity, loyalty and a true heart, is like finding a diamond on a beach of pebbles.
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Many people you help will let you down, lie through their teeth, disrespect you, your dojo and your system. You cannot let them sour you, you have to keep the resolve, determination and courage to do the right thing and continue to help others because only then will you keep finding those diamonds on that beach of pebbles.
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Keep you word….. Do you mean what you say? Do you say you will do something and then not do it? How do you feel about someone who says they will do something and they don’t do it?
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For me, it is important I do what I say I will do…. and here are some of my reasons.
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Doing what I say I will do is a matter of integrity. I wouldn’t feel good about myself if I didn’t keep my word. My word means a great deal to me…. I do not take it lightly. If keeping your word doesn’t mean much to you, then why is that?
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I don’t trust people who don’t keep their word. If someone lets me down a number of times, then I know they are not reliable. I find that this limits my desire to spend time with them or speak with them. I have learned to accept that I cannot trust some people to follow through on what they say they are going to do. Friendships and deeply connected relationships thrive on trust, and you earn that trust through honesty.
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I lose respect for people whose word doesn’t mean anything to them. I end up feeling manipulated when someone says they are going to do something and then they don’t do it. Of course, I give them leeway at the beginning. There may be a good reason why they didn’t go through with what they said they were going to do….. but if it happens over and over, I accept that I can’t rely on them and I lose all my respect for them.
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People who fail to honor their word do not value themselves enough to act with integrity.
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“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
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Keep your word. When you say you will do something and don’t do it, you teach others (including yourself) that you cannot be trusted. Your value is NOTHING if you cannot honor your word. Trusting someone is my decision. Proving me right is their choice. 
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“Trust, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability are the building blocks of a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship.”- Mike Paul
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