People say that no one promises more than the person who has no intention to fulfill those promises.
The idea of "testing people out" might seem... manipulative? At least that is the common reaction I get when I expose this idea to other people.
Of course, it can be.
Some strongly believe they are self sufficient and have no deep need for other people. What an awful thing to do: to lie to themselves.
We need people, to some extend. Approaching 40 years in this world, I've come to the realization the moments I've enjoyed the most have come when in company. Not a secret, I know. Philosophers, writers, novelists, musicians and specially, old people, have reminded us of this premise.
The more you want to enjoy life to its fullest, the more you need to trust and share with people. There is no escape.
The bigger the promise, the smaller its chance. To a self serving individual, promising something costs nothing. To an honorable person, it might cost a heavy burden. Nonetheless: How can we be sure? How can we trust people we might want to trust?
When in need of making specially profound decisions regarding people, try not to take their word at face value.
Test people out. Give them the chance to prove themselves to you. When tested, give yourself the chance to prove your value and commitment.
Next time you are given a promise of enough value, do yourself a favor and test its creator.
Be prudent with yours.