Do you even know how to keep your word? How about to yourself?
If the only constant in life is change, then why can it feel like such a challenge to change?
Keeping our promises with others creates trust and is the cornerstone to building strong relationships. Most of us know that, right? So what does it mean to be committed to creating something in our own life?
Commitment and creating lasting change are inextricably linked.
Commitment is a contract that we make with ourselves to keep our promises. Keeping promises we make to ourselves builds integrity, energy, self-esteem, and discipline. We make ourselves feel safe, feel secure, feel certain.
There is a difference between being interested and being committed.
When we are interested in doing something, we do it when it is convenient. We say things like I’ll try; I’ll try and do that; I’d like to do that. When we are committed to something, we accept no excuses; we demand and prioritise specific action and notice the results our action brings. We are accountable and ask things like What can I do to get that result? What more can I do? What else could I do? How can I be unstoppable?
“Do or do not. There is no try.” This quote is a simple lesson in commitment and the power of giving something our all.
So, why don’t most people commit? They are busy looking for the easy way. They are asking things like how can I do the least? Until we are committed, there is the chance to back out, to drop it, to decide it is too hard, and we would rather focus on something else, to quit. When we are committed, we are relentless in our pursuit of the goal. Obstacles don’t take us out of the game; instead, they become our precious learning opportunities.
Also, they take on too many things. Single-focusing creates magic; sometimes, doing less is doing more.
While we can have it all, we can’t have it all at once.
My simple strategy? Pick two things to focus on. Prioritise, so you know your most important thing. Commit—decide, declare, strategise, act, iterate.
