What Are You Committed To?

Look at your life right now and ask yourself this question, "What am I committed to?" You won't have to go far to find answers; they'll virtually leap up at you. Perhaps it will be easier to see what you're not committed to. For example, I'm committed to having an organized working environment. But I'm not committed to making myself a basket case to satisfy some external standard for organization...i.e. "your desk must be clear at the end of the day in order to be productive."

Take it up a notch. Perhaps at the beginning of the year, you set some goals or made some resolutions for yourself. A common one is to "get in shape". Are you actually committed to getting in shape, or are you more committed to wanting to get in shape, talking about it, reading books on getting in shape, and essentially filling your time with lots of stuff that won't get you in shape. What degree of "in shape" would you like to experience? Your ideal may not look like the pictures in the books, so it's time to begin asking yourself the questions that reveal where your commitment lies.

I've found in my life and coaching practice that often the things people say they're committed to, and the truth about what they're actually committed to are two very different things. It's easy to want something, as in, I want to get in shape or publish my book. It is a quantum leap from there to having something or making something happen...and that's where commitment comes in. As the great explorer once wrote, "Until one is committed there is hesitancy, a chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness..but once one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too."

The "C" word (commitment) is scary for many of us, because we fear that if we truly commit to accomplishing a certain thing, then there's no turning back...for good or for bad. I've been taking a look at what I'm committed to having in my life during the next 12 months, in large part due to a program I've recently begun offering entitled, "Your Best Year Yet" (TM). As I think about the 10 goals I've written for the year, I must ask myself if I'm really committed to having, doing or experiencing those things this year, or if it simply sound good to have those goals on a list.

Fast forward the tape of 2001 and ask yourself, "how will I feel about me and my life this year if I really stretch to make this thing (whatever that is) happen?" And then ask yourself, "what am I willing to do or become in order to make this a reality?" Will it mean giving up a really comfortable comfort zone, getting better organized, asking for support, creating a new schedule, learning new skills or changing the people you hang out with?

I think the real reason we have so much difficulty with commitment is because it ultimately involves change...changing the way we see ourselves, changing our habits, changing our inner conversation. And change is never easy. But think about the alternative. You can either commit to a few things and then go for them, or commit to nothing and have life next year at this time be about the same as it is today. A wise person has said, "we can either have what we want in life or we can have all of our excuses for why not!"

This week, do the soul-searching required; make a decision about what you're really committed to, begin designing the actions that reflect the commitment, and then take action! After all, you really deserve to live a life by design not default. Start now.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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"To change one's life:
Start immediately.
Do it flamboyantly.
No exceptions."