A commitment should be treated as a binding contract with yourself. However, many of us break our commitments. We commit to people, banks, work, pets, ourselves… A successfully made commitment is something that you have no doubts about…something to which you give 100% of your whole self.

Commitment is a fulfilling endeavor that when followed through, gives an immense sense of accomplishment. Think about something you have committed to, followed through with to completion, and how you felt at the end- knowing that you didn’t break your contract along the way. Might be weight loss, getting a formal education, relationships, going for a big business deal and landing it, etc.

Sometimes commitment can be confused with staying with something long after you should, like a dead-end job or a loveless, destructive marriage. If you have any of this in your life, let’s look at that for a moment. Ask yourself why you are still in something that you have doubts about or don’t believe in, or even worse yet, that you give less than all of you to…People pick up on this subtle behavior. To stay committed to something, you have to put effort in and periodically change up what you are doing to keep it alive and fresh.

I recently attended a taping of a national television show entitled, ‘World’s Greatest Motivators’, and one of the featured speakers, John Assaraf, asked this powerful question- “Are you interested, or are you COMMITTED?” He described the difference this way- when you are interested, the actions on your part are usually easy and convenient. However, when you are committed, you will do whatever it takes to follow through (professionally and ethically, of course!)- it’s THAT important.

Commitments are what ground you and keep you active and engaged in life. Being free and having few commitments can offer the temptation to sound so refreshing to many who have spouses, children, pets, jobs, mortgages…but for only a fleeting moment when life feels heavy and burdensome. We are social creatures who desire connections and relationships with others; a sense of accomplishment and pride in our contributions to making life better for everyone in our lives, including ourselves if our priorities are in order.

Sometimes we need help with our commitments, and we seek out this help through our friends, co-workers, spouses, coaches, mentors. By asking for help, we are strengthening our commitment to ourselves and ultimately, to others; we are fulfilling our obligations contractually with ourselves to follow through to the end- no matter what it takes.

If you would like help with the commitments in your life, with your ability or discipline to make them or follow through, let’s talk. You can reach me at Deb’s Calendar . I look forward to hearing from you.