If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
A commitment is a public or private decision to act. If we make a commitment, we often feel bound to follow through on it, for fear of social rejection or simply due to the threat of cognitive dissonance.
When we are committed to something, we will not change our minds very easily, especially if that commitment was public.
As an example, how many people make a persoanl commitment to themselves every year to get in better shape? I don’t know the numvbers but I do know it is a lot of people. What is startling is the amount of those people who make a commitment to “get fit” - fail to honor their commitment.
The act of “making a commitment” is a firm decision to do something…
Take the definition of personal commitment I found on Wikipedia
“Personal commitment is an interaction dominated by obligations. These obligations may be mutual, or self-imposed, or explicitly stated, or may not. Distinction is often made between commitment as a member of an organisation, such as a sporting team, a religion, or as an employee.”
I want you to try something today - count how many times you make a commitment to yourself, a family member, a friend or a colleague. Once you have that number and at the end of the day, count how many of those commitments you truly honored or intend to.
Pay more attention to your commitments and honor them and you will lead a succesful life.
Take a look at further articles about making a commitment…
Making Commitments - by Michael Angier
Some people are so casual about making agreements: “Talk to you tomorrow,” Let’s get together next week,” and, one of our favorites, “I’ll have him call you back.” You will? What if he doesn’t want to talk to us?
Most people like to pretend that these “casual” commitments don’t count. That’s not true. Every time we give our word it counts. For the most part, people give it entirely too often. Our word is a precious commodity and should be treated as such.
Continue reading Michael Angiers article on making commitments
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Making a Commitment - by Chuck Gallozzi
A good start isn’t good enough!
We all have flashes of insight and bright ideas. But of the countless number of inspirational moments we’ve had and already acted upon, how many of them have we pursued to the end? How many of them have we realized? Ideas are seeds. Locked within them is great potential. Yet, what good are seeds unless we plough, harrow, and fertilize the soil, and follow that by planting, watering, and looking after the seeds until they bloom? Great ideas often lead to good starts and bright beginnings. But good starts are not good enough, for brilliant ideas are no better than poor ones, unless we follow through.
A good idea and follow-through is an explosive combination. It is the material that is used to transform lives and change the world. The detonator of this highly charged package is COMMITMENT. It is also called DETERMINATION. Commitment means NO MATTER WHAT! And determination is a refusal to allow obstacles to stop us. Here is how this idea was expressed by the man named “Coach of the Century” by ESPN, Vince Lombardi (1913 ~ 1970), “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” Similarly, Victor Hugo (1802 ~ 1885) wrote, “People do not lack strength; they lack will.” In both cases, the word ‘will’ refers to commitment or determination.
Continue reading the full article on making commitments
Recommended Reading
