Committed Chapter 3

For some people commitment is a terrifying word. It evokes the fear of being stuck in a bad relationship or trapped in anunfulfilling job. But there’s more to commitment than a golden handcuff or platinum wedding band.

You see, to achieve anything of significance in life you need commitment. Like a professional athlete you have to decide that you want to be your best, give your best, and make the pursuit of self-improvement a priority. Come rain or shine,athletes turn up. If they’re feeling tired, they turn up. If they’drather be doing something else on that particular day, they still show up.

Athletes understand that commitment doesn’t guarantee success, but without it they might not get out of the starting blocks, let alone complete the race. And so when they train, they train with commitment. They stay focused. They’re there for a reason. They give everything they’ve got. Because they know if they’re not committed they’ll be at a disadvantage. It’s the same in life. No commitment. No progress. And no results.

You may have a dream or goal but are you committed?Commitment is an inner drive and determination to complete your goal. It’s not something you can manufacture. It’s either  there, or it’s not. You see, commitment depends on the value that you place on your goal. If it’s not that important to you, you won’t be committed. It’s the same with jobs interrelationships. If you don’t value them, you won’t be in them for long. So if you’re struggling to commit to a person, position or path, ask yourself this: ‘Am I sure this is what I really want?’. If you’re not, don’t waste your time.

If it is what you want, but you’re still struggling to commit, then you’re not alone. Some people find it hard to commit to anything. If that sounds like you, try to understand the underlying reason. Get in touch with the feelings and thoughts that hold you back. Do you fear being rejected,hurt or restricted? Are your thoughts rational? Remember:commitment comes from the heart and not the head, or another human. So don’t let irrational thoughts or other people hold you back. Only you know what is important to you. And you’re the only one who should decide your commitments. What’s more, if you’re not feeling it you’ll easily be distracted by temptations: a drink, a dress, a dessert or  whatever. So follow your heart.



 When you’re committed there are no shortcuts, no easy path. You don’t leave yourself an escape hatch.

When you’re committed there are no shortcuts, no easy path. You don’t leave yourself an escape hatch. It’s like a roller coaster.Once you’re in, you’re in. You have to ride it until the end. It takes grit and determination to honour your commitments. But that’s exactly what turns a dream into a reality.

Understand: commitments should always be realistic and achievable. So don’t be too ambitious. Start slowly. Increase them bit by bit. Soon you’ll develop a routine or habit and your commitments will become a way of life.ream into a reality.