How many times have you made a commitment to do something and absolutely stuck to it for at least a certain amount of time? Sure, I bet there are other times where maybe you dropped the ball. But I’d be willing to bet that for every dropped commitment, you’ve got 2 kept commitments on your record.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of commitment over this weekend. What does “commitment” mean, what does it look like, and how can it help you in your health, fitness, wellness, and other goals or aspirations in life?
First: What is it? Merriam-Webster defines commitment as such:
- a : an agreement or pledge to do something in the future (a commitment to improve conditions at the prison);
- especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date
- b : something pledged (the commitment of troops to the war)
- c : the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled (a commitment to a cause)
Let’s use the definition to agree that a commitment is an obligation or duty that has been decided upon.
That being said, we can commit to SO many things in life, many of which that help us, and others that don’t. Some of these are spoken, and others nonverbal.
Here are some personal examples of commitments I’ve made recently: I am launching a challenge in August for a plank each day – I have verbally and in text agreed to do this. I’m committed to getting up at a certain time each morning. I am committed to training for a marathon this November and doing each training run (as I am physically able to.) I’ve nonverbally committed to keeping my car clean, inside and out. I’ve also nonverbally committed to being organized as it makes my life easier and decreases my stress.
Our commitments stem from our values. The two main ingredients of the commitments we make are:
- What we value
- Our belief in our ability to carry out the agreement or what the commitment requires of us
Basically – we make commitments in the areas of life that matter to us the most – and in the areas that we believe that we can uphold these agreements.
How many times have you made a commitment to do something and absolutely stuck to it for at least a certain amount of time? Sure, I bet there are other times where maybe you dropped the ball. But I’d be willing to bet that for every dropped commitment, you’ve kept 2 other commitments.
Focus on the positive.
If you would like to commit to exercising, eating healthier, taking quiet time out for yourself, or anything else that benefits your health and wellness, you’ve got to make it a high enough priority that you decide that it’s worth the diligent action and energy required, AND you’ve got to believe that you can stick to it. (I’ll share more on this in the coming weeks – because making too big of a commitment too quickly can be detrimental! Stay tuned!)
Let’s keep it simple: What is ONE THING you can commit to doing for your health, fitness, and wellness for just this ONE WEEK?
TIP: Start small. It’s always easier, both physically and emotionally, to add to, than to backtrack.
Reach out to me if I can be of help in creating a plan for you to start: from wherever you are today towards where you want to be.
And, check out my new video series – “Minute to Win It” – one-minute clips for your winning mindset for the day! I hope that it inspires you to action towards your desired results.