Commitment is the indispensable iron quality of character that paves the way for every great accomplishment. Fortunately, commitment is not a trait we are born with. Rather it is a virtue that can and must be tuned into and then woven into our approach to life if we are to tap into the deep reservoir of potential we’ve been blessed with.
Commitment is the learned ability to persist even after enthusiasm diminishes. It’s the willingness to be flexible, to improvise, to adjust course, to do whatever it takes to deliver what was promised. We must have a large supply of commitment to excel as individuals, in our marriages, and in our family life, not to mention the commitment necessary for high achievement in business.
If the fire in our belly stayed as red hot after we established our HUGE goals as it did when we were contemplating them – commitment might be optional. If our passion and enthusiasm remained as high for our marriage after the wedding ceremony as it did on and before the big day, we wouldn’t need commitment. If raising happy, healthy, and self-confident children were as easy as it looked on a 1960’s sitcom then, just maybe, we could skip the commitment.
I think we need commitment!
It is precisely because our feelings fluctuate that commitment is critical! As human beings, our feelings are wired to our volatile short-term emotional appetite. This means that if we allow our feelings to drive our decisions, we will likely feel good in the short-run but under perform in the long run. We’ll be playing now but paying later, as opposed to delaying gratification and reaping a much higher return down the road.
Our likelihood of following through on important commitments is strongly influenced by our self-image. Our self-image is how we unconsciously see and think of ourselves right now. It’s based primarily on our interactions with others, particularly those closest to us. We tend to always act in a manner consistent with this self-image or current picture because that’s exactly what you we will feel like doing.
Our feelings support our current self-image and, as a result, bully us to maintain the status quo, to keep doing what we’ve been doing. Upgrading our self-image, and, by extension our life, requires growth. And useful growth inevitably involves resistance, struggle, and tension. Sometimes this is a solo experience and sometimes it involves other people in our life. To follow our feelings, instead of our goals, is to follow the path of least resistance and to miss out on the abundant life that is available to us. This is the road most traveled.
A worthy goal requires us to let go of the status quo. It requires that we break out of the comfort zone and shift into the achievement zone. We must first make the inner transition from feeler to doer. High achievers, we know, are motivated by pleasurable outcomes (their goals). On the other hand, underachievers are motivated by pleasurable methods (how it feels along the way). Either path is a learned approach to life.
Which path will you choose? Share your comments here.
If you’ve got 2 minutes to invest, it’s worth your time to take a peek at my other blog post where I explain The Six Commitment Cliffs which, if you are unaware of them, endanger your full potential. In order to make the transition from a feeler to a doer you must steer clear of these natural human tendencies.
