Day 28: How Committed Are You?

When you think of commitment, you think of relationships. Am I right? That’s typical. However, did you know that how you do one thing is how you do everything? Makes you think, doesn’t it.

Commitment requires discipline and is bound to come with tests – typically in your weakest moments. It is a natural part of the process. I for one, have been tested on my commitments a lot lately, and seemingly more so since I started this blog. What I have learned thus far is that it is a lot easier to keep a commitment to others, and hold ourselves accountable to others that it is to commit to ourselves. Why? Because someone else is depending on us. It’s usually a fear thing. When it comes to fulfilling a commitment to ourselves however, we often fall short and make excuses.

No time.

Too busy.

 Too tired.

Tomorrow.

It’s not that important anyway.

It’s just me…it’s ok, doesn’t matter.

Sound familiar? I know it won’t hit home for everyone, but I certainly know some of you can relate to what I am saying. Commitments to self are often the hardest to keep, yet the most important ones we should keep. A commitment kept towards someone else means we value them enough to follow through; a commitment kept towards ourselves means we value ourselves enough to follow through. So then the question becomes, do you value yourself enough to stay committed to yourself?

Let me share a couple of my experiences on this subject thus far.

I get tested on the relationship commitment daily. In a world full of “shiny” things, it is easy to get distracted and lose focus. Yet every day I remind myself and reaffirm my reason why. What I am after is more important and has more value to me than any relationship can offer at this point. I don’t care if you are Brad Pitt, Zac Efron, or “Heartthrob Rob” Pattinson. I am very solid in that. Still, I get tested…as if to say “Are you still sure?” And to that I say, “Yes. I am sure.”

My other test was with my 21-day lymphatic drainage challenge. Every day for the past 13 days I have gone and done a lymphatic drainage exchange with another practitioner - a minimum two to three hour commitment rain or shine, early morning or late at night, crazy schedule or not…absolutely NO excuses. We made a commitment to each other, and when one didn’t feel like doing it, it was our job to remind them why we were doing it. The trouble came though when it was already past midnight with two crazy schedules and we BOTH didn’t feel like doing it, and hoping the other would cancel. We easily could have and had every good reason not to…but we didn’t, and thankfully so. The results at the end of it all will be a far much greater reward. It did make me look at how I view my commitments when the going gets tough though…quite an eye opener. Only 8 more days and then I am complete, and I tell you, it will feel soooo good to be done.

Morale of the story: When the going gets tough, the tough get going…keep your eye on the prize.