Are You Really Committed?

The New Year always brings a wave of new goals, dreams, aspirations and changes we want to make. But, the true kicker is – Are you really committed to making them happen? Can you really commit to 10 projects, 5 groups, 6 social engagements, kids, activities, a partner, a home, your pet, etc.? I bet you’re overwhelmed just reading that. So, let’s take a step back in order to take two steps forward.

Our aspirations rarely drop into our laps or are easily obtainable. We must take the necessary steps to reach our dreams. We can day dream all we want. However, if we are not willing to take steps each day to get there, all we have are dreams that are never reached. What can you really commit to? Once you’re committed on a daily basis, you develop the discipline to reach where you want to go.

Here’s an example of how this recently appeared in my life. In mid-December, I turned a very enjoyable day in the mountains into utter pain and headache. While hiking up a mountain carrying skis on my pack, I developed bad neck strain which turned into a debilitating headache. My shoulders and neck were not strong enough. It sucked and hurt! Instead of complaining or giving up, I was determined to figure out how to loosen the tightness and figure out where I wasn’t strong. I committed to daily joint exercises to open up the area and evaluated different gyms to change up my strength and conditioning routine. After 3 weeks of implementing these changes, I can now hike with a pack without a headache. What was the difference? I was committed to seeing what worked and what didn’t to improve my condition. Was it easy? No. Did it take time? Yes. Was the time invested worth being pain-free? Absolutely!

Here’s how you can apply this to your life:

When was a time that you went all in? What trade-offs did you make? What steps did you take to get there? How can you apply those steps to a current situation/activity?

When was a time that you fell short of a goal? What happened? What got in the way? What did you learn from this experience?

From this day forward, what commitments are you willing to make to reach your aspirations? Watch how the small daily commitments transform into larger aspirations over the long run.

Wishing you a pleasant, peaceful, and joyful day!