"Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning
all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth - the
ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans - the moment one
definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur
to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events
issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen
incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt
would have come his way. " W. H. Murray, Scottish Himalayan
Expedition
When asked to make a
commitment to something I often feel a sense of pressure to change, to do
something different, to step up to the plate. Pondering what I might be
willing to commit to I ask myself, "What will be different if I do this? If I
say yes to this, what will I be saying no to?"
In the past when I faced
making commitments I frequently overlooked the underlying committment I had
already been living with. Without realizing it, I was indeed committed to some
action, thought or behaviour. Until I stopped and looked at what I really wanted
and what I was doing to get it, I didn't realize that this was indeed a
commitment on my part.
For example, I recently
made a commitment to walk every day. That's every single day no matter what.
With the temperature hovering in the high 20's and a steady downpour of much
needed rain, I still walked. Why? Because I made the commitment to do it. The
curious thing was realizing that prior to making the commitment to walk I really
had another commitment and that was to not be as physical as I wanted to be.
Hmmm ... you are saying. Imagine anyone making a commitment to be physically
weak and inflexible with slower circulation and all the other aches and pains
that go along with a lack of physical vitality. Of course I didn't consciously
make the commitment and this is the key - consciousness.
When we "wake ourselves up"
to the unconscious choices we are making we may be jolted into realizing that we
are firmly rooted in a choice that disempowers us. My commitment is walking a
minimum of thirty minutes twice a day and increasing five minutes a day until I
reach 50 minutes. In one area of your life - health, finances, career,
relationships - what will you - consciously - make a commitment to do
today?
