The Power of Commitment

I’m not talking marriage here! But it can help your relationship too!

I’m talking about making a commitment to ourselves in every day life. We can have many intentions or goals in our life like becoming a better cook, meditating daily, improving our ski skills, learning to dance, learning to write creatively, etc. As the saying goes, “With all good intention.” But how often do we live our daily life thinking about doing these things, but not taking the steps to do them, or signing up for a class, going to the first one, and then find reasons or excuses to not continue.

We are our own worst enemy sometimes! Not just in how we coach ourselves and the voice we let run rampant in our minds like “you can’t do that; you’re not good enough; you have so little to give,” etc…, but when it comes to setting a goal, we either let it stay stuck in the back of our minds, or start it, but don’t complete it. This is human nature for us to find ways to weasel our way out of things, not let ourselves be all that we can, because it requires stepping through our fears of failing or judgment by ourselves and others. Or the fear of what it would be like to actually succeed! 

However, we can be our own best friend instead. This requires awareness, making a commitment to ourselves, and sometimes hiring the coaching of a mentor or teacher. Sharing a personal story with you from my own experience, in the fall of 2007 I decided to try out for a national ski instructor team made up of four members. The try-outs were held the following spring, May of 2008 at Mammoth Mountain in California, and held once every four years.

I had been sitting on the fence for over a year, and it wasn’t until I filled out the application and paid the money was I committed from my heart. I spent the winter training, almost every day in some way, to achieve my goal of making the team. When everyone else was skiing powder, I was working on carving on the groomers, and I loved every minute of it!

I had amazing mentors that I sought out. They coached and advised on the snow and off. I wanted to soak it all in, and take advantage of every moment. The week long try-out process came before I knew it, and there I was, showing my stuff (pictured below). I did really well, and made it to the finals, but in the end, did not make the team.

However, the training process, and the commitment I made to myself and my coaches were the greatest rewards. My skiing improved tremendously, I made amazing new friends, and found a strength, power, and desire within me I didn’t know I had.

The experience of commitment strengthens our integrity, allows us to dig deep into ourselves, and push past self-imposed limiting beliefs. And doing it alone leaves us at mercy to be victim to our unhealthy habits and unhealthy voice in our head that doesn’t believe we can succeed. My spiritual teacher, Matthew, said to me after the first month of the two year training I did with him: “If you want to stay in this program, you need to take it seriously.” It’s exactly what I needed to hear to get my butt in gear and do the work – someone to hold me accountable to my own laziness and “half-assing” it. And it worked.

When you want to create something in your life, reach a goal, make a change, etc., make a commitment to yourself and someone else to help you stay accountable. Commit yourself to a program, course, your loved ones, and yourself. Truly amazing things happen when you do this for yourself!

“When we are interested in something, we do what is convenient. When we are committed to something we do what it takes.”
Christine Kane – Owner of UpLevel You coaching business
 

Commitment Tips

1. Decide what you want to commit to
2. Register and pay the money (if required)
3. Write down in your journal why this is important
4. Tell someone what you are doing and ask for support
5. Show up – show up early and show up each time regardless of what your mind says to you!

Categories: Health & Happiness

About the Author: Angela Patnode

My passion, my calling, is for you to be totally you. Through private coaching, in-depth retreats, and online group coaching programs, I help you tap into your intuition and clarify your desires and vision, I guide you to take active steps toward making your desires a reality.

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