“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that 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 dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
Gothe said that (intelligent bloke with lots of strings to his bow, would be known these days as a Career Scanner on 2023! I will let you Wikipedia him yourself. He was pretty interesting. No more interesting than you or I though).
Let’s break it up.
Let’s talk about trying v’s commitment.
And what happens when (the Providence part, but we can call it something else) you actually commit.
About twenty two years ago I tried to adopt a vegan lifestyle. Failing after about 18 months. Nine years ago I committed myself to living a vegan lifestyle. Still vegan now, stronger than ever.
Difference? I am in. All in. Found the reason for the commitment. In it for the animals. I am the unhealthiest vegan ever!
For about 15 years of my adult life I tried to lose weight, never successfully. In 2003 I committed to losing 8 stone, it worked. But I didn’t commit to maintaining it (goals, you have to follow through, not just to the end result), but I’ve been trying ever since. And try won’t work, commit will.
A few years ago I tried to complete a long distance walk. Never took one step. As soon as I committed to it, well, it got done.
Am I saying trying is no good? No, ‘course not. Often, we have to try first before we commit.
But there is a difference between them both.
What I want to say is for certain goals you have for your life trying isn’t going to get them done. It’s empty. Commitment will get them done. I’ve been there.
As a coach it’s my role to ask people if they are committed to taking action on their goals, and when needed to work through their ambivalence and barriers. I could hear, ‘I’ll try and make it to that new group on Sunday?’ My response could be, ‘Try? I don’t need to know that you will try. Are you committed or not to going?’
Some may find this a harsh response.
Think about all the goals you have for your life. Or ideas. One days.
Not just the big ones take a look at the teeny tiny daily ones that you want to commit to: make it to a creative evening class every night for 10 weeks, turn off the computer 2 hours earlier, don’t work weekends, be calmer with the kids, walk 30 minutes each day, get the new shelves up in the bathroom, wash the floors weekly, write daily.
Commit to it.
With commitment you won’t doubt. You won’t wiggle your way yourself out of something. You won’t put other’s values before your own or come up with some crappy excuse not to do. Commitment is stronger than trying. It makes whatever you are working on your priority. Whatever ‘it’ is.
So, here we are 3 days into 2023.
- I am committed to 2 x 1 hour walks a day. So far so good.
- I am committed to writing everything down. So I can pass my planning along to workmates in case I am hit by a bus!
- I am committed to writing here (whatever here becomes) 365 times in 2023. Not going by the 365 diary days.
- I am committed to family and friends first in 2023. Boundaries peeps, talking boundaries.
- I am committed to not being late or being the last one in the room. That is just sucky!
And you?
What are you committed to? Don’t make it hard or impossible. Just remember when you commit. Providence moves.
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