How often do you hear people throw around the word “commitment”? I hear it quite a bit with my fitness and life coaching. Most of the time when people are talking about it there is a shrug or a nod of understanding but what is frequently missing is the action. And, commitment is definitely something that many people struggle with when it comes to health and fitness, or at least they think they do. The definition of commitment is ‘the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.’ So, the reality is you’re always committed to something.
Think about your life. What are you committed to? Kids, family, church, reading, running, eating bon-bons and watching movies, growing perfect roses in your garden. It can be anything you have chosen to dedicate your time, energy and focus toward doing well, enjoying, or being successful. You are likely committed to many things. Therefore, being committed isn’t the issue however; what you’re committing to is.
Let’s look at some examples:
Starting with one that’s near and dear to me, working out. You’re either:
- Committed to working out
- Committed to not working out
So, if you’re not working out currently, don’t say, “I’m not committed to working out right now.” Instead say, “I’m committed to NOT working out right now.” Try it. Say it out loud, even if it’s not you, say it so you can get the idea. Feels a little different, doesn’t it?
How about nutrition? You’re either:
- Committed to eating healthy to support your body
- Committed to eating unhealthy to hurt your body
This isn’t saying you are a bad person and please don’t get bent about the difference in the statement. It is just a different way to view commitment. It’s either one or the other. Once again, B is much different than just negating A.
Relationships? You’re either:
- Committed to a happy and healthy relationship
- Committed to an unhappy and unhealthy relationship
Money? You’re either:
- Committed to creating financial abundance and always being able to afford the things you want
- Committed to creating financial lack and never being able to afford the things you want
We could go on and on, but I think you get the point. So, what are you committed to? Take a look at the areas in your life where you ARE successful. Really get some detail and ask yourself. And if you are serious about it, write it down. This will make a lot of sense. Now, take a look at the areas in your life where you’re not successful. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the fact is you’re committed to being unsuccessful in those areas because you’re committed to the behaviors that prevent you from being successful.
Again the good news. You have the power to make the change immediately.
Action step: when you feel yourself talking about commitment, dedicating your time, energy, or my favorite “not having time”, reframe your sentence. Then take a look and see what is causing your commitment choice and then determine what you can change to create a successful action.
