The Power of Commitment

“There are only two options regarding commitment; you’re either in or you’re out.”_Pat Riley

The dictionary defines commitment as devotion or dedication to a cause, person or relationship. It is the principal factor that determines the success or failure of any meaningful activity.

And the people who commit to such an activity are the ones who keep on pursuing what they want, as opposed to their peers who merely talk about what they desire. The committed ones make up the vital few segments of our society.

Unlike them, the uncommitted folks usually bail out on significant opportunities for one reason or another. They tend to allow urgency of life get in the way of what really matters; these are the wandering generalities in the society.

You see, the secret of behind the power of those pantheons that get the best of life is commitment, which at the core is a solemn declaration they truly value and believe in themselves.

In the book, ‘The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What They Do and How They Do It So Well,’ Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield explain ten qualities that are common among the super-achievers whom they studied and interviewed.   

Out of those qualities, the topmost two are: dedication to a vision and intelligent persistence. In the words of the authors: “Super-achievers are simultaneously deeply committed and deeply permeable.”

For our purpose, we want to focus on how we can develop the universal factor of success: dedication to a vision and intelligent persistence, which is a brilliant definition of the article’s theme: commitment.

How to Develop the Spirit of Commitment

“There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses - only results.”_Ken Blanchard

To develop your sense of commitment, you need to move from a plane of mere interest to a plane of burning desire. 

By that, I mean you identify the one thing you have been saying you want and decide whether it is not really important or it is truly essential. And if it is truly important to you and your future, then decide to give yourself unreservedly to that single aim until it is achieved. 

If you do this, your sense of commitment and self confidence will grow and others will begin to trust you since they have a solid evidence that you are no longer a dilettante but someone that people can count on.

You become a person with self-efficacy: someone with personal power to follow through on their words. And as a result, you can get great things that you seek because you have formed the habit of doing what needs to be done.

Remarkable character is built upon commitment. It is made of one’s responsible ability to deliver on one’s promises irrespective of the changing circumstances. And life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who habitually demonstrate this powerful principle—without fail.

Finally, always remember that nothing shapes our lives more than the nature of the commitments we decide to make.