Creating Discipline with Commitment

For the next couple of blog posts, we are going to be focusing on discipline and the aspects that are needed to form and keep our discipline. The first we are shedding light to is commitment. 

What is commitment? The agreement to be dedicated to a cause or obligation. 

Most of the time, when a goal is fresh and new, we have no problem making the time and commitment to it. What becomes the issue is when things become stale or we reach a plateau and we struggle with keeping the commitment. Part of discipline is working with this commitment we made during our best when we don’t feel our best in the future. 

This definition focuses on the dedication to a cause OR obligation. When things are new and exciting we don’t look at it like an obligation but more of a cause. When things became boring or even hard, we look at that same goal as an obligation. Our commitment loses sight of what caused us to be excited and motivated about the goal in the first place.

We introduced the idea of creating a vision board with our last blog post and how we need visual reminders of where we see ourselves moving or progressing to. We need these reminders during the times when we view this goal as an obligation. We need to not lose the idea of what we are striving towards. 

While creating a vision board, we need it to be consistently “alive.” We need to be updating it, perfecting it, and molding it as our priorities and limits adjust and change. We need to embrace the idea of the vision changing with us. So when creating your vision board for your intention, think about what you’ll need to remind yourself of WHY you are pushing towards this goal. If the goal is to be healthy and lose weight, our intention is to be healthy and make our lifestyle more intrinsically centered around our health. Why? Is it for the feeling we get after we work out? If so, what does that look like? How can we visualize and what image represents that feeling of productivity, moving, progressing, and inspires you to continue to reach for that feeling time and time again? 

Another good thing to consider when it comes to commitment is scheduling and/or blocking time in order to meet the commitment you are setting. Think of this as making an appointment for yourself and keeping that appointment. If we were to set a date with our friend, cancelling or avoiding the date would only cause resentment and disappointment with our friendship. The same can be said when avoiding and procrastinating on the time we set for ourselves. 

This idea also allows you to look at whether or not the commitment can even be accomplished and if you are giving yourself enough time to meet the commitment. If we make our intentions a priority by scheduling the time for it, they in turn change and set our values. 

So as you are working on your intention for the new year and creating change, remember to reflect on how you plan on keeping up with the commitment when things become harder.