Commitment: The powerhouse tool for success
Commitment: The powerhouse tool for success
In December I shared a thought from the author James Clear, something along the lines of “commitment breads passion”. I shared it because it got me thinking about what I was committed to in 2023 and whether it was something I enjoyed or was passionate about. On New Year’s Eve, one of my dear friends explained that the quote has become a key part of her New Year’s resolution for 2024. She is going through some interesting life changes and needs to commit to some new and different things to ensure she maintains focus and a sense of purpose in 2024.
Given that this quote has got at least two of us thinking, I thought it might be valuable to share some of the ideas I had around it.
Commitment is rarely glamorous: Garmin sent out a year in review recently. The results showed that Garmin users logged more activities last year than ever before. I am pretty sure other fitness-tracking platforms would show the same trend. There was an increase in most of the fitness activities logged – running, walking, cycling, strength training and indoor training being the most logged activities. Why am I sharing this? Well, it is because I believe that one of the core reasons there are more activities logged is because there are more people who are committing to living healthier, more active lifestyles. Does this mean that they are all instinctively more passionate about fitness? Probably not. But I do believe that the longer they stay committed the more passionate they will become about their fitness journeys and the more likely they will be to see the results. Before receiving the Garmin review, I was fortunate enough to be enjoying a holiday at the coast. My husband and I both commented on the noticeable increase in people and families going for an early morning run, cycle, or walk. Is it glamorous or fun getting up early on your well-deserved break to do these activities? NO! But is it worth it YES!
You don’t have to be perfect to start: To me, commitment sometimes means sucking at something but sticking it out until it becomes easier. I earnestly believe that you can become passionate about something even though you didn’t necessarily think you would enjoy or even be good at it initially. I am certainly not passionate about my injury recovery protocol – It is a lot of stretching and challenging Pilates-type exercises. However, I am passionate about being injury-free and being able to live the active lifestyle I enjoy with my kids. So, I commit myself every day! I get it done – even when I don’t feel like it, even when I suck at it, even when I am frustrated with the apparent lack of progress.
Commit to maintaining or regaining your mental well-being: I came across a very interesting article on the impact of swipe-based dating applications and other social media platforms on people’s mental well-being and health. (Perhaps, I will give my thoughts on this in a future article). It got me thinking about whether I am investing (committing) enough energy and time to ensure that I have enough mental resources to commit to what I need this year. This one hit home for me as my year is starting with a steep request on my mental resources. I know that social media doesn’t serve my mental state well, it wastes a lot of my time and when I am worried or anxious, I tend to use it to numb these negative emotions (unsuccessfully). I know that this may not be everyone’s experience – but I think we will all do better by spending less time scrolling these platforms. Rather, we could be spending more time doing intentional breathing, journaling, reading, and meditating. I was so pleased to see that the Garmin report indicated a 33% increase in people completing breathwork exercises in 2023. Breathwork has been a powerful tool in contributing to my own, but also to many of my clients and friends’ well-being. It is fantastic that more people are putting habits in place to invest in their mental well-being. This year let’s commit to more good mental well-being habits. Let’s get rid of clutter and move back to basics.
Be mindful of the impact you have on the people around you: This one ties into the previous point. When we are lacking mental and emotional resources, it becomes really difficult to monitor our impact. I am not saying we need to tip-toe and become overly sensitive (that opens a whole different can of worms). But I do think that we all have the responsibility to commit to listening more. We often are so quick to criticize and judge other people’s commitments, passions and actions that we end up squashing their every good intention. Ask yourself: am I leaving this person more encouraged, engaged and motivated than I found them?
Connect with people who fuel your commitment and passion. A fantastic motivator is a community of like-minded people who challenge and keep you accountable. This is why leaderboards on fitness applications motivate people to stay committed. (Especially if you are a little competitive – ugh like me). Last year we started a partnership with a wellness-based application that aims to drive overall wellness in organisations. It includes a leaderboard that rewards you for all wellness-based activities – from exercise to stretching and meditation. It truly is a fantastic tool to drive community, engagement, and wellness. PJ and I started using the app in our personal capacity and I honestly have seen how it has helped me stay committed when my willpower fades. Being able to celebrate each other’s wins and to encourage each other when we are less motivated has immeasurable value. (Not to mention that we do enjoy beating each other!)
As we kick off 2024, I would like to encourage you to think about the goals you have set. Share them with someone who can help you stay motivated and keep you positive and accountable when the going gets tough. Commit to consistently doing the basics right. Focus on the compound interest of small repeated good habits and make this year the best yet!
If you would like to chat to us about your goals and commitments, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
