Monday Musings 33 – Commitments

Commit, Share, Honor your commitments and pat your back

‘Kaishika Puranam’ is the story of commitment and ‘living up’ to the commitment given, rather honoring the commitment even at the cost of losing life.

Nampaduvan lived for his commitment to Sriman Narayanan and returned to the brahmarakshas to honor his commitment knowing well that he will be eaten alive

Making and honoring the commitments made are foundational for our everyday lives, careers, and businesses. You grow in front of your own eyes whenever you end up honoring a commitment given by you.

Why do you need to commit?

Commitments are extremely powerful because they influence how you think, how you sound, and how you act. Commitments give you the motivation to do things.

Commitments separate the Doers from the Dreamers! People follow doers.
–John Maxwell

It is important to make commitments also to make meaningful commitments.

Make meaningful commitments.

It is not just the question of commitments. Keep in mind that you must honor the commitments even if it is a commitment for your growth.

One of the keys to fulfilling meaningful commitments is to not over commit.

If you are a leader, the true measure of your success is not getting people to work. It’s not getting people to work hard. It is getting people to work hard together. That takes commitment.
— John C. Maxwell

Everyone has the same 1,440 minutes in a day and hence it’s so important to be selective about what and who you commit to. With limited time, focus and energy, it’s simply not feasible to do everything you would like or even more importantly, those things that everyone else would like you to do. What you commit to should be under your control. Therefore, you must decide what is truly important to you and commit only to those things.

When you only commit to the people and things that are truly important to you, you will be more successful in achieving your goals, your confidence will grow and you will remain happy.

Meaningful commitment is in making commitments which are important to you and commitments which are practical. I feel happy to make a commitment to post positive messages every week but it probably does not make sense to commit post messages every day.

Share your commitments

Behavioural theories confirms that when the commitments are shared with others, the probability of meeting the commitments by the person making the commitments increases significantly. Share your commitments as well as your achievements with others.

How do you ensure to honour your commitments?. It is important to follow through your commitments so that you can end up honouring your commitments.

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.”
– Zig Zigler

Be willing to stand up to the challenges, track your commitments, focus on honouring your commitments. Remember to give kudos to yourself when you end up honouring your commitments. That boosts your confidence. Once a commitment is honoured, of course, make another commitment!

Keep in mind:

• The only way you will enjoy a long-term relationship with someone is if you are committed to that relationship.
•  The only way you will enjoy your job is if you are committed to it.
•  The only way you will enjoy your life is if you are committed to making the best of it and living life to its fullest.
• The only way you will retain your best employees is if you are committed to their growth.
• The only way you will grow is if you are committed to your growth.