Commit to Win

Goals Without Commitment

Everyone has goals, but they mean nothing without commitment. To accomplish a goal, you must commit. Motivation only gets you started. Real dedication empowers your journey. Many people don’t understand what resolution is or how it works. They underestimate how hard attaining a personal goal can be. When they falter, they get discouraged easily because they don’t understand that anyone’s level of commitment may vary considerably.

First, understand that you may face “commitment conflict,” the confusion that arises when you want to stay committed but you also want to give up the whole commitment struggle. Commitment is not a simple exercise in willpower. Having a strong will can make a big difference in staying dedicated, but commitment requires more than willpower. Commitment is an “instinctual” process that takes place over time, not a single, stand-alone act of self-discipline.

“The Seven Commitment Myths”

To reach your goals, ignore seven damaging fallacies:

1. “You either have it or you don’t” – Not true; commitment is a matter of degree, more like a dimmer than an on-off switch. Some days, your backbone...