Commitment Law # 27

Commitment is best understood by realizing the first commitment, when you were given life. Have you truly accepted it? Re-evaluate what is involved in any act of Commitment.

           Cynthia F. Davidson, from the Wisdom Wheel Commitment card

     (cards, stones, posters & more available via www.thewisdomwheel.com)

Can you commit to spending the next 10 days studying the Law of Commitment? What rating would you give yourself in the Commitment department? Do you keep your word 100% of the time? 50% of the time?

Consider a time when someone failed to honor a Commitment made to you. Then review another instance, when it was your failure, to keep a Commitment. 
What were the underlying reasons each time? 
Were they the same both times? 

What makes it difficult to keep our promises to ourselves, much less to others? And when we do keep them, what was different?
How much do we actually understand, about the Process, of making Commitments? 
Why do we even want them, in the first place? And what makes us break them so often? 

Being born with the ingrained fight or flight instinct may have something to do with our abilities to stay the course, especially in relationships where our obligations make us feel threatened, resentful or fearful. 
While emotions can certainly inspire our Commitments, as when couples get married, if there is no 'chemistry' to enhance the physical Commitment, and no shared spirituality to strengthen the Commitment over time, what will keep any two individuals together? 

In your real life, what is the most impressive Commitment you can think of?  If it's about a relationship between two people, make a list of qualities each person has, or had, which enhanced and preserved their Commitment. 

Now think about a person, place or thing you are very devoted to. Why have you stayed? Why did you stray, in the past?

As with each of these Laws, it is well worth bringing them up as conversation starters, with family and friends. You may learn quite a lot about how they see the world, and other people, as well as these values, like Commitment.

Here follow some quotes about the wisdom of Commitment.

The definition of the word commit is to “devote oneself unreservedly.” This means holding absolutely nothing back; giving 100 percent of everything… It means being willing to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes. This is the warrior’s way. No excuses, no ifs, no butts, no maybes—and failure isn’t an option.

T. Harv Eker from Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

It isn't until you begin to fight in your own cause that you

(a) become really committed to winning, and

(b) become a genuine ally of other people struggling for their freedom.

Robin Morgan (1941 - ) activist and author books include Sisterhood Is Powerful

We promise according to our hopes and perform according to our fears.

François de la Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French classical author

Commitment is never an act of moderation!

Kenneth Mills

To act is to be committed, and to be committed is to be in danger.

James A. Baldwin

The uncommitted life isn't worth living.

Marshall Fishwick

A decision is made with the brain. A commitment is made with the heart. Therefore, a commitment is much deeper and more binding than a decision.

Nido Qubein (1948 - ) Arab American, world renowned motivational speaker and president of High Point University

We only regard those unions as real examples of love and real marriages in which a fixed and unalterable decision has been taken. If men or women contemplate an escape, they do not collect all their powers for the task. In none of the serious and important tasks of life do we arrange such a "getaway." We cannot love and be limited.

Alfred Adler

Marriage means commitment.  Of course, so does insanity. 

Author Unknown

Being of service is not enough. You must become a servant of the people. When you do, you can demand their commitment in return.

Cesar Chavez

Commitment is a line you must cross....it is the difference between dreaming and doing.

Bernie Fuchs

There have been more persecution and atrocities committed in the name of religion and religious freedom than anything else.

Walter Koenig

I made a commitment to completely cut out drinking and anything that might hamper me from getting my mind and body together. And the floodgates of goodness have opened upon me-spirituality and financially.

Denzel Washington

Visions are messages from the Great Spirit, each for a different purpose in life. Consequently, one person's vision may not be that of another. To have a vision, one must be prepared to receive it, and when it comes, to accept it. Thus when these inner urges become reality, only then can visions be fulfilled. How could a vision ever be given to someone if that person could not be trusted to carry it out. The message is simple: commitment precedes vision.

High Eagle

Commitment means that it is possible for a man to yield the nerve center of his consent to a purpose or cause, a movement or an ideal, which may be more important to him than whether he lives or dies.

Howard Thurman

In another 10 days, we'll take up the Law of Giving & Receiving, until then, re-examine the whys and wherefores of your Commitments.