Commitment: The Stuff Success if Made Of

myjoyquest — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:30:45 +0000

Growing up there were just some things that we were expected to do: help clean the house, weed the garden, practice our instrument, and play on the community soccer team. I didn’t love to do my chores, but I did them. Practicing the piano was tolerable so I did that. But when it came to sports, I wasn’t the least bit interested. Chasing after a ball seemed to me an absurd waste of time. But one day, when I was about 4 or 5, my mom signed me up for the soccer team – much to my dismay. (Note that she had to bribe me with a pair of jelly shoes to persuade me.) Soon our first game was scheduled. Of course at that age you don’t have soccer practice so it was literally my first time on the field. I fared alright through the first 15 minutes or so, but about half way through the game, the ball found it’s way right into my stomach. Tears streamed down my face as I ran off the field, never to return again. That was the end of my soccer career. (Though I think I still got my jelly shoes.)

What’s the point of this little anecdote? Reality is I don’t think I ever had any real potential to become a thriving soccer star, but I wish I hadn’t quit. There were valuable lessons to be learned, friends to made and experiences to be had – but I missed them because when there was pain, I gave up. I had no commitment.

Likewise, we have opportunities each day that have the potential to bring us experience, joy, and success both personally and professionally. With those opportunities will come challenges, obstacles, and sometimes even pain. We can’t always control what cards we’re dealt, but commitment is the ingredient that makes up for the lack of good fortune or even natural ability. Commitment is being able to do what you said you were going to do when you were going to do it. Regardless of what your circumstances may be, it is this stick-to-it attitude that will bring authentic joy and success in life.

My call to you is live committed - grabbing hold of every good opportunity that comes along and making of it what you can. Truly commitment is the stuff that success is made of.

Making Your Happily Ever After – Part 1

myjoyquest — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:53:26 +0000

We have all seen those cartoons where an unsuspecting man and woman are walking along, minding their own business, when suddenly an air born Cupid does a quick fly by and shoots both of the poor saps with drugged arrows. With one glance, the pair is forever more hopelessly and slobberingly smitten with one another. Sigh. Truth is, happily ever afters are not the result of chubby cherubim sticking folks with sharp flying objects. It is also possible that there are some of you reading this who think that true love is little more than fiction. With the staggering divorce rate, it is understood why you may feel that way. However, in observing many happy marriages, I have determined that while lasting and happy relationships may not be easy to maintain, it is in fact possible to make your happily ever after a reality if you are willing to pay the price. The price is applying and sticking to the 4 C’s: Commitment, Communication, Compromise, and Charity.

Commitment: If you want to have something for a long time you treat it differently, right? Consider the difference between how you treat a cheap plastic plate versus your finest piece of china. You will handle your china with care because it is valuable and you want to have it for many years to come. Similarly, marriage is no trite thing. When two people take the plunge, both parties should be in it for the long haul. With that “till death do us part, in sickness and in health” mentality, you will find yourself treating your partner with greater respect and care than you otherwise would if you just thought the relationship was going to be short term or heaven forbid a “starter” marriage. (I find the very term offensive.)

The single strongest factor in keeping any relationship together is commitment. Regardless of who you are, you will face challenges in your relationship. Those obstacles may be self inflicted or may stem from outside sources. Whatever the challenges, understanding that they will come and believing that it is possible to weather the storm with your relationship intact is vital. Certainly to do so takes work, but again, it is NOT impossible. I have seen evidence of this countless times.

Recognize also that just because you do not get the same full body tingles you used to when you first kissed does not mean you are “falling out of love.” It is called being normal. It is just like when you ride the roller coaster for the fifth time. You cannot get the same buzz you got the first time around because eventually your body adapts to that experience. This is the case with anything from eating decadent cheese cake to your sex life. There are certainly ways to keep the flame ignited in your physical relationship, but know that some of that initial novelty will wear off in every case (and that includes if you were to marry Brad Pitt or Cameron Diaz). Remember that a happy, healthy relationship is about physical AND mental, emotional, and spiritual intimacy.

When all is said and done, commitment is the glue that will hold a relationship together.

» commitment

Commitment: The Stuff Success if Made Of

Making Your Happily Ever After – Part 1