At this time of year, we hear one question over and over: “What’s your New Year’s Resolution?” Many people do make resolutions to start off their year, often related to matters of health, happiness, and self-improvement. It makes sense to begin your year with focus and determination. However, other people refuse to make resolutions. For many years now, I have been a member of the Non-Resolution Group. We of the NRG give many different reasons for not making resolutions, ranging from calling it a silly tradition to quoting the statistics on how most resolutions are broken within the first month or two. We might say we don’t want to make important life decisions based on an arbitrary day on a calendar, or that we are always focused on personal growth so we don’t need to make a resolution for the new year. I’ve often thought that resolutions are pointless since I rarely keep them or even think about them beyond the first week or so of January. Deep down, I’ve always known the truth and I choose to be honest with you (and myself) this year. I don’t make resolutions because I’m terrible at keeping commitments and feel like it’s easier to just refrain from making them. I’ve even been guilty of twisting the words of Ecclesiastes 5:5 to justify my way of thinking, although I am aware that Solomon was not saying to refuse to make commitments.
There. I said it. I confessed to you that I have been hiding a character flaw by not making a New Year’s Resolution. Whew! They say that confession is good for the soul, so I’m good now. Right? I know, I know. Confession really doesn’t do any good if it isn’t followed up with a change in behavior. I need to address the underlying issue; I need to be better at keeping commitments, and to do that I have to start making commitments. After all, if you study the lives of the most effective and successful people of this world you will find that they are good at keeping commitments, even small ones. They set goals, make a plan to reach them, and consistently act on that plan. If I truly wish to succeed, then I too must be willing to commit to something and keep that commitment. Therefore, I, Kevin Sammons, am making the following New Year’s Resolution: I resolve to make and keep at least three commitments before this year is over. That’s right! My resolution is to make and keep three resolutions! This is perfect for me because it gives me some time before I have to come up with the three things I’m going to commit to. We non-commitment people love to procrastinate when it comes to making commitments. “I’ll think about it and get back to you” is one of our favorite sayings, so this resolution is right up my alley.
Of course, now that I said it, I realize that putting off making the three commitments is basically saying my resolution is to not make a resolution right now. This doesn’t help me get better at commitments, and therefore goes against what my resolution is supposed to help me improve about myself. Okay. I am going to get better this year, and I am going to start right now. Here is the first of my three commitments. I commit to you, my readers, that I will set my other two commitments for the year before January is over. There. I did it. I made a commitment! This has all the elements of a good commitment. It is action-based (I will set), it has been communicated to the affected parties (you), it is specific (my other two commitments), and it has a deadline (January 31st). Now, all I need is to follow through. As someone who is new to making and keeping commitments, I could use some help in the accountability department. Would you be willing to be my accountability partner and make sure I keep this commitment? If so, I need you to go to my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FYRpresentations) and comment “Tell me!” on the post for this article. I will then send you a message with my other two commitments. You asking for the commitments will help drive me to make them, and thus will help me keep my first commitment. Thank you in advance for helping me improve in ‘22!
In writing this post, I really did come to some realizations about myself and genuinely wish to improve. At the same time, the real purpose of this article is to get others to start thinking about their own lives and perhaps inspire someone else to also make some positive changes. Making and keeping commitments, even on a small level, really will help you achieve your goals in life and life to your full potential. The elements of a commitment, no matter how small or how large, are all the same. The commitment must be based on the action you will take, must be specific enough to be measurable, should have a deadline, and needs to be communicated to the affected parties. If you want to take your commitment to the next level, find a trusted accountability partner who will call you out if you don’t do it. Here are a few examples to show the difference between a real commitment and something to just ease your conscience:
- Commitment: “Mom, I will come see you on Friday after work.”
- Non-Commitment: “I need to go see my Mom.”
- C: “Dear Diary: I am starting my new diet tomorrow and will follow it faithfully for a minimum of two months.”
- NC: “I’m going to try to lose weight between now and the end of the year.”
- C: “Boss, I will complete the XYZ project and have it on your desk by close of business on March 1st.”
- NC: “I should have that done by the end of the month.”
It is my sincere desire that these words and tips help you reach your goals and live out your Reason this year. I know that my life is going to improve because of my commitment to keeping commitments, and I believe yours will as well. Happy committing!!!
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