Tag Archive for: commitment

Struggling with Commitment

/in

Jack Canfield, author of The Success Principles, said it so well that 99% is a Bitch (my PG version is Bite); 100% is a Breeze. He also states that, successful people adhere to the “no exceptions rule” when It comes to their daily discipline.

It has to do with making a commitment to someone or something. Do you make a decision when you arise each morning whether or not you will be faithful to your significant other? I doubt it. You made that commitment long ago and you just do it without having to think about it. If you forget to brush your teeth before you go to bed, you get up and do it.

Whether you are making a decision to improve your health or business, you need to determine if you are interested or committed. If you are just interested in making changes, you’ll do it only when convenient. I see this often in weight-loss.

I often hear, I don’t have time to plan or cook yet I want to lose weight or be healthier. Perhaps you are in the “just interested phase” because this isn’t realistic.

Yes, there are some shortcuts but generally if it is worth having there will be work involved. There is no magic weight-loss pill or technique. It takes work.

I’m sharing because this is what I learned about myself this weekend as I went off my sugar detox. My excuse and justification were grand. We were celebrating my husband’s new job. And it’s “just one night”. And I did share the dessert instead of eating the whole thing. That was Friday evening and by Saturday I decided since I had gone off it once, I could justify going off it again. At the end of the weekend, I didn’t feel good about my decisions because I realized that I hadn’t truly made the commitment.

Being on the fence all the time regarding decisions takes too much energy and creates internal distress. So much time and energy are wasted on debating the topic over and over. 99%, it’s a Bite!

Being firm on your position and commitment makes it a done deal. Simple. Non Negotiable. Case closed. 100% is a Breeze!

Waking to the smell of cinnamon rolls

/1 Comment/in

Okay, it is not exactly the title you would hope to find on January 2 from a Wellness/Nutrition Consultant!  Well, I did not plan this either. It’s called real life.  I wake up on the beautiful Sunday morning to the smell of cinnamon rolls–yikes! I suddenly remember my husband slipped them in the cart yesterday. I found them at checkout and questioned how they landed in my cart. He said they “jumped off the shelf into the cart” because he “didn’t do it”. I do love his sense of humor.

However, it makes for a perfect segue for us to transition back into the real world tomorrow. Statistically, around 45% are making commitments to eat better and exercise more or both. Piece of cake (or cinnamon roll), right? Okay, bad metaphor.

First of all, we all have to deal with temptations in the real world. If our spouses and grown children are not always on the same program, that is not an excuse for us to make poor choices. That seems to be the number one excuse people use as to why they can’t eat healthy. I often hear that “my spouse brings home junk food” or “my kids won’t eat that”.

Zig Ziglar said it so well, “For 24 years of my adult life, by choice I weighed well over 200 lbs. I say by choice because you see I have never accidentally eaten anything.”

I didn’t eat the cinnamon roll. Was I tempted? Yes. But I remember the commitment I have to myself and my body. I remind myself how bad I will feel after eating it and that the so called pleasure of the moment of eating it will not outweigh the damage to my body. I also know that sugar is much like a drug, highly addictive and eating it will disrupt my blood sugar levels for the entire day.   I remind myself of the mental aspect and dealing with the guilt of caving in–not being true to my word or commitment. It really isn’t worth ruining my day.

Yes, everything in moderation but for most it works best to make that 100% commitment. Think about your physician, surgeon, nurse, pilot and air traffic controller. What if they had a 90% or 95% commitment mindset? Having that wavering mindset can wear you out when you are in constant battle. 100% commitment is a breeze!