New Year’s Resolutions & Commitment

In the spirit of New Years I’m always intrigued to watch as many resolutions are made then quickly broken. Why? Commitment.

Until one is committed
there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation),
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas
and splendid plans:
that the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sorts of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favour all manner
of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance,
which no man could have dreamt
would have come his way.

I have learned a deep respect
for one of Goethe’s couplets:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”

W. H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition, Published by J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd., 1951

What does it take to fully commit oneself so that there is no turning back? One example comes to mind of a woman who was determined to lose weight. She went out to buy all new clothes of the size she would become, and then gave away all of her bigger size clothes to Goodwill except for one pair of jeans and shirt. Everyday she would constantly be reminded of her commitment and literally gave herself PERMISSION to succeed. Cutting off all alternatives to fall back into old and limiting patterns.

It can all to easy to maintain “willpower” for a while, but it will only last so long. The wise person would construct their surroundings to support their positive changes, especially when it gets hard. Which begs the realization, the greater the goal, inevitably, the harder it will be. But also more rewarding!