I recently heard of a little known but interesting 16th century character who knew a thing or two
about human behavior. St. Camillus de Lellis said:
Commitment is doing what you said you would do after the feeling you said it in has passed.
His words reminded me of a lengthy trail of good intentions I’ve dropped along life’s path,
including volunteering to help the homeless, exercising more, getting better organized, and a
batch of other things. If I completed these, I would leave the world in tip-top shape. Here are
some tips for keeping commitments:
- Ask yourself whether or not you really want what you started out to do, and why. Vivid
images of the “why” give you that “whatever it takes” attitude. - If your project is outside your comfort zone, don’t be surprised if you drag your backside.
Take small steps as you get used to new territory. - If you are not doing what you said you would do because you don’t feel like it, say that
out loud, or write it very clearly. You may give up your project without guilt, or you may
spring into action.