What happens when we find ourselves in a commitment that we don’t want to keep? We have all probably experienced this uncomfortable situation.
Each of us value responsibility to a different extent. On one end of the spectrum, some people would just quit, move on, and not give it another thought. At the other end, some people would work grudgingly toward their commitment for as long as it takes. Quitting would not be an option. Most of us fall someplace in the middle.
Where we are on this responsibility scale affects other aspects of our lives. We will feel the impact of our decisions and actions in our level of stress, the level of harmony between work and home, and how we set our priorities.
When I initially contemplated this issue in my mind, I discovered three perspectives I should consider before taking action. Please share how you would decide what to do in these situations. Here are my thoughts:
1) Be grounded in my values. Whatever course of action I decide to take, it should be based on my values. I should make sure I am remaining true to my beliefs and values.
2) Understand my motives. Why have I changed my mind about my commitment? Motives matter when you are changing direction.
3) What would I wish to have happen if I was the other person or the team that is affected by my decision? It is very important to think through the situation from the perspective of others. You must reflect and live what you believe, but also make it visible for people to see. It is difficult to see ourselves as others see us without intentionally thinking from this perspective.
After considering these factors, you should have a better understanding of your options. We all want to keep all of our commitments, but sometimes that is impossible. Maybe we should spend some time thinking about how we make commitments also.