There have been times in my life where I missed an event or activity that I had planned to attend. I made a commitment and I failed to follow through. I will never forget the first time. I was 16 years old, and working in the stock room of a drug store. I was scheduled to work, but I didn’t want to go. I wanted to go out with my friends. At sixteen, it seemed more important than work.
The next day when I went back to work, my manager was not happy. He said, “If you decide to do that again, don’t plan on coming back to work. You will be fired.”
It was a lesson with a huge impact on me. It taught me about commitment. There are very few times I commit to something and fail to follow through. However, there are still times I commit, follow through, but lack enthusiasm.
Reflecting on this experience has helped me identify three things that keep me focused on dependability.
1. Understand why I decided to commit. What was my motive? Keeping the why clear in my mind helps me from wavering on a commitment.It also helps me say no to things that are not important.
2. Be accountable to someone. If I know someone will hold me accountable, then I will work harder to follow through. I value other people, and I don’t want to let them down. Accomplishing something for someone else is much more rewarding emotionally.
3. Determine how I may grow. If I know the benefit to myself, I will be more determined about success. Every experience usually provides learning and growing if we look for it.
If you sometimes struggle completing a commitment, maybe these three ideas can help.
